The 2014-15 season was another challenging chapter for Leeds United, as the club finished in 15th position in the Championship. This season was marked by ongoing turmoil, managerial changes, and uncertainty surrounding the club’s leadership.
Chairman Changes: The Tumultuous Leadership of Massimo Cellino
Massimo Cellino served as chairman for the majority of the season, though he faced significant challenges. His tenure began on a shaky note, with the club changing hands once again after Andrew Umbers took over on 23 January. The instability at the top level impacted the club’s overall performance and direction.
Managerial Turmoil: A Rollercoaster of Coaches
David Hockaday: A Rocky Start
The season began with the controversial appointment of David Hockaday as head coach, despite his limited experience with only Forest Green Rovers in the Conference prior. Hockaday’s reign was short-lived; after a humiliating exit from the League Cup against local rivals Bradford City and losing three of his first four league matches, he was sacked the very next day.
Neil Redfearn: The Caretaker Hero
Following Hockaday’s dismissal, Neil Redfearn, the academy manager, stepped in as caretaker. Under his guidance, the team collected 10 points from four games, temporarily lifting them into mid-table. However, despite his success, he was overlooked for the permanent managerial role.
Darko Milanič: A Brief Stint
The club then appointed Darko Milanič, a Slovenian manager whose time at Leeds was even shorter than Hockaday’s. Milanič failed to secure a single win in his six matches and was dismissed after just 32 days, becoming one of the club’s shortest-serving managers.
Return of Redfearn
With Leeds facing relegation threats, Redfearn was reinstated. Although the team struggled early in the new year, a strong run from late January through March pulled them out of the relegation zone. However, off-field issues, including the suspension of Redfearn’s assistant, Steve Thompson, led to a poor finish to the season and strained relations with Cellino.
Top Scorer: Mirco Antenucci
In a season marked by challenges, Mirco Antenucci emerged as the club’s top scorer, netting 10 goals. His contributions were crucial in keeping the team afloat during turbulent times.
Other Competitions: Early Exits
Leeds United also faced disappointments in cup competitions:
- FA Cup: Eliminated in the Third Round
- League Cup: Exited in the Second Round
Conclusion: A Season to Forget
The 2014-15 season was one of upheaval for Leeds United, showcasing the ongoing crisis within the club. Managerial instability, a lack of direction under Cellino, and a squad facing challenges left fans with little hope. As the season came to a close, Redfearn was ultimately let go, marking yet another chapter in the tumultuous history of Leeds United. With six managers in just three years, the club was once again searching for stability in a quest to return to the top flight.
Championship 2014-15 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bournemouth (C, P) | 46 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 98 | 45 | +53 | 90 |
| 2 | Watford (P) | 46 | 27 | 8 | 11 | 91 | 50 | +41 | 89 |
| 3 | Norwich City (O, P) | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 88 | 48 | +40 | 86 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 68 | 37 | +31 | 85 |
| 5 | Brentford | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 78 | 59 | +19 | 78 |
| 6 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 78 |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 70 | 56 | +14 | 78 |
| 8 | Derby County | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 85 | 56 | +29 | 77 |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 66 | 59 | +7 | 67 |
| 10 | Birmingham City | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 54 | 64 | −10 | 63 |
| 11 | Cardiff City | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 57 | 61 | −4 | 62 |
| 12 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 54 | 60 | −6 | 60 |
| 13 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 60 |
| 14 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 71 | 69 | +2 | 59 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 50 | 61 | −11 | 56 |
| 16 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 58 | 75 | −17 | 55 |
| 17 | Fulham | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 62 | 83 | −21 | 52 |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 54 | 67 | −13 | 51 |
| 19 | Reading | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 48 | 69 | −21 | 50 |
| 20 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 10 | 17 | 19 | 44 | 54 | −10 | 47 |
| 21 | Rotherham United | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 46 | 67 | −21 | 46 |
| 22 | Millwall (R) | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 42 | 76 | −34 | 41 |
| 23 | Wigan Athletic (R) | 46 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 39 | 64 | −25 | 39 |
| 24 | Blackpool (R) | 46 | 4 | 14 | 28 | 36 | 91 | −55 | 26 |
Leeds United 2014-15 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Championship | 09 Aug 2014 | Millwall v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| League Cup | 12 Aug 2014 | Leeds United v Accrington Stanley | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 16 Aug 2014 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 19 Aug 2014 | Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 23 Aug 2014 | Watford v Leeds United | L | 1-4 |
| League Cup | 27 Aug 2014 | Bradford City v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 30 Aug 2014 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 13 Sep 2014 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 16 Sep 2014 | AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United | W | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 20 Sep 2014 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | W | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 27 Sep 2014 | Brentford v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Oct 2014 | Leeds United v Reading | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 04 Oct 2014 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 17 Oct 2014 | Rotherham United v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 21 Oct 2014 | Norwich City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 25 Oct 2014 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 01 Nov 2014 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | L | 1-3 |
| League Championship | 04 Nov 2014 | Leeds United v Charlton Athletic | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 08 Nov 2014 | Leeds United v Blackpool | W | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 22 Nov 2014 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 29 Nov 2014 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 06 Dec 2014 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | L | 1-4 |
| League Championship | 13 Dec 2014 | Leeds United v Fulham | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 20 Dec 2014 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 26 Dec 2014 | Leeds United v Wigan Athletic | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 30 Dec 2014 | Derby County v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| FA Cup | 04 Jan 2015 | Sunderland v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 10 Jan 2015 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 17 Jan 2015 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 20 Jan 2015 | Leeds United v AFC Bournemouth | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 31 Jan 2015 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 07 Feb 2015 | Leeds United v Brentford | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 10 Feb 2015 | Reading v Leeds United | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 14 Feb 2015 | Leeds United v Millwall | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 21 Feb 2015 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 24 Feb 2015 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 28 Feb 2015 | Leeds United v Watford | L | 3-2 |
| League Championship | 04 Mar 2015 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 07 Mar 2015 | Wigan Athletic v Leeds United | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 14 Mar 2015 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 18 Mar 2015 | Fulham v Leeds United | W | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 21 Mar 2015 | Blackpool v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 04 Apr 2015 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-3 |
| League Championship | 06 Apr 2015 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 3-4 |
| League Championship | 11 Apr 2015 | Leeds United v Cardiff City | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 14 Apr 2015 | Leeds United v Norwich City | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 18 Apr 2015 | Charlton Athletic v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 25 Apr 2015 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 02 May 2015 | Leeds United v Rotherham United | D | 0-0 |
