1974-78 Jimmy Armfield: Rebuilding Revie's Team
Runners Up: European Cup (1974/75)
Semi-Finalists: FA Cup (1976/77), League Cup (1977/78)
Clough was replaced in October 1974 by former England captain Jimmy Armfield, who stabilised the team - Leeds finished 9th in the league - and took Revie's team to the European Cup Final, where they were defeated 2-0 by Bayern Munich in controversial circumstances. Peter Lorimer had a goal disallowed due to a dubious offside decision given against captain Billy Bremner, and referee Michel Kitabdjian also turned down two Leeds claims for penalties, firstly when Franz Beckenbauer handled the ball inside the penalty area, and then when the Bayern Munich captain clearly tripped Allan Clarke in the box. In response to the poor refereeing and losing the game, Leeds fans ripped out seats at the Parc des Princes stadium, which resulted in Leeds receiving a three-year ban from European football. Kitabdjian never officiated in Europe again.
Assisted by Don Howe, Armfield was responsible for rebuilding Don Revie's ageing but formidable side, a task which he achieved with some success. He retained a core set of players - Frank Gray, Terry Yorath, Gordon McQueen and Joe Jordan - and complimented them with shrewd purchases such as Tony Currie, Arthur Graham and Brian Flynn. In the four years under Armfield, Leeds played in a European Cup Final, qualified for the UEFA cup, reached FA and League Cup semi-finals, and never finished outside of the top ten. However, the board was impatient for greater success and in July 1978 the board dismissed him, replacing him with Celtic legend Jock Stein.
Read more about this topic: History Of Leeds United A.F.C.
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