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30 Greatest Teams in Premier League History

By Benjamin Taylor

Who will lift this trophy in May and join these 30 teams among the greatest ever to compete in the English Premier League? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Who will lift this trophy in May and join these 30 teams among the greatest ever to compete in the English Premier League? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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11. Leeds United, 1999-01

29 Dec 2001: Lee Bowyer of Leeds celebrates scoring the winning goal in the last few minutes during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Southampton and Leeds United at St.Mary’s Stadium, Southampton. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
29 Dec 2001: Lee Bowyer of Leeds celebrates scoring the winning goal in the last few minutes during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Southampton and Leeds United at St.Mary’s Stadium, Southampton. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images /

Starting XI: N. Martyn (GK); G. Kelly, D. Matteo/J. Woodgate, R. Ferdinand/L. Radebe, I. Harte; L. Bowyer, D. Batty, O. Dacourt, H. Kewell; A. Smith, M. Viduka.

There was so much to like about David O’Leary’s Leeds side at the run of the century. They were young, entertaining, and provided a genuine threat to the established duopoly of Manchester United and Arsenal.

During the 1999-00 season, seven starters (including three of their back four) were academy graduates: full backs Gary Kelly and Ian Harte; centre-back Jonathan Woodgate; midfielders Lee Bowyer, David Batty and Harry Kewell; and attacker Alan Smith. Even pricey summer signings Rio Ferdinand, Olivier Dacourt, and Mark Viduka were all under the age of 25, as O’Leary made it clear he was a building a young squad that could grow together.

Peculiarly, Leeds boasted four top class central defenders, with ultra-talented youngsters Woodgate and Ferdinand rotating with the versatile Dominic Matteo and veteran Lucas Radebe. More high-quality depth came in the form of super-sub Robbie Keane and Norwegian cult hero Eirik Bakke, as Leeds finished the 1999-00 season in 3rd.

The following season, while finishing in the top four once more, the team embarked on an extraordinary run to the Champions League semi-finals, where they lost to Spanish giants Valencia. But just three years later, after O’Leary’s departure and a financial crisis that resulted in the sale of several star players, the club were relegated from the Premier League in what was a staggeringly sharp demise.

Next: No. 10

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