Leeds United finally returned to the Premier League after a 16-year exodus in 2020. The Whites won promotion during Marcelo Bielsa's tenure to put an end to many seasons of frustration in the second-tier.
However, Leeds did spent a couple of years in League One - the third division of English football. They ended their stay by finishing second in 2009/10 under Simon Grayson, who became the first manager in four years to complete a full season as Leeds boss and celebrated it by winning the club's first promotion in two decades.
It was a memorable campaign for the Whites, who pipped Millwall to the final promotion spot after Norwich City comfortably lifted the title. So, nearly 12 years on from that campaign, we run through the popular players in Leeds' promotion-winning squad from 2010.
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Casper Ankergren
Following his retirement from professional football in 2017, Ankergren is now the Head of Goalkeeping at Danish Superliga side Brondby IF. He clocked up over 100 appearances for the Whites, before joining Brighton & Hove Albion, where he was at for seven years.
Andrew Hughes
An experienced campaigner, Hughes did an excellent job at filling in at left-back during that season. He since went on to play for Scunthorpe United and Charlton Athletic. Upon retiring, Hughes spent a short spell as caretaker manager at Bolton Wanderers and as a coach at Sheffield Wednesday and is now at Norwich City in the position of loan manager.
Neil Collins
Collins played a key role in helping Leeds secure promotion. The defender impressed that much that during his brief time on loan that the move was made permanent in the summer. However, just six months later he was sold to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United. He retired in 2017 after a spell in America with Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Richard Naylor
The 45-year-old, who spent two years at Leeds, returned to the club in 2012 as the Under 18s manager. Naylor also had a brief spell as the Whites' caretaker assistant manager after the sacking of Neil Warnock.
Patrick Kisnorbo
One of four Leeds players in the League One Team of the Year, Kisnorbo was a rock at the back as Leeds won promotion to the Championship. Since retiring in 2015, Kisnorbo has gone into coaching and has been working at his native Melbourne City for the past five seasons. After managing the youth team and the women's side, he is now the first-boss, having won 22 of his 40 matches in charge to date and claiming the title last season.
Leigh Bromby
Bromby finished his career at the Whites after previously donning the likes of Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford. He joined the coaching set-up at Leeds in 2013 and spent just a year at the club, before leaving with former team-mate Naylor. Now, Bromby is the Head of Football Operations at Huddersfield Town following a spell as their Academy Manager.
Michael Doyle
A ball-winning midfielder, Doyle was a terrific signing for Leeds and has since gone on to have a rather remarkable career in the game. Now 40 years-of-age, Doyle is still playing at National League side Notts County and is also their assistant head coach.
Max Gradel
Initially signed on loan from Leicester City before joining on a permanent basis in January 2010, tricky winger Gradel proved an instant hit and played a vital role in the club's promotion tilt, as he racked up 34 appearances, scoring six goals and claiming six assists. The Ivory Coast star, however, only stayed at Elland Road until the end of the 2010/11 campaign before sealing a move to French outfit Saint-Etienne, who signed the now-32-year-old for a fee of around £3million.
Jonny Howson
Howson was one of the younger members of this Leeds squad and it was the year that he really established himself as a first-team regular. He was an important player for Norwich City, before signing for Middlesbrough, where he is still a starter in Chris Wilder's team.
Neil Kilkenny
After enjoying spells in England at Leeds, Preston and Bristol City, Kilkenny returned to Australia in 2016 as a Melbourne City player. He had another successful spell at Perth Glory, before joining Western United last summer and the 36-year-old remains a firm favourite at the Australia club.
Robert Snodgrass
After starting his career at Livingston, Snodgrass first made the move to England with Leeds in 2008 and it proved to be a very successful spell for the winger, who chipped in with 10 goals and 15 assists in 56 games for the Whites during that season. He has also featured for the likes of Hull City, Aston Villa and West Ham United, before Luton Town decided to sign him in January until the end of the campaign.
Bradley Johnson
Another popular member of the squad, Johnson's time at Elland Road will be remembered fondly for how he bounced back from a difficult time under Gary McAllister and became one of Grayson's best players. The 34-year-old is currently plying his trade with Blackburn Rovers, having also featured for Norwich and Derby County.
Jermaine Beckford
The PFA League One Player of the Year in 09/10, Beckford scored 25 goals for the Whites in what was his final season at the club, before joining Premier League Everton. Beckford, who played for Leicester City and Bury, has since appeared several times on TV following his retirement from football in 2019.
Lucianno Becchio
A true Leeds cult hero, Becchio was arguably as important to the side as Beckford after netting 20 times in all competitions. He ended up finishing his Whites career with four double-digit returns - an impressive feat for a striker who struggled virtually everywhere else he went, including Norwich and Rotherham.
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