The 2017-18 season was another challenging chapter in Leeds United’s storied history. After significant changes in ownership and management, the club aimed for a stronger performance in the Championship but ultimately finished in 13th place.
Ownership Changes
In January 2017, Andrea Radrizzani made a significant investment by acquiring 50% of the share capital of Leeds United, becoming a co-owner of the club. By 23 May 2017, Radrizzani completed a 100% buyout, purchasing the remaining shares from previous co-owner Massimo Cellino. This transition marked a new era for the club, with Radrizzani aiming to restore Leeds United to its former glory.
Managerial Changes
The season began with high hopes but soon faced turbulence. Following the departure of Garry Monk to Middlesbrough, Radrizzani appointed Thomas Christiansen as the new manager. However, Christiansen’s tenure was short-lived; he was dismissed on 4 February 2018 after a dismal run of results. Paul Heckingbottom, previously of Barnsley, took over management duties from 6 February 2018 but struggled to turn the team’s fortunes around.
Performance Overview
Leeds United began the season strongly, even topping the Championship table early on. However, their momentum faltered with a slump in form during October, and a failure to win any matches in January proved devastating. Notably, the team suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit at the hands of Newport County, a League Two side. The mounting issues, including rumors of unrest within the squad, led to Christiansen’s sacking.
Under Heckingbottom, the team’s performance deteriorated further. Leeds managed to win only four more matches for the rest of the season, concluding the campaign with a disappointing record, trailing only Sunderland in points earned after Christmas.
Key Player: Kemar Roofe
The season’s top scorer for Leeds was Kemar Roofe, who netted 14 goals in all competitions. Despite the turmoil surrounding the club, Roofe’s contributions stood out and provided a glimmer of hope for fans amidst the struggles.
Conclusion
The 2017-18 season was a stark reminder of Leeds United’s challenges in the Championship. With a mix of managerial changes, player departures, and inconsistent performances, the club struggled to replicate the near-promotional success of the previous season. Many fans were left feeling disillusioned, fearing that the optimism of the prior year had been a false dawn, returning to a cycle of mid-table mediocrity and occasional relegation battles.
Leeds United’s journey continues, with hopes for a brighter future under the guidance of its current leadership.
Championship 2017-18 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (C, P) | 46 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 82 | 39 | +43 | 99 |
| 2 | Cardiff City (P) | 46 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 69 | 39 | +30 | 90 |
| 3 | Fulham (O, P) | 46 | 25 | 13 | 8 | 79 | 46 | +33 | 88 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 72 | 42 | +30 | 83 |
| 5 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 67 | 45 | +22 | 76 |
| 6 | Derby County | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 70 | 48 | +22 | 75 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 46 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 73 |
| 8 | Millwall | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 72 |
| 9 | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 62 | 52 | +10 | 69 |
| 10 | Sheffield United | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 62 | 55 | +7 | 69 |
| 11 | Bristol City | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 67 | 58 | +9 | 67 |
| 12 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 57 | 60 | −3 | 60 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 59 | 64 | −5 | 60 |
| 14 | Norwich City | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 49 | 60 | −11 | 60 |
| 15 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 59 | 60 | −1 | 57 |
| 16 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 58 | 70 | −12 | 56 |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 51 | 65 | −14 | 53 |
| 18 | Hull City | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 49 |
| 19 | Birmingham City | 46 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 38 | 68 | −30 | 46 |
| 20 | Reading | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 48 | 70 | −22 | 44 |
| 21 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 39 | 74 | −35 | 43 |
| 22 | Barnsley (R) | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 48 | 72 | −24 | 41 |
| 23 | Burton Albion (R) | 46 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 38 | 81 | −43 | 41 |
| 24 | Sunderland (R) | 46 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 52 | 80 | −28 | 37 |
Leeds United 2017-18 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Championship | 06 Aug 2017 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | W | 2-3 |
| League Cup | 09 Aug 2017 | Leeds United v Port Vale | W | 4-1 |
| League Championship | 12 Aug 2017 | Leeds United v Preston North End | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 15 Aug 2017 | Leeds United v Fulham | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 19 Aug 2017 | Sunderland v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Cup | 22 Aug 2017 | Leeds United v Newport County | W | 5-1 |
| League Championship | 26 Aug 2017 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 09 Sep 2017 | Leeds United v Burton Albion | W | 5-0 |
| League Championship | 12 Sep 2017 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 16 Sep 2017 | Millwall v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Cup | 19 Sep 2017 | Burnley v Leeds United | W | 2-2 (3-5) |
| League Championship | 23 Sep 2017 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | W | 3-2 |
| League Championship | 26 Sep 2017 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 01 Oct 2017 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 14 Oct 2017 | Leeds United v Reading | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 21 Oct 2017 | Bristol City v Leeds United | W | 0-3 |
| League Cup | 24 Oct 2017 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 27 Oct 2017 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 31 Oct 2017 | Leeds United v Derby County | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 04 Nov 2017 | Brentford v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 19 Nov 2017 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 22 Nov 2017 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 4-1 |
| League Championship | 25 Nov 2017 | Barnsley v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 01 Dec 2017 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 09 Dec 2017 | Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United | W | 1-3 |
| League Championship | 16 Dec 2017 | Leeds United v Norwich City | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 23 Dec 2017 | Leeds United v Hull City | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 26 Dec 2017 | Burton Albion v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 30 Dec 2017 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Jan 2018 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | D | 0-0 |
| FA Cup | 07 Jan 2018 | Newport County v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 13 Jan 2018 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 20 Jan 2018 | Leeds United v Millwall | L | 3-4 |
| League Championship | 30 Jan 2018 | Hull City v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 03 Feb 2018 | Leeds United v Cardiff City | L | 1-4 |
| League Championship | 10 Feb 2018 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 18 Feb 2018 | Leeds United v Bristol City | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 21 Feb 2018 | Derby County v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 24 Feb 2018 | Leeds United v Brentford | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 02 Mar 2018 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 07 Mar 2018 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 0-3 |
| League Championship | 10 Mar 2018 | Reading v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 17 Mar 2018 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 30 Mar 2018 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 03 Apr 2018 | Fulham v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 07 Apr 2018 | Leeds United v Sunderland | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 10 Apr 2018 | Preston North End v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 13 Apr 2018 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 21 Apr 2018 | Leeds United v Barnsley | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 28 Apr 2018 | Norwich City v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 06 May 2018 | Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers | W | 2-0 |
