Former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa in a circular insert with Elland Road in the background.
Leeds United supporters are delighted with the current options that Daniel Farke has at his disposal to lead the line for the Whites in the Premier League.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha have both been in exceptional goalscoring form, with 16 Premier League goals between them and both players are currently outperforming their expected goals.
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Despite this, the 49ers seem eager to strengthen that position even further, with Adam Pope reporting that Leeds are on the hunt for another striker and goalkeeper in the upcoming transfer window.
However, it is a former Leeds striker who was at the club during the tenure of Marcelo Bielsa who has made headlines recently.
Kemar Roofe reflects on play-off heartbreak for Leeds in 2019
Roofe, now 33, was a popular figure at Elland Road during the three years he spent in West Yorkshire from 2016 to 2019.
Midway through his stint with the Whites, Bielsa was appointed in 2018, with the Jamaican forward playing his best football at Leeds under the mentorship of the Argentine manager.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Roofe claimed that he never wanted to leave United when he did, and reflected on the gut-wrenching play-off semi-final defeat to Derby back in 2019.
“I don’t know how much I can speak about it because I had to sign all those (non-disclosure) forms, but my first option was to get a new contract and stay at Leeds (in 2019) and get promoted,” he said.
“Even now, the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with in football is not getting promoted that season for Leeds. That still hurts me the most.”
Roofe was an integral part of the success Leeds enjoyed under Bielsa in the 2018/19 season, as United finished 3rd on 83 points, when the year prior to Bielsa’s arrival, they finished 13th on 60 points.
READ MORE: ‘He was really angry with it…’ – Former Leeds United striker makes incredible Marcelo Bielsa revelation – The Leeds Press
Data suggests Marcelo Bielsa transformed Kemar Roofe
Like so many others, Roofe was just another example of how Bielsa would radically transform players.
During his first two campaigns at Leeds, Roofe was a forward used in a variety of positions across the front line.
However, under Bielsa, Roofe was used almost exclusively as a sole striker, in a move that fully unlocked his potential.
Kemar Roofe – Championship Stats by Season (Leeds United)
Stat 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19
Appearances 42 36 32
Goals 3 11 14
Assists 7 3 2
(Sofascore)
Roofe was always a beloved player during his time at Leeds, particularly under Bielsa, but his recent comments regarding him never wanting to leave will ensure he is always fondly remembered in West Yorkshire.
READ MORE: ‘It changed…’ – Gary Neville delivers honest Leeds United relegation verdict