The 2016-17 season marked a significant chapter in the history of Leeds United, showcasing the club’s potential to compete at higher levels in the EFL Championship. Under the guidance of Garry Monk, the team demonstrated resilience and ambition, setting the stage for future successes.
Garry Monk’s Arrival
In June 2016, former Swansea City manager Garry Monk took over as Leeds United’s head coach. His appointment came with high expectations, but the initial results were less than promising. Monk faced a rocky start, suffering four defeats in his first six matches. Despite these challenges, club owner Massimo Cellino opted to maintain his faith in Monk, a decision that would soon pay dividends.
A Promising Turnaround
After a shaky beginning, Leeds United experienced a remarkable turnaround. Monk’s tactical adjustments and strong leadership led to an impressive run of form that saw the team break into the play-off positions by early November. With a solid mix of youth and experience, Leeds began to emerge as genuine contenders for promotion.
Chris Wood: The Goal Machine
One of the standout performers of the season was Chris Wood, who was unstoppable in front of goal. The New Zealand international scored a remarkable 30 goals across all competitions, making him a key figure in Leeds’ promotion challenge. His clinical finishing was crucial in keeping the team competitive throughout the season.
FA Cup and EFL Cup Performances
Leeds United also made strides in domestic cup competitions during the 2016-17 season:
- FA Cup: The team reached the Fourth Round, where they faced tough competition.
- EFL Cup: Leeds advanced to the Fifth Round, showcasing their ability to compete on multiple fronts.
Challenges and Setbacks
Despite a strong start and promising performances, Leeds faced setbacks as the season progressed. An injury crisis and a goal drought for Wood hindered their promotion aspirations. By the final weeks of the season, Leeds struggled to maintain their position in the play-offs, ultimately finishing in 7th place with 75 points. This performance, however, was a significant improvement compared to previous seasons, marking only the third occasion since their relegation from the Premier League in 2004 that Leeds finished in the top half of the Championship.
Off-Field Developments
Off the pitch, the season was notable for significant ownership changes. Massimo Cellino began winding down his involvement with the club, selling 50% of his shares to compatriot Andrea Radrizzani in January. By the end of the season, Radrizzani acquired the remainder of Cellino’s shares, setting the foundation for a new era in Leeds United’s management.
Conclusion: A Season of Hope
The 2016-17 season for Leeds United was a pivotal moment that demonstrated the club’s potential for growth and competitiveness. Under Garry Monk, the team not only showcased talent on the pitch, particularly through Chris Wood, but also laid the groundwork for future ambitions in the Championship. The season ended with optimism as Leeds aimed to build on this progress in the years to come.
Championship Standings 2016-17
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle United (C, P) | 46 | 29 | 7 | 10 | 85 | 40 | +45 | 94 |
| 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion (P) | 46 | 28 | 9 | 9 | 74 | 40 | +34 | 93 |
| 3 | Reading | 46 | 26 | 7 | 13 | 68 | 64 | +4 | 85 |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 60 | 45 | +15 | 81 |
| 5 | Huddersfield Town (O, P) | 46 | 25 | 6 | 15 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 81 |
| 6 | Fulham | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 85 | 57 | +28 | 80 |
| 7 | Leeds United | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 61 | 47 | +14 | 75 |
| 8 | Norwich City | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 85 | 69 | +16 | 70 |
| 9 | Derby County | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 54 | 50 | +4 | 67 |
| 10 | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 75 | 65 | +10 | 64 |
| 11 | Preston North End | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 64 | 63 | +1 | 62 |
| 12 | Cardiff City | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 60 | 61 | −1 | 62 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 47 | 48 | −1 | 62 |
| 14 | Barnsley | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 64 | 67 | −3 | 58 |
| 15 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 54 | 58 | −4 | 58 |
| 16 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 55 |
| 17 | Bristol City | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 60 | 66 | −6 | 54 |
| 18 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 52 | 66 | −14 | 53 |
| 19 | Birmingham City | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 45 | 64 | −19 | 53 |
| 20 | Burton Albion | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 49 | 63 | −14 | 52 |
| 21 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 62 | 72 | −10 | 51 |
| 22 | Blackburn Rovers (R) | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 53 | 65 | −12 | 51 |
| 23 | Wigan Athletic (R) | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 42 |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | 5 | 8 | 33 | 40 | 98 | −58 | 23 |
Leeds United 2016-17 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Championship | 07 Aug 2016 | Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| League Cup | 10 Aug 2016 | Fleetwood Town v Leeds United | W | 2-2 (4-5) |
| League Championship | 13 Aug 2016 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 16 Aug 2016 | Leeds United v Fulham | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 20 Aug 2016 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Cup | 23 Aug 2016 | Luton Town v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 27 Aug 2016 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 10 Sep 2016 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 13 Sep 2016 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 17 Sep 2016 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Cup | 20 Sep 2016 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 24 Sep 2016 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 27 Sep 2016 | Bristol City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Oct 2016 | Leeds United v Barnsley | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 15 Oct 2016 | Derby County v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 18 Oct 2016 | Leeds United v Wigan Athletic | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 22 Oct 2016 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Cup | 25 Oct 2016 | Leeds United v Norwich City | W | 2-2 (3-2) |
| League Championship | 29 Oct 2016 | Leeds United v Burton Albion | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 05 Nov 2016 | Norwich City v Leeds United | W | 2-3 |
| League Championship | 20 Nov 2016 | Leeds United v Newcastle United | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 26 Nov 2016 | Rotherham United v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Cup | 29 Nov 2016 | Liverpool v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 03 Dec 2016 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 09 Dec 2016 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 13 Dec 2016 | Leeds United v Reading | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 17 Dec 2016 | Leeds United v Brentford | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 26 Dec 2016 | Preston North End v Leeds United | W | 1-4 |
| League Championship | 29 Dec 2016 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 02 Jan 2017 | Leeds United v Rotherham United | W | 3-0 |
| FA Cup | 09 Jan 2017 | Cambridge United v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 13 Jan 2017 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 21 Jan 2017 | Barnsley v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| League Championship | 25 Jan 2017 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | W | 2-0 |
| FA Cup | 29 Jan 2017 | Sutton United v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Feb 2017 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 05 Feb 2017 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 11 Feb 2017 | Leeds United v Cardiff City | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 14 Feb 2017 | Leeds United v Bristol City | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 18 Feb 2017 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 25 Feb 2017 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 03 Mar 2017 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | W | 1-3 |
| League Championship | 07 Mar 2017 | Fulham v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 11 Mar 2017 | Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 18 Mar 2017 | Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Apr 2017 | Reading v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 04 Apr 2017 | Brentford v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 08 Apr 2017 | Leeds United v Preston North End | W | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 14 Apr 2017 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 17 Apr 2017 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 22 Apr 2017 | Burton Albion v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 29 Apr 2017 | Leeds United v Norwich City | D | 3-3 |
| League Championship | 07 May 2017 | Wigan Athletic v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
