Rise and Fall

Dave Tomlinson brings us the inside story of Leeds United’s modern rise and collapse – from the rebirth under Marcelo Bielsa to the chaos that followed his dismissal and the relegation that shook a city. When Andrea Radrizzani took charge in 2017, Leeds were a fallen giant. Bielsa’s arrival changed everything. Promotion in 2020 ended 16 years of exile and restored Leeds’ identity with fearless, high-intensity football that made them one of the Premier League’s most admired sides. Behind the romance lay risk. Injuries mounted, the squad thinned and results faltered. Bielsa’s sacking in 2022 split the fanbase and triggered a turbulent new era under Jesse Marsch, followed by managerial chaos, recruitment failures and boardroom misjudgement. With exclusive behind-the-scenes insight, this book charts the decisions, personalities and power struggles that shaped Leeds’ fate. It is a story of ambition and belief, of modern football ownership, and of a club that rose, fell and now faces the hardest rebuild of all.

Dave Tomlinson is a prolific and celebrated author who has penned 11 books on Leeds United, including Leeds United: A History, Dirty Leeds: Don Revie & the Art of War, Leeds United in the 21st Century, Leeds United in the 1980s and 1990s, The Man With the Plan: Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds United, Leeds United in the 1970s and Doing a Leeds: The Implosion of Leeds United. He is the webmaster behind mightyleeds.co.uk.