Mighty White

Kelly: Leeds hero

It's a big if, but if we had won something in the era of Harry Kewell, Jonathan Woodgate, Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler I definitely think the club would have gone from strength to strength.

Gary Kelly
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• Leeds United

He might not have been a big-scoring striker or a flashy midfielder, but Gary Kelly definitely ended his career as a Leeds United legend.

The Irish full-back enjoyed almost 17 years at Elland Road before his retirement in 2007 and was there throughout a rollercoaster period in the history of one of England's most famous clubs.

From the 1992 First Division triumph to the Champions League semi-finals to relegation out of the big time, Kelly experienced it all - although he admits he felt lucky to have been signed up in the first place.

Speaking to Ian Payne and Chris Kamara on Goals on Sunday, he explained how he'd arrived from Ireland as a centre-forward, but got lucky when former Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson spotted his potential as a full-back.

And given his scoring figures for the club, that was probably a smart move.

"I scored four goals and six own goals so I did well to hang around at Leeds for 17 years with that scoring ratio," Kelly said.

"I really enjoyed my time. I went over there as a centre-forward and one pre-season Howard Wilkinson put me up against Rod Wallace as a right-back and things just went from strength to strength.

"I've seen better right backs and I've seen better players let go and it's just the luck of the draw. If the manager likes you he likes you."

Respect

Kelly admits he has a lot of respect for Wilkinson, who steered Leeds to the title in 1992, and says his success may have set unrealistic expectations at the club.

And Kelly suggested his subsequent sacking in 1996 might have been a mistake.

He continued: "I remember going in to see Howard Wilkinson just before he got the sack and he was the one who caused his own problems by winning the title so early.

"After that the fans just wanted silverware after silverware.

"But what a man. He was brilliant for my career and I still keep in touch with him and I have total respect for him."

Silverware

Kelly was also at the club under David O'Leary when an expensively-assembled young squad reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before falling into financial difficulties and suffering relegation in 2004.

And he admits the club might still be at the top of the game if they had won a trophy under Peter Ridsdale and David O'Leary.

"When Ridsdale and O'Leary were there we just tried to have a go at so much," he said.

"Second or third was nothing, you need to be first and get some silverware into the trophy cabinet.

"It's a big if, but if we had won something in the era of Harry Kewell, Jonathan Woodgate, Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler I definitely think the club would have gone from strength to strength.

"You look back now from where we were - and I'm sure the fans and everybody who knows anything about football is fed up of hearing about it - but we had a good little squad and we were in the Champions League and everything.

"It just shows what can happen to a club if things aren't right on and off the pitch.

"Maybe they spent too much and then they got rid of a lot of big players and brought in a lot of loan signings.

"Everyone was in it. It wasn't just the backroom staff, it was definitely the team as well. They pick the team, but if the team doesn't perform then the buck stops with us."

Return

However, Kelly is confident that the team will return from their current slump under the guidance of Gary McAllister and Steve Staunton and is backing them for promotion, despite Saturday's home defeat to Oldham.

"Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet were fantastic last year, but Macca and Stan have come in and had a good start and a good win in midweek.

"A bit of a slip up yesterday but I'd definitely stick a few bob on Leeds this year."