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As Leeds United prepare for their second season back in the Premier League, last season’s 14th-place finish has encouraged supporters to believe the club may be moving towards re-establishing itself as a force in the top flight.

Those hopes are not limited to the fanbase either, with legendary former captain Lucas Radebe also keen to see his old club rise back towards its past heights.

The South African led Leeds in the Champions League at the start of the millennium and feels the club belongs in Europe’s biggest club competition.

“It’s going to be challenging for Leeds during the 2026-27 season in terms of competing and staying in the league,” Radebe told FourFourTwo when asked about the campaign ahead.

“But hopefully in the future the club can entrench itself and someday qualify for the Champions League, and get back to where it belongs,” he added, reflecting on those major European nights at Elland Road.

“Throughout the years that I was there, we competed in the Champions League and had hopes of winning the Premier League. Hopefully we will bring those glory days back to the club.”

Manager Daniel Farke is preparing for his fourth season in charge of the Whites, and Radebe believes the coach and the club are ideally matched.

“The current manager, Daniel Farke, is a great person and fantastic boss. He isn’t a typical big-club manager, but is somebody well-suited to Leeds, whose fans are passionate about their football and want to see their team competing in the Premier League for the long haul once again.”

Radebe was still a Leeds player when he retired in 2005, but he continues to visit Elland Road regularly. He was officially appointed a club ambassador last year and has also been invited to speak at the club’s academy to pass on his experience to Leeds’ young prospects.

“I sometimes pinch myself just to wake up and realise that it’s really me who receives such a great welcome,” he continued.

“From nowhere, I became a household name in such a great club and beautiful city. It was an honour and privilege to return and be involved in a way that I could impart my experience and share my history with the academy youngsters – it had been a long time since I was at the club.

“There is obviously a change of personnel and everything is different now. But to have been reintroduced at Leeds with the current players, staff and academy was absolutely amazing. I felt the value they see in me being able to contribute positively to the club. Then heading to the Radebe Suite and seeing the passion of the Leeds fans – to the point they tattoo their bodies with my face – it’s another level. I didn’t set out to be a legend, but to play football and showcase my talent, and doing that at Leeds was a dream come true.

“I also know about the Radebeer, which has been brewed in my honour, although I don’t actually drink alcohol myself!”