Leeds United fans will have been slightly gutted when former star Raphinha didn’t earn his flowers for an outstanding individual campaign at Barcelona in the Ballon d’Or ceremony. But despite his brilliance, fans should remember another star even more fondly for what he did under Marcelo Bielsa.
Raphinha joined Leeds after just one season at French outfit Rennes, where he was largely average in Ligue 1, despite previously starring in the Portuguese top division after games at Sporting and Vitoria Guimaraes.
It was at Elland Road where the Brazilian star took off in his career, scoring six goals in his first Premier League season, before 11 goals the following campaign almost single-handedly kept them in the division.
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Last season saw Raphinha yield an incredible 34 goals and 26 assists in just 57 games, which Leeds fans will claim started in that magical season under Marcelo Bielsa. But it was Stuart Dallas that was their actual hero that season and he won’t get as much credit, thanks to two differing career paths.
Raphinha celebrates scoring for Barcelona against Valencia in La Liga action
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Stuart Dallas was the real hero under Marcelo Bielsa upon Leeds’ Premier League return
Dallas spent five years at Elland Road in the second-tier, seeing his name become well-liked in West Yorkshire, but his key role in their promotion to the Premier League put his name among various icons.
Leeds did have some outstanding players in their 2020-21 Premier League campaign, becoming arguably the most exciting team to watch in the country.
Patrick Bamford scored an unbelievable 17 goals to rank joint-fourth in the top goalscorer standings, whilst players such as Luke Ayling, Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich, alongside Raphinha, did incredibly to muster a ninth-placed finish – just six points off the European spots.
But Dallas was their best, and a real team player at that. Eight goals, including Dallas’ famous double to beat Manchester City with 10-men at the Etihad Stadium, as well as two assists saw Leeds upset the odds.
Leeds United v Burnley - Premier League
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
But the Cookstown-born star’s unspoken ability to play anywhere across the pitch was the best attribute in Dallas securing legend status at Elland Road.
Games at left-back, right-back, central midfield, right midfield, attacking midfield and left midfield made him a manager’s dream, seeing Bielsa label Dallas as ‘outstanding’.
Raphinha may have stolen the headlines with his Brazilian flair, but Leeds wouldn’t have finished near a continental spot if not for the Northern Irishman.
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa managing in the Premier League
Photo by Nick Potts – Pool/Getty Images
Stuart Dallas’ career all but ended after Raphinha departed for Barcelona
It’s a shame to see where Raphinha and Dallas’ careers have ended up after that season, on Dallas’ behalf.
Raphinha kept Leeds in the league on the final day with a deciding penalty against Brentford, at Burnley’s expense.
However, just four games prior, Dallas had seriously injured his knee and missed the entirety of the season after, where Leeds were relegated from the Premier League.
In that time, Raphinha had moved to Barcelona and registered 22 goal involvements in just 50 games, a marked improvement for the Blaugrana.
Unable to recover from his injury, Dallas announced his retirement in April 2024, whilst Raphinha has since been nominated and come fifth in the Ballon d’Or.
But no matter what happens, Dallas will still be regarded as having a better season than the Porto Alegre-born star in Leeds’ finest hour of the past two decades.