Leeds United Playing Squad for the Championship 2004-05 Season
The Chief
Lucas Radebe Defender - central
Squad Number: 5
International: South African full
Signed by Howard Wilkinson for just £250,000 in 1994 Lucas went on to captain both club and Bafan Bafana, the South African national side. Tremendously loyal, a footballing icon and ambassador in his own country, Lucas has been plagued with knee injuries over the last three seasons. 2002-03 under Venables he played at the end with crippling pain in his knees to save the club from relegation due to an inexplicable shortage of England international-class central defenders (Rio and Woodgate- where are they now? Answers on a postcard to Pillock Ridsdale, c/o Barnsley FC). It was so bad that after games he couldn't train or even walk up the stairs at his home!
After surgery in the summer of 2003 the problem hasn't completely gone away. Following relegation Lucas was forthright about some of the players not trying. Despite relegation the club offered him a one-year extension to take him into his testimonial year and he will take on coaching duties this season (2004-05). Lucas expects to return to South Africa eventually to coach there.. www.leedsutd365.co.uk verdict: great servant to the club, simply the best
