Leeds United welcome AC Milan to Elland Road for their final pre-season friendly ahead of their Premier League return, 25 years after Lee Bowyer wrote his name into club folklore.
With the new Premier League season rapidly approaching, Daniel Farke is putting the finishing touches to the side that he hopes will cement Leeds’ place back in the top flight.
They face Italian giants, AC Milan, in their final pre-season friendly having looked solid in a 1-1 home draw against Villarreal.
Whilst the game will play an important role in Leeds’ preparations for the new season, it also marks 25 years since one of the most famous nights in the Whites’ recent history, as they embarked on a famous Champions League run.
Leeds emerged victorious on that occasion, although they needed a huge helping hand from the Milan goalkeeper, as Lee Bowyer secured a historic win.
Lee Bowyer celebrates his goal for Leeds united against AC Milan in 2000
19 Sep 2000: Lee Bowyer celebrates his winner for Leeds United during the UEFA Champions League match against AC Milan at Elland Road in Leeds, England. Leeds United won the match 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Laurence Griffiths /Allsport
Lee Bowyer scored in a famous Champions League win for Leeds United
The 2000/01 season saw David O’Leary’s young side make a thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals, as they took the scalps of some of the biggest teams in Europe.
However, a chastening 4-0 defeat against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in their opening group game meant Leeds looked odds against to enjoy much success in the competition.
When they took the field in a deluge of rain against an AC Milan team featuring the likes of Paolo Maldini, Andriy Shevchenko and Oliver Bierhoff, Leeds were huge underdogs. By contrast, club legend Gary Kelly was the oldest player in the Leeds team, at just 26 years old.
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However, fuelled by the energetic forward pairing of Alan Smith and Michael Bridges, Leeds were more than a match for their opponents and should have taken the lead in the first half after Eirik Bakke headed over from close range.
As the rain poured at Elland Road, the Whites withstood a barrage from the visitors, with Shevchenko going close on several occasions before Bowyer came to the fore.
With 89 minutes on the clock, Bowyer received the ball 30 yards out and let fly with a speculative effort. Although Dida appeared to have the shot covered, he inexplicably dropped the ball, and it bounced backwards into the net as he desperately flailed in the sodden goalmouth.
The goal sent the home faithful into raptures and ignited a famous Champions League run, as O’Leary’s side showed they could go toe to toe with the biggest teams in Europe.
Lee Bowyer celebrates his goal for Leeds United against AC Milan in 2000
19 Sep 2000: Lee Bowyer (#11) of Leeds United celebrates his winner during the UEFA Champions League match against AC Milan at Elland Road in Leeds, England. Leeds United won the match 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Laurence Griffiths /Allsport
Bowyer cannot explain his famous AC Milan strike
Bowyer went on to enjoy spectacular success for Leeds in that season’s Champions League, scoring six goals in 13 games.
Dida’s famous drop sparked his prolific European run and, speaking to Talksport in 2022, Bowyer admitted that he does not know why he took on the Brazilian international from long range.
Bowyer said: “I had a shot from distance. I don’t even know why I shot. I was 30 yards out, I can’t even read from that distance, but it was really late on in the game, pouring with rain.
Lee Bowyer – 00/01 Champions League Goals Stage Total
AC Milan 1st Group Stage 1
Besiktas 1sr Group Stage 2
Barcelona 1st Group Stage 1
RSC Anderlecht 2nd Group Stage 1
Lazio 2nd Group Stage 1
“The rain up north is not the same as down here in the south, and I had a shot, and Dida fumbled it. It went straight into his hands; it was an easy save for him to make.
“But now I joke and say it was too much power and it slipped through his hands and dropped just over the line, so we won 1-0, which was great and yeah, a great memory for me.”
25 years later, Farke’s side now have another chance to emulate Bowyer’s heroics in Leeds’ final pre-season game.