A Premier League icon who starred for Leeds United in the 1990s once opened up on the reason he turned down a Manchester United offer to remain at Elland Road
A Premier League icon said he turned down the opportunity to leave Leeds United for bitter rivals Manchester United “because of the way the fans treated me”.
Tony Yeboah, who turns 60 on Saturday (June 6), is almost hailed as a god in West Yorkshire thanks to his cannon of a left foot and habit for netting wonder-goals. However, the same streets that hail him now, might have viewed the Ghanaian goal machine as Public Enemy No.1.
Yeboah hadn’t quite had chance to introduce himself properly to the Elland Road faithful when Sir Alex Ferguson and the Red Devils came calling. “At that time, Leeds were not sure I could play in English football,” Yeboah explained years down the line.
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“So they only loaned me for six months and wanted to test me before maybe the could sign me. After six months, I was fantastic and I had an offer from Manchester United.
“But I decided to stay at Leeds because of the way the fans treated me. I couldn’t have gone to any other club.”
“I always remember my first game against QPR. I received a pass and my touch was poor, but all of the stadium, everyone was clapping for me.
“From then, I could see that my future in Leeds was going to be bright. Thank God Leeds United came to my life and I became a very, very great footballer.”
Yeboah quickly became an icon in Leeds, but if there’s one moment that stands above all else, it’s his wonder-strike against Liverpool. David James could only stand and watch as Yeboah lashed an unstoppable volley past him, off the crossbar and into the net, in a win at Elland Road.
“From my youth, I was a Liverpool fan because of John Barnes. Watching English football on television, you saw John Barnes playing and it made black people so proud.
“Before that game, I was so determined. I was going to face Barnes, Ian Rush; players I used to adore. I had to prove to them I was also a very good player. Thank God everything turned out to be fantastic.
“I don’t think David James ever thought I was going to try from that angle. I had a bit of luck with the way the ball hit the bar and went in, but it was very difficult to stop.
“I am actually a left footer, that is the foot I use to dribble with. But when it comes to shooting, I don’t mind both sides. I can use my right.”
However, he would even top that strike a couple of weeks later, with his goal of the season effort against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park. He said: “The one against Wimbledon is better, in terms of technique.
“But if you consider the opponents, Liverpool were my idols, the game was live on television, the emotion and size of the crowd, the Liverpool goal is my favourite.”