Leeds United 2025 in review: Joe Rodon shines, a long-awaited promotion party and fire beasts
The year 2025 will likely be defined by promotion and the party that followed — but 2026 will be crucial
Leeds United began the year as a Championship club and ended it in the Premier League, exactly as they had hoped.
The year 2025 will always be remembered for their return to the top flight with the second-tier title in their hands and the long-awaited bus parade through Leeds they missed out on in 2020, when Marcelo Bielsa’s side won the title.
Daniel Farke steered the ship through typically choppy West Yorkshire waters to seal the third Championship crown of his managerial career. Oddly, in the days after promotion was secured last April, the German’s future was called into question, but the ownership eventually backed him.
As the year draws to a close, Farke has come through another difficult period in the lower reaches of the top flight. Leeds have employed a new system and, crucially, points have followed performances.
The Athletic looks back on 12 months of Championship dominance, summer celebrations and a period of transition back in the Premier League.
Best moment
The bus parade, which engulfed Leeds city centre in May, will never be forgotten by anyone who was there. Covid regulations meant plans for a parade celebrating the 2020 Championship title had to be scrapped, so this felt like a double celebration.
The city had waited 33 years and had to bottle up 2020’s joy for an outpouring of collective triumph like this. Hundreds of thousands of fans flocked to Leeds from around the world to watch several open-top buses trundle along the city’s streets.
This will always be one of those ‘where were you’ moments in Leeds United folklore. It was a day for children to understand what this club means to their community and families, for parents and grandparents, partners and siblings to celebrate their shared passion in an event which only happens every few decades.
Across several hours, music blared, flares smoked, songs were sung, street furniture was climbed, and traffic cones were worn as hats (by captain Ethan Ampadu). It was a day for living in the moment, appreciating that shared experience and allowing the Premier League to wait.
Worst moment
Across a year which saw the team lose only one of their 22 Championship games, win the title, avoid any heartbreaking summer sales and then perform as expected in the Premier League, it’s hard to find too many horror shows. While there have been dispiriting losses this season, they are not wholly unexpected, and their distance from May’s judgment day numbs any pain.
The most difficult moment, which provoked genuine angst, arguably came in the spring when it felt like automatic promotion may be slipping from United’s grasp once again. While they would actually drop out of the top two the following weekend, the real gut punch came in a 2-2 home draw with Swansea City.
Brenden Aaronson and Illan Meslier had responded to recent criticism with a first-minute goal and first-half penalty save, respectively. Meslier would later, sadly, be found wanting for both of Swansea’s goals, the second of which came after the 90th minute, to deny Leeds a crucial win.
