Ex-Sheffield United ace Paddy Kenny takes aim at former Leeds United owner | OneFootball

Paddy Kenny has issued a fresh dig at former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino

Former Sheffield United and Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has issued a fresh dig at ex-Whites owner Massimo Cellino.

Cellino was a highly controversial figure throughout his Elland Road tenure, and was even disqualified by the EFL in December 2014, having been found guilty of tax evasion by an Italian court.

The Italian's takeover happened in April 2014, just months before his disqualification.

However, the entrepreneur, who formerly owned both Brescia and Cagliari, returned to Leeds' board in May 2015, this time being named as chairman and president.

Paddy Kenny hits out at former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino over 2014 overweight allegations

Kenny is, perhaps, best-known for his Sheffield United spell, having played for the Blades for eight years between 2002 and 2010.

The former goalkeeper, who later plied his trade in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, played a key role in the Blades' memorable 2002/03 season, which saw the South Yorkshire outfit reach the FA Cup and EFL Cup semi-finals, where they were beaten by Arsenal and Liverpool, respectively.

Kenny joined Leeds in the summer of 2012, and remained at Elland Road until moving to Bolton Wanderers in 2014.

The ex-QPR man's time with the Whites coincided with the Cellino era, and the then goalkeeper found himself at the heart of one of the Italian's most bizarre controversies.

Cellino alleged that Kenny returned to pre-season training in the summer of 2014 overweight, while as per The Guardian, the former Cagliari was also suspicious of the ex-Sheffield United man's date of birth.

The 47-year-old was born on 17 May, while the then Leeds owner perceives 17 as an unlucky number, and even had seats at Cagliari's stadium with the number ripped out and replaced with 16b.

Kenny was the West Yorkshire outfit's second-highest paid player at the time, earning £10,000 a week, as per The Guardian.

He didn't join Leeds on their pre-season trip to Italy in the summer of 2014, and never played for them again.

Meanwhile, taking to Instagram on Saturday, Kenny posted a photo which appeared to show he was overweight, alongside an image of himself in better shape, with the caption: "Hahaha when people thought I’d come back massively overweight.

"Pictures taken the same day. Club trying to get me out and, at the same time, the owner saying I’d come back over two stone heavy. Thick Italian."

Paddy Kenny was reliable in an otherwise underwhelming 2012/13 season for Leeds United

Aside from his aforementioned controversies, Cellino's time with Leeds also underpinned an era when the West Yorkshire club were languishing in the Championship, and had little hope of a Premier League return.

The Whites predominantly finished in the bottom-half of the second tier throughout the Italian's involvement, and never landed a play-off finish when he was at the ownership helm, or on the board.

In contrast, Leeds successfully won promotion to the Premier League under the ownership of Andrea Radrizzani in 2020, and under that of 49ers Enterprises in 2025.

The Whites also endured disappointment before Cellino's arrival, finishing just 13th in the Championship at the end of the 2012/13 campaign, seven points adrift of the play-off places.

However, Kenny can be proud of his efforts that season, as he was the only Leeds player who featured in all 46 league games, proving his reliability.