The 2015-16 season was another challenging chapter for Leeds United, culminating in a 13th place finish in the Championship. Despite hopes for a resurgence, the campaign was marked by managerial instability and a struggle for consistency.
Managerial Changes
Uwe Rösler (Until October 19, 2015)
Following the dismissal of Neil Redfearn in the summer, owner Massimo Cellino appointed Uwe Rösler as head coach. Rösler, who previously had a successful spell with Brentford, faced significant challenges after being sacked from Wigan Athletic during their relegation battle the prior season. His tenure at Leeds was brief, as he won only 2 of his first 10 league matches, despite drawing 5.
Steve Evans (From October 19, 2015)
After Rösler’s departure, Steve Evans took over the managerial reins. Evans, previously in charge at Rotherham United, initially struggled to improve results. However, as the season progressed, the team showed some signs of improvement. Despite the upswing, inconsistency plagued the squad, resulting in another mid-table finish.
League Performance
Leeds United’s performance in the Championship was disappointing, ending the season in 13th place. This was a continuation of their struggles in the league, as they failed to mount a serious challenge for promotion. The club’s inability to maintain a strong run of form left fans yearning for a turnaround.
Other Competitions
FA Cup
In the FA Cup, Leeds managed to reach the fifth round, providing a brief moment of excitement in an otherwise tumultuous season.
League Cup
The campaign in the League Cup ended prematurely, as Leeds were eliminated in the first round.
Top Scorer
The standout performer for Leeds United this season was Chris Wood, who finished as the club’s top scorer with 13 goals. His contributions were crucial in a season characterized by inconsistency and underperformance.
Player Departures and Youth Integration
The summer transfer window saw a number of departures, including Billy Sharp, who left to rejoin Sheffield United after a disappointing stint, scoring only 5 goals in the previous season. The lack of significant new signings combined with an injury crisis forced Evans to rely on emerging talent. Notably, Kalvin Phillips emerged as a key player, foreshadowing his future importance to the team.
Conclusion
The 2015-16 season for Leeds United was a mix of managerial changes, player transitions, and the continued struggle for stability in the Championship. With a disappointing league finish and a reliance on youth, the club aimed to rebuild and foster talent for future campaigns. As the season ended, the search for a new manager began once again, marking the third consecutive year of managerial upheaval at Elland Road.
Championship 2015-16 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnley | 46 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 72 | 35 | +37 | 93 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 63 | 31 | +32 | 89 |
| 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 24 | 17 | 5 | 72 | 42 | +30 | 89 |
| 4 | Hull City | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 69 | 35 | +34 | 83 |
| 5 | Derby County | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 66 | 43 | +23 | 78 |
| 6 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 66 | 45 | +21 | 74 |
| 7 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 53 | 51 | +2 | 69 |
| 8 | Cardiff City | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 56 | 51 | +5 | 68 |
| 9 | Brentford | 46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 72 | 67 | +5 | 65 |
| 10 | Birmingham City | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 63 |
| 11 | Preston North End | 46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 62 |
| 12 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 60 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 59 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 53 | 58 | −5 | 58 |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 55 |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 43 | 47 | −4 | 55 |
| 17 | Reading | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 52 | 59 | −7 | 52 |
| 18 | Bristol City | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 54 | 71 | −17 | 52 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 59 | 70 | −11 | 51 |
| 20 | Fulham | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 66 | 79 | −13 | 51 |
| 21 | Rotherham United | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 53 | 71 | −18 | 49 |
| 22 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 40 | 80 | −40 | 40 |
| 23 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 39 | 69 | −30 | 39 |
| 24 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 5 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 81 | −40 | 30 |
Leeds United 2015-16 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Championship | 08 Aug 2015 | Leeds United v Burnley | D | 1-1 |
| League Cup | 13 Aug 2015 | Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United | L | 1-1 (4-2) |
| League Championship | 16 Aug 2015 | Reading v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 19 Aug 2015 | Bristol City v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 22 Aug 2015 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 29 Aug 2015 | Derby County v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 12 Sep 2015 | Leeds United v Brentford | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 15 Sep 2015 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 19 Sep 2015 | Milton Keynes Dons v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 27 Sep 2015 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 03 Oct 2015 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 17 Oct 2015 | Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 21 Oct 2015 | Fulham v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 24 Oct 2015 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 29 Oct 2015 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 03 Nov 2015 | Leeds United v Cardiff City | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 07 Nov 2015 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | W | 0-3 |
| League Championship | 21 Nov 2015 | Leeds United v Rotherham United | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 28 Nov 2015 | Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 05 Dec 2015 | Leeds United v Hull City | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 12 Dec 2015 | Charlton Athletic v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 17 Dec 2015 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | W | 2-3 |
| League Championship | 20 Dec 2015 | Leeds United v Preston North End | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 27 Dec 2015 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 29 Dec 2015 | Leeds United v Derby County | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 02 Jan 2016 | Leeds United v Milton Keynes Dons | D | 1-1 |
| FA Cup | 09 Jan 2016 | Leeds United v Rotherham United | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 12 Jan 2016 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 16 Jan 2016 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 23 Jan 2016 | Leeds United v Bristol City | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 26 Jan 2016 | Brentford v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| FA Cup | 30 Jan 2016 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 06 Feb 2016 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 15 Feb 2016 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | D | 0-0 |
| FA Cup | 20 Feb 2016 | Watford v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 23 Feb 2016 | Leeds United v Fulham | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 29 Feb 2016 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | L | 4-0 |
| League Championship | 05 Mar 2016 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 08 Mar 2016 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 12 Mar 2016 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 19 Mar 2016 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | L | 1-4 |
| League Championship | 02 Apr 2016 | Rotherham United v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 05 Apr 2016 | Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 09 Apr 2016 | Burnley v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 12 Apr 2016 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 16 Apr 2016 | Leeds United v Reading | W | 3-2 |
| League Championship | 19 Apr 2016 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 23 Apr 2016 | Hull City v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 30 Apr 2016 | Leeds United v Charlton Athletic | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 07 May 2016 | Preston North End v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
