The striker, who was known for his express pace, has kept himself in impressive shape
Mark Whiley Sports Reporter
05:00, 31 May 2026
Darren Huckerby
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Darren Huckerby looks very different from his playing days(Image: @DHucks6)
Ex-Leeds United star Darren Huckerby looks unrecognisable from his playing days after hitting the gym hard.
The rapid striker spent 18 months at Elland Road after arriving from Coventry City in a £6million deal in the summer of 1999. While he fitted the mould of David O'Leary's exciting young side at the time, he struggled for first-team action in the face of competition from the likes of Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Michael Bridges.
There were a few memorable moments, though, like his goal against Partizan Belgrade in the UEFA Cup and strike against Besiktas in the Champions League the following season. By the time Leeds had reached the semi-final, Huckerby had left for Manchester City.
Spells at Norwich City, where he remains a club ambassador, and San Jose Earthquakes followed before he retired in 2009 at the age of 33. Footballers often let their fitness slide in retirement but not Huckerby, now 50, who sports an impressive ripped physique.
Darren Huckerby
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Huckerby, now 50, is a regular in the gym(Image: @DHucks6)
Huckerby is clearly a regular at the gym and enjoys the odd run too. In between, when he's not supporting his former clubs, he can be found enjoying a pint, especially Guinness.
The former forward regularly posts about his former clubs and will have been pleased to see Leeds retain their Premier League status. He has recently waded into the title battle by showing his support for Man City.
Darren Huckerby
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Huckerby is enjoying life post-retirement(Image: @DHucks6)
During Arsenal's game against West Ham earlier this month, he posted: "I think for the next 45 minutes the whole country are all West Ham!"
Huckerby has since posted from the FA Cup final, which City won, and hailed Pep Guardiola following his departure from the Etihad.
His spell at Elland Road was a frustrating one, and he has since admitted he didn't want to leave Coventry, then managed by Leeds legend Gordon Strachan. He told CoventryLive in 2010: "I remember getting the phone call from my agent that a fee had been agreed with Leeds.
Darren Huckerby playing for Leeds
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Huckerby had a frustrating time at Elland Road(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Allsport)
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"I didn't want to go but I went to Gordon Strachan's office and he explained that they couldn't refuse that kind of money for me.
"I was enjoying playing week in week out, and although Leeds were a higher-placed side at the time, I didn’t want to go there and sit on the bench. I was really disappointed when I left but the club needed the money so that was it."
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