Leeds United F.C. Under-21s and Academy

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Leeds United Under-21s
Full nameLeeds United Football Club Under-21s
Nickname(s)The Whites
Founded1919 (1919)
Ground Thorp Arch
CapacityN/A
Owner 49ers Enterprises
ChairmanParaag Marathe
Manager Scott Gardner
League Premier League 2
2023–24 Premier League 2, 24th of 26
Website leedsunited.com

Leeds United Football Club Under-21s is the most senior of Leeds United's youth teams and the club's former reserve team.

Contents

As of the 2023–24 season, they play in the Premier League 2 : Division 1, the top tier of the Professional Development League, following promotion from Division 2 of the 2022–23 Professional U21 Development League. [1]

History

The under-23s replaced the club's under-21 team in 2016, which had replaced the reserve team in 2012 following the English game's reform of the youth football and the introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan. The club was initially awarded Category Two status but upgraded to Category One in 2020. [2]

Player eligibility

For the 2025–26 season player eligibility is restricted to under-21 players born after 1 January 2004. Only players born after 1 January 2007 (primarily scholars), are eligible to play for the Under 18s.

Current players

Italics denotes player has received a call up to the international age group squad but did not or has yet to receive a cap at that level.

Young Professionals
Nat.NamePlace of BirthDate of BirthPos.InternationalOther
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robbie CookAustralia27 January 2007 (age 18)GK
Flag of Scotland.svg Rory Mahady Kirkcaldy, Scotland16 August 2006 (age 19)GK Scotland U21s
Flag of England.svg Darryl Ombang Leeds, England11 July 2005 (age 20)GK England U17s
Flag of England.svg Alfie CresswellEngland14 July 2007 (age 18)DF
Flag of England.svg Louis Enahoro-Marcus Benin City, Nigeria 6 September 2006 (age 18)DF
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jayden Lienou Wigan, England8 April 2008 (age 17)DF Wales U18s
Flag of England.svg Reuben Lopata-White Bradford, England26 September 2005 (age 19)DF
Flag of England.svg Rhys ChadwickEngland19 February 2007 (age 18)MF
Flag of Scotland.svg Sam Chambers Huddersfield, England10 March 2007 (age 18)MF Scotland U19s
Flag of England.svg Connor Douglas Leeds, England8 October 2005 (age 19)MF
Flag of Scotland.svg Josh McDonaldScotland6 March 2007 (age 18)MF Scotland U17s
Flag of Scotland.svg Lewis PirieScotland28 January 2007 (age 18)FW Scotland U17s
Flag of England.svg Marley Wilson Leeds, England7 November 2005 (age 19)FW England U15s
2025–26 Out on Loan
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Charlie Crew Cardiff, Wales15 June 2006 (age 19)MF Wales Doncaster Rovers
2024–25 2nd Year Scholars
Flag of England.svg Alex BairdEngland1 August 2007 (age 18)GK England U15s
Flag of England.svg Coban Bird Pontefract, England5 November 2006 (age 18)DF
Flag of Scotland.svg Devon BrockieEngland11 March 2007 (age 18)MF Scotland U16s
Flag of England.svg Harvey VincentEngland20 March 2007 (age 18)MF England U16s
2024–25 1st Year Scholars
Flag of England.svg Louie DudleyEngland13 November 2007 (age 17)DF
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will FirthAustralia11 September 2007 (age 17)DF
Flag of England.svg Josh HamiltonEngland15 September 2007 (age 17)DF England U17s
Flag of England.svg George KenyonEngland23 March 2008 (age 17)GK
Flag of England.svg Freddie LaneEngland24 September 2007 (age 17)MF
Flag of England.svg Luke MatykiewiczEngland2 September 2007 (age 17)DF Northern Ireland U18s
Flag of England.svg Jack MorrisEngland25 January 2008 (age 17)DF
Flag of England.svg Oliver PicklesEngland11 October 2007 (age 17)MF
Flag of England.svg Jacob RenderEngland20 March 2008 (age 17)MF
Flag of England.svg Elton SimoEngland11 June 2008 (age 17)MF
Notable Others
Flag of England.svg Sam AlkerEngland13 March 2009 (age 16)MF England U16s
Flag of England.svg Harry Gray England8 October 2008 (age 16)FW England U17s
Flag of England.svg Jacob HowardEngland29 March 2009 (age 16)DF England U16s
Flag of Italy.svg Kenneth MensahEnglandFW Italy U16s
Flag of Austria.svg Marlon MensahEnglandMF Austria U15s
Flag of England.svg Oliver WoodEnglandGK

Graduates

The following list includes players who have graduated from Leeds' youth system to make their senior debut for the first team. Players who have represented their national team at senior level are highlighted in bold. [3] [4]

Other Professionals

Honours

Reserves

League

Cup

Under 23s

League

Under 21s

Cup

Under 18s

League

Cup

Under 17s

League

Cup

Academy coaching staff

PositionStaff
Academy ManagerAdam Underwood [5]
Head of Academy CoachingAndy Foster
Head Of National Academy RecruitmentLyndon Tomlinson
Head Of Emerging TalentCraig Dean
Under 21s Manager Paco Gallardo
Under 21s CoachMichael Pujdak
Under 18s Manager Scott Gardner
Under 18s CoachRob Etherington

Academy Directors

FromToNameNotes
19921997 Paul Hart
19982000Alan Hill
19992000 Steve Beaglehole Assistant
20002001 Brian Kidd
20002001Clive RichardsAssistant
20012005 Gary Worthington Assistant
20022004 Andy Ritchie
20042010 Neil Thompson
20092010 Daral Pugh Assistant
20102011 Gwyn Williams Acting
20112012 Chris Sulley
20122015Steve Holmes
20152016 Paul Hart

Development Squad

FromToNameNotes
20122014 Neil Redfearn
20142015 Jason Blunt Acting
20152016 Paul Hart
20162017 Jason Blunt Under 23s Coach
20172020 Carlos Corberán Under 23s Coach
20202022 Mark Jackson Under 23s Coach

Reserves

FromToNameNotes
19481960 Willis Edwards
19671975Cyril Patridge
19781980Bryan Edwards
19801991Peter Gunby
19951997 David Williams
19971998 Eddie Gray
20002003Lucas Murtagh
20032005 Steve Agnew
20062006 David Geddis
20062010 Neil Thompson
20102012 Neil Redfearn

Under 19s & 17s and 18s & 16s

FromToNamePosition
20002004 Pop Robson Under 17s Coach (2000–01),
Under 19s Coach (2001–04)
20062007 Steve Agnew Under 18s Coach
2007 Paul Beesley Under 18s Coach
20072009 Daral Pugh Under 16s Coach
Under 18s Coach (2007–09)
20092012 Neil Redfearn Under 18s Coach
20122014 Richard Naylor Under 18s Coach
20142015 Jason Blunt Under 18s Coach
20152016 John Anderson Under 18s Manager
20162017 Andy Gray Under 18s Coach
20162020 Mark Jackson Under 18s Coach
2020present Scott Gardner Under 18s Coach

References

  1. ↑ Leeds United under-21 promotion
  2. ↑ "The Premier League elite player performance plan – 'not perfect but lessons are being learned'". Leeds United. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Leeds United Player Statistics". Leedsfans.org.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Leeds Squad Stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ↑ Lee Sobot (21 July 2017). "Leeds United look to Cyprus for new development coach". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 21 July 2017.

53°55′00.7″N1°20′13.5″W / 53.916861°N 1.337083°W / 53.916861; -1.337083

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