LEEDS, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Detail view of the Leeds United club badge on the corner flag prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road on December 16, 2020 in Leeds, England.The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images)
Leeds United’s academy have produced some fantastic midfielders in recent years.
Archie Gray is doing the business for the Whites right now, James Milner, Fabian Delph and Kalvin Phillips both went on to become Premier League winners, while Lewis Cook is shining at Bournemouth.
However, there’s one Premier League midfielder who came through Leeds’ academy that many may not know about.
Indeed, Fulham’s Tom Cairney started his career as a youngster at Leeds, and speaking on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, the Fulham skipper has been discussing his time in West Yorkshire and his ultimate release from the club.
Cairney says that he really enjoyed his time at Leeds’ academy, complimenting the coaching in particular, but he says that he was actually released by the club at the age of 16 because of his size.
Cairney was released by Leeds because he was too small
The £3m man spoke about his time at Leeds and his release.
“Academy days I started off at Leeds United. A well-known academy, a very good academy. Looking back I’d say I started the academy a bit too early. It felt too serious too young. It felt like a job from a young age. An amazing academy, amazing coaches, but I was released at 16 because of the physical side of the game, I was very small, very slight,” Cairney said.
