The 1996-97 season proved to be another difficult campaign for Leeds United, as they struggled to compete at the top levels of the Premier League. Finishing in 11th position, the club only managed to score 28 goals, marking one of the most challenging seasons in their recent history.
Management Changes
At the start of the season, Leeds was backed with substantial funds by new owners, Caspian, but tensions arose between manager Howard Wilkinson and newly appointed chairman Bill Fotherby. Despite a promising start, earning 7 points from their first four matches, a disastrous 4-0 home defeat to Manchester United in September led to Wilkinson’s dismissal after an eight-year tenure. This move was part of Fotherby’s desire for a clean slate following the previous season’s disappointments.
George Graham Takes Charge
Wilkinson’s successor, George Graham, returned to football after a one-year ban stemming from the “bung” scandal that had seen him leave Arsenal. Although Graham’s appointment brought hope, he struggled to improve the team’s dismal scoring record. Leeds finished the season with just 28 goals, the lowest in Premier League history at that time. The club’s defensive performance, however, was commendable, recording a staggering 20 clean sheets, which helped secure a respectable mid-table finish.
Key Players and Performances
The season’s top scorer was Rod Wallace, who managed to net 8 goals. However, Leeds struggled to find the net consistently, which ultimately hampered their season.
Notable Player Performances
- Lee Sharpe, the club’s record signing, failed to meet expectations, with rumors circulating about his potential departure by season’s end.
- Tony Yeboah, who had been a key player in previous seasons, made only six appearances due to a long-term injury and was also rumored to be leaving Elland Road.
- The emergence of Ian Harte put Tony Dorigo‘s future at the club in doubt, while midfielder Carlton Palmer also appeared to be nearing the exit.
Conclusion
The 1996-97 season was a year of upheaval and transition for Leeds United, marked by managerial changes and challenges on the pitch. While the club managed to avoid relegation, the struggles to score goals highlighted the need for improvement. With a fresh managerial approach under George Graham, fans hoped for better fortunes in the upcoming seasons, but the challenges of the previous campaign loomed large.
Premier League 1996-97 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United (C) | 38 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 76 | 44 | +32 | 75 |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 68 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 62 | 32 | +30 | 68 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 62 | 37 | +25 | 68 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 61 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 55 | +3 | 59 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 38 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 50 | 51 | −1 | 57 |
| 8 | Wimbledon | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 56 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 46 | 54 | −8 | 47 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 44 | 51 | −7 | 46 |
| 11 | Leeds United | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 28 | 38 | −10 | 46 |
| 12 | Derby County | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 45 | 58 | −13 | 46 |
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 42 |
| 14 | West Ham United | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 42 |
| 15 | Everton | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 42 |
| 16 | Southampton | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 50 | 56 | −6 | 41 |
| 17 | Coventry City | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 41 |
| 18 | Sunderland (R) | 38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 35 | 53 | −18 | 40 |
| 19 | Middlesbrough (R) | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 51 | 60 | −9 | 39 |
| 20 | Nottingham Forest (R) | 38 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 31 | 59 | −28 | 34 |
Leeds United 1996-97 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 17 Aug 1996 | Derby County v Leeds United | D | 3-3 |
| Premier League | 20 Aug 1996 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | L | 0-2 |
| Premier League | 26 Aug 1996 | Leeds United v Wimbledon | W | 1-0 |
| Premier League | 04 Sep 1996 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| Premier League | 07 Sep 1996 | Leeds United v Manchester United | L | 0-4 |
| Premier League | 14 Sep 1996 | Coventry City v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Cup | 18 Sep 1996 | Leeds United v Darlington | D | 2-2 |
| League Cup | 24 Sep 1996 | Darlington v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| Premier League | 28 Sep 1996 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| Premier League | 12 Oct 1996 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | W | 2-0 |
| Premier League | 19 Oct 1996 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Cup | 23 Oct 1996 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | L | 1-2 |
| Premier League | 26 Oct 1996 | Arsenal v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| Premier League | 02 Nov 1996 | Leeds United v Sunderland | W | 3-0 |
| Premier League | 16 Nov 1996 | Leeds United v Liverpool | L | 0-2 |
| Premier League | 23 Nov 1996 | Southampton v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| Premier League | 01 Dec 1996 | Leeds United v Chelsea | W | 2-0 |
| Premier League | 07 Dec 1996 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 14 Dec 1996 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 21 Dec 1996 | Everton v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 26 Dec 1996 | Leeds United v Coventry City | L | 1-3 |
| Premier League | 28 Dec 1996 | Manchester United v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| Premier League | 01 Jan 1997 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| Premier League | 11 Jan 1997 | Leeds United v Leicester City | W | 3-0 |
| FA Cup | 14 Jan 1997 | Crystal Palace v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| FA Cup | 20 Jan 1997 | West Ham United v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| FA Cup | 25 Jan 1997 | Leeds United v Crystal Palace | W | 1-0 |
| Premier League | 29 Jan 1997 | Leeds United v Derby County | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 01 Feb 1997 | Leeds United v Arsenal | D | 0-0 |
| FA Cup | 04 Feb 1997 | Arsenal v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| FA Cup | 15 Feb 1997 | Leeds United v Portsmouth | L | 2-3 |
| Premier League | 19 Feb 1997 | Liverpool v Leeds United | L | 4-0 |
| Premier League | 22 Feb 1997 | Sunderland v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| Premier League | 01 Mar 1997 | Leeds United v West Ham United | W | 1-0 |
| Premier League | 08 Mar 1997 | Leeds United v Everton | W | 1-0 |
| Premier League | 12 Mar 1997 | Leeds United v Southampton | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 15 Mar 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| Premier League | 22 Mar 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| Premier League | 07 Apr 1997 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 16 Apr 1997 | Wimbledon v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| Premier League | 19 Apr 1997 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| Premier League | 22 Apr 1997 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 03 May 1997 | Chelsea v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| Premier League | 11 May 1997 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 |
