Cream of the Crop: 6 of the Best Leeds United Academy Products in Recent History
Leeds United's famed youth academy - which has produced current Leeds midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Ronaldo Vieira - is still moulding future stars of English football even with Leeds sitting in the second tier of English football.
From the cohort of David O'Leary's 'babies' in the early 2000s, to the recent fearless foursome of Charlie Taylor, Alex Mowatt, Sam Byram and Lewis Cook; Leeds United's academy has been one of the prides of English football in the 21st Century. Below is a list of six of the best players produced by the Whites.
6. Paul Robinson
The former England international - infamously known for that mistake against Croatia in 2006 - started his career at Leeds in 1998. Paul Robinson made 98 appearances for the Yorkshire club over seven years, where he largely played second fiddle to fellow England teammate Nigel Martyn.
'Robbo', who amassed over 400 appearances in his goalkeeping career, was a fan favourite at Elland Road. His time at Leeds is most fondly remembered for his last minute goal against Swindon Town in the League Cup. Robinson would go on to amass 41 caps for England, and the Yorkshireman is still fondly remembered on the terraces of Elland Road as being part of the team that reached the Champions League semi-final in 2001.
5. Lewis Cook
Lewis Cook burst onto the scene at Leeds in 2014 at only 17-years-old after being with the club since he was six. The centre midfielder went on to win Football League Young Player of the Year in 2016 and this year he captained England to success in the U20s World Cup - becoming the first England captain since Bobby Moore to lift a world trophy.
The midfielder - who is now at Bournemouth - recently won his first senior England cap and the 20 year-old is one of Leeds' finest products this decade.
4. Jonathan Woodgate
Despite being plagued by injuries throughout his whole career, Jonathan Woodgate enjoyed a very successful time at Leeds. The Middlesbrough native appeared over 100 times for the Whites, forming a strong partnership with Rio Ferdinand at the back in a Leeds team that were regularly challenging for the Premier League in the early 2000s.
Woodgate left Leeds for Newcastle due to Leeds' perilous finances; which also subsequenlty lead to the resignation of manager Terry Venables. Regarded as a 'jewel in the crown' by Leeds' former owner Peter Ridsdale, Woodgate is still acknowledged as one of Leeds' best defenders this century.
3. Fabian Delph
Now Pep Guardiola's make-shift left-back at Manchester City, Fabian Delph was once Leeds' only hope during the dark days of League One football.
The centre-midfielder made 44 appearances for Leeds, but was then sold by unpopular owner Ken Bates to Aston Villa for £6m.
2. James Milner
Local lad James Milner's became the second youngest ever player to feature in the Premier League after his debut against West Ham in 2002. The midfielder's tenacity and aggression made him one of the key players in a struggling Leeds team in 2003, engulfed in financial disarray.
James Milner's time at Leeds is fondly remembered. Milner was compared to Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney after a sublime performance against Chelsea in 2003, and fans still yearn for his return to Elland Road at the end of his career.
Boasting an impressive England career winning 61 caps, Milner was a gem in a Leeds team staring down the face of relegation from 2003 onwards.
1. Danny Rose
Despite not making a single appearance for the Yorkshire club, Danny Rose is indeed a product of the Leeds youth academy. Rose left Leeds to join Spurs in 2007 to muster up funds for a financially endangered Leeds, but his £1m transfer has left Leeds fans wondering 'what if?'
Rose may still help Leeds in the future however, as 10% of all money Spurs make from the prospective sale of the England international will go to Leeds, and if the Yorkshireman does indeed move to Man United for a rumoured £50m, the Elland Road faithful will be thankful for his services to Leeds' future transfers.