Former Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink narrates what happened in 1999 when he forced a move from the club.
Leeds can boast of being one of the biggest and greatest clubs in the whole of England. One of the club’s best eras was at the tail end of the 90s. George Graham had rejuvenated the club, and taken them into European football. The club was on a high and made some key signings in the later years, including Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink.
Most Read on The Leeds Press
Fans have felt the pain of losing Raphinha, Kalvin Phillips and Archie Gray in recent years, but there is one exit the club faithful will never forget. It had the whole of West Yorkshire up in arms back in 1999.
QUIZ: Can you name these past and present Leeds United players?
Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink recalls Leeds United exit
Credit: Imago
Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink arrived in England in 1997 for a huge £2million fee. He immediately set the league alight, and became one of the club’s best players. Hasselbaink scored 34 goals in the Premier League over two seasons with Leeds, and was widely known as one of the best strikers in Europe. However, his exit ruined his reputation in West Yorkshire.
But all these years later, Hasselbaink blames the club for how they handled the fallout, and said that he would have found a solution:
”It did disappoint me how everything went. It made me look bad in front of the the fans was not necessary.”
”The perception that people have of me, the the difficult person blah blah blah that is never there.”
”I would have tried to find a solution.”
“I really didn’t want to go out of England again” ❌
“Leeds sold Jimmy, because Jimmy wanted to leave” 💬
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and David O’Leary remember the forward’s move away from Leeds 👇 pic.twitter.com/x4md4CjU4p
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 6, 2025
Ridsdale and Hasselbaink have since made up after transfer saga
There was a bit of bad blood between Hasselbaink and Ridsdale. When the striker returned to England, he refused to shake Ridsdale in the tunnel before a game.
Peter Ridsdale and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink have since made up after the transfer saga at Leeds United. The former Leeds Chairman signed the striker when he became deputy Chairman, and later Chairman, of Cardiff City in 2006. The two spoke about what happened, and why they decided to move on from the past.
Ridsdale spoke about what happened before the two reconciled:
”You laugh about it afterwards because um the story about how he joined Cardiff City and what I said to him was quite
interesting.
”Somebody who used to supply all the footballers with their cars, phoned me up and said, “I think you might be looking for a striker. I’ve got the best striker in in England who wants to join you.”
”So I said, “Okay, who’s that?” He says, “I’ll hand you over.” So he passed me over to Jimmy and I said to Jimmy, “Well, the last time I spoke to you, you wouldn’t shake my hand.”
”So he said, “Yeah, I’ve matured since then.”
”I said, “No, you’re unemployed [and he he was without a club.]”
”But we laughed about it and he joined Cardiff City and we went to a cup final with him.”
Related Topics