David O'Leary reveals Leeds United tried to sign Frank Lampard before Chelsea move | OneFootball

David O’Leary says Leeds United tried to sign Frank Lampard before his 2001 move to Chelsea, a near-miss that hindsight suggests may be among the club’s biggest.

“We tried to get Lampard, met Frank, but just top guy, top fella, chose well – he went to Chelsea instead. Remember van Bommel. He was interested because he was young, he’d seen a young, vibrant team,” he said on Stick To Football.

At the time Leeds were among the Premier League’s boldest sides, reaching the 2001 Champions League semi-final with a young core.

Lampard joined Chelsea in 2001 for £11m. He became their record scorer with 211 in 648 and won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League, central to their rise under Roman Abramovich.

Leeds had Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith, yet Lampard’s reliability and goals were never replaced as that side broke up. Back then Leeds still looked able to compete with Chelsea on and off the pitch.

The miss preceded the financial unravelling under chairman Peter Ridsdale. By the end of 2002, debt hit £78.9m, relegation followed in 2004, administration in 2007, then 16 years outside the Premier League.

Ironically, Lampard later became an unpopular figure at Elland Road. His rivalry intensified during Derby County’s 2019 Spygate flashpoint with Marcelo Bielsa, and Derby won the play-off semi-final at Elland Road amid “Stop Crying Frank Lampard” chants.

Source: Leedsunited.news