This article is a list of notable footballers who have played for Leeds United. Generally, this means players that have played 100 or more first-class matches for the club. However, some players who have played fewer matches are also included, as are the club's founder members and some players who fell just short of the 100 total but made significant contributions to the club's history (e.g. Don Revie).
Players are listed according to the date of their first professional contract signed with the club. Appearances and goals are for first-team competitive matches only; wartime matches are excluded. Substitute appearances are also included.
Correct as of 25 May 2023 counting Leeds United first team games in either League, Cup or play-off games. Criteria for including players is 100+ games or being a particularly high profile player (e.g. Tony Yeboah)
Players in bold won the Player of the Year award on more than one occasion
William John Charles was a Welsh footballer who played as a centre-forward or as a centre-back. Best known for his first stint at Leeds United and Juventus, he was rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales. Charles is sometimes considered to be one of the greatest footballers in history.
EdwinGray is a Scottish former football player and coach. Gray was a cultured winger, who was an integral member of the legendary Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s, later twice becoming the club's manager.
William John Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer and manager. Regarded as one of the game's great midfielders, he combined precision passing skills with tenacious tackling and physical stamina. He played for Leeds United from 1959 to 1976, serving as captain from 1965, in one of the most successful periods in the club's history.
David Anthony O'Leary is a football manager and former player. The majority of his 20-year playing career was spent as a central defender at Arsenal, where his tally of 722 appearances stands as a club record. He played 68 times for the Republic of Ireland from 1976 to 1993, and was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Peter Patrick Lorimer was a Scottish professional footballer, best known for his time with Leeds United and Scotland during the late 1960s and early 1970s. An attacking midfielder and the club's youngest-ever player, he was renowned for his powerful strikes from distance. From 1984 to 1985 he was club captain. Lorimer is the club record scorer with 238 goals in all competitions. He was voted Leeds' ninth greatest player ever and on to the greatest Leeds United team of all time.
Lee David Bowyer is an English football manager and former professional player. He is currently the head coach of Montserrat.
Wilfred Copping was an English footballer who played for Leeds United, Arsenal and the England national team.
Ross McCormack is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liversedge.
Richard Paul Wesley Cresswell is an English football coach and former professional player who played as a striker. He played in the Premier League and Football League for York City, Mansfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City, Preston North End, Leeds United, Stoke City and Sheffield United.
Gordon Hodgson was a professional sportsman, born in Transvaal Colony, who is best known as a striker for Liverpool and as a fast bowler for Lancashire. He won two international caps for South Africa and three for England.
Jermaine Paul Alexander Beckford is a football pundit and former professional footballer who played as a striker. He began his career as a trainee at Chelsea, and played for Wealdstone, Uxbridge, Leeds United, Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United, Everton, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End and Bury. He also represented Jamaica at international level.
Vurnon San Benito Anita is a Curaçaoan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or full-back for Saudi First Division League club Al-Orobah. Born in Curaçao and raised in the Netherlands, Anita represented the Netherlands national team in 2010 before switching to represent the Curaçao national team in 2021.
Liam David Ian Cooper is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains EFL Championship club Leeds United.