One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that when it comes to Leeds United and Scandinavia, there is somewhat of an affinity between the two. I know we used to at least take pre-season trips to, especially Sweden, where we also built up quite a fanbase.
Though, it got me thinking, we’ve also been a bit of an attraction to players as well – I can definitely remember a few since 2000 – a couple of which became characters of sorts in the time that they spent at Elland Road.
I’m wondering now, how many you’ve thought of in the time it’s taken to read this – there’s definitely at least one that you’ll have remembered, though keep reading as I review my favourites. Oh, and in no particular order!
Pontus Jansson
Yeah, a player that I’m sure many of you remembered – the Swede signed on loan for us at first from Torino – one of a few of a handful of hopefuls that came in under Massimo Cellino and he seemed to be the best of the bunch.
He quickly established himself as one of the most important players in the team and struck up a good relationship with Liam Cooper at centre-back. It was all going so well for him as well – until he undermined Marcelo Bielsa in that game against Aston Villa; in his typical fashion, deciding to do his utmost to prevent them scoring a goal unchallenged after we’d struck controversially. Swiftly dropped and sold to Brentford, but, ha, what a character!
Kasper Schmeichel
It seems strange to remember that he played for us – I like to think we’d prepared him to win the Premier League with Leicester City. Ha. But, I know he came to us with a good pedigree and potential and he did alright. Of course, the son of the great Dane, Peter, he arrived with a bit of pressure on his shoulders, but in the end I was a bit sad when he left, despite him apparently not feeling loved by our fans.
Marcus Antonsson
Manager Garry Monk’s first signing for us in the summer of 2016, but he the Swede turned out to be a bit of a flop really. Overshadowed by Chris Wood, he scored just once in 16 appearances before we shipped him out on loan to Blackburn Rovers in League One a year later, where he fared a little better. I think he probably found his level.
Erik Bakke
Yeah, I bet you were all wondering if I’d forgotten. Probably our most successful Scandinavian player since 2000, Bakke was part of our iconic starting lineup that helped steer us to the Champions League semi-final against Valencia. I thought he was one of our most underrated players to be fair and his partnership in the middle of the park with Olivier Dacourt was at times one of the best in the country.
Tore Andre Flo
Go on, admit it – I bet most of you had forgotten this ex-Chelsea legend. Even I had to drag the name from the depths of my noggin, but yeah – in the twilight of his career in 2007 manager Dennis Wise brought his old teammate to Elland Road and the Norweigian forward became a fans’ favourite, netting four goals in 23 games. Not bad, not bad!
