Former Premier League striker Darren Bent has given his verdict on whether Leeds United or Manchester City are a bigger club today.
Manchester City and Leeds United have been like ships in the night in the history of top-flight football in England, rarely crossing paths in the Premier League era.
Don Revie’s Leeds side locked horns with the Citizens in the late 1960s, with City lifting the league title in 1967/68, the season before Revie’s side claimed the crown for the first time.
However, it was not until after Leeds were relegated in financial turmoil that Man City returned to the top of the Premier League in their modern era of dominance.
Now, with both sides back in the top flight and Daniel Farke preparing for his first clash against Pep Guardiola at Leeds next month, Bent has given his view on which club is bigger in today’s game.
Pundit Darren Bent
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Darren Bent on whether Leeds United are a bigger club than Manchester City
Speaking on TalkSport Drive on the 15th October, Bent weighed in on the debate over whether Leeds are still a bigger club than Manchester City.
According to Bent, Leeds no longer sit at the top table in English football, after spending a lot of time in the Championship and even League One in the last 20 years.
Bent said: “I hear a lot of people talking about this. Leeds are another one. ‘Oh, we need Leeds in the Premier League. Massive club.’
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
“And I understand that, but you spent a lot of time in the Championship. I think there was a bit of time in League One, and then you’ve now recently come back to the Premier League.
“Leeds don’t sit at the top table with City, but a lot of Leeds fans would go ‘we’re a bigger club than Man City.”
Stuart Dallas celebrates his goal for Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium
Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Have Leeds United won more trophies than Man City?
For much of the history of the two clubs, Leeds fans could point to their significant trophy haul in the 1960s and 70s as the foundation for their belief that they were a bigger club than Man City.
However, City’s success in the 2010s and 2020s means that the balance of power has shifted towards the team from the blue half of Manchester in recent years.
Until the 2011/12 season, Leeds had won three First Division titles to City’s two. But City have added eight since then to take their total to 10. However, Leeds have won more Inter-Cities Fairs Cups than City, taking that category 2-0.
Title Leeds United Manchester City
First Division / Premier League 3 10
FA Cup 1 7
League Cup 1 8
Community Shield 2 7
Champions League 0 1
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 2 0
FIFA Club World Cup 0 1
UEFA Super Cup 0 1
Although Leeds fans rightly maintain that they should have won the 1975 European Cup final, the record books show that Bayern Munich lifted that trophy, meaning City also have one more Champions League title than the Whites.
However, after years in the wilderness, Leeds are back in the top flight where they belong. Who knows, with the right investment and the redevelopment of Elland Road on the horizon, maybe that gap will close again in the near future.