One moment in time: Howey and Wiekens stun Leeds in 2000

In partnership with

Manchester City F.C.

·26 février 2026

One moment in time: Howey and Wiekens stun Leeds in 2000

Same as it ever was…

Men's Team

Vidéos OneFootball

Legend: Colin Bell

While City go to Leeds this Saturday looking to strengthen our title hopes against a side hoping to steer clear of the threat of relegation, that has not always been the order of things.

Leeds v City | Match preview

Both clubs have enjoyed plenty of silverware historically, with Leeds actually succeeding us as champions back in the late 1960s.

And at that moment it’s Pep Guardiola’s Blues who are going all out for every competition we play in, while Leeds are focused on achieving a second year in the top tier.

However, back in 2000, Leeds were the side on the big European stage while City were freshly promoted back to the big time.

Men's Team

Haaland’s all-round game shows he’s more than just goals

Joe Royle had led us to back-to-back promotions from the third tier and our four-year exile from the Premiership – as it was then known – was ended.

We were under no illusions that staying up would be the main aim for the campaign and had brought in the likes of Alfie Haaland, Paulo Wanchope and Steve Howey to solidify those ambitions.

50% off 2025/26 Home kits

Meanwhile, David O’Leary’s Leeds were flying high after a third place finish the year before and a squad packed to the brim with internationals.

Our season began with two defeats and a win – a Paulo Wanchope hat-trick inspiring us to a 4-2 home defeat of Sunderland.

But a trip to Leeds in early September was the first major realisation of our return to the top-flight, with games against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool still to come.

Men's Team

How can I watch Leeds v City on TV?

It was sheer determination that saw us take the lead at a packed out Elland Road, with Wanchope - again our driving force in this one - meeting Mark Kennedy’s corner to thunder his header off the bar.

Howey was the first to react, forcing the ball home from a few yards out under intense pressure.

We had to ride our luck a little immediately afterwards, with Leeds’ chief scorer Michael Bridges hammering a bouncing ball against the bar and Alan Smith skying over the bar.

A Kennedy corner was the root of our second, this time being headed out to Gerard Wiekens on the edge of the box.

He took the ball down with his chest and rifled an unstoppable, if uncharacteristic, shot into the top corner.

Nicky Weaver’s goal came somewhat under siege in the second period, but aside from a Lee Bowyer header in the 56th minute, we held firm.

Given the context of the time, it was a famous win and one that felt like we truly belonged in the top tier.

Unfortunately, we struggled for consistency and were eventually relegated back to the second tier, with Joe Royle leaving his post a few days after the season’s conclusion.

But for one night only in that campaign, City fans had a taste of the high life again...

Little did we all know what was in store over the next quarter of a century!