Leeds United, Champions League Class of 2001. Where are they now?

The Leeds United team about to face Valencia CF in the first round of the Champions League semi-final. May 2, 2001.

This slideshow looks at the careers of the 11 men in white after their memorable run in the 2000-2001 Champions League.

With the club now in the 3rd tier of English football which player has gone on to have the greatest sucess after Leeds United?

GK Nigel Martyn

Martyn, or England's No.1, as he was commonly referred to at Elland Road played over 200 league games for Leeds before moving to Everton in 2003.

An ankle injury in 2006 ended his 19 year career, in which he only played 23 times for England mainly due to former Leeds man David Seaman ubiquity between the sticks.

He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Leeds rivals Bradford City.

RB Danny Mills

All action skinhead Danny Mills made his Leeds debut in the 4-0 drubbing by Barcelona, a result which left Leeds fans wondering if 3rd place was even acheivable in a group with AC Milan and Besiktas.

Famed for his no-nonsense attitude Danny moved to Boro in 2003 on loan and then to Man City in 2004, after two seasons he found himself out of the reckoning at Eastlands and has completed short loan moves to Hull, Charlton (having been there prior to Leeds) and Derby.

He is currently in the City reserve squad.

LB Ian Harte

Harte enjoyed a tumultous time at Leeds, scoring a hatful of freekicks, at the time being likened to a left-footed Beckham in a dead ball situation, but always plagued with doubts about his defensive capabilities.

After Leeds, Ian spent two injury hit, but fairly sucessful, years in Spain with Levante before returning to England in 2007 to Sunderland. Never a regular he moved on to a brief spell with Blackpool before becoming a free agent.

Rumours linking him with a return to Elland Road are, as of yet, unfounded.

CB Dom Matteo

Dom Matteo, famed for scoring in the San Siro, on the way to the semi-final, left Leeds when they were relegated from the top flight in 2004.

After two seasons with Blackburn he moved to Stoke, playing a part in their promotion back to the Premier League after 23 years away.

Currently playing for Stoke's reserves and studying for his coaching badges.

CB Rio Ferdinand

Record signing Rio (£18million) was paraded to the Leeds fans before the home game against Milan, a match which allayed the fears sparked in Barcelona the week before. Leaving Leeds two seasons later for another record fee (£30million) to Manchester United.

Currently United captain Rio has amassed 3 Premiership, 1 League Cup, 3 Community Shields, 1 Champions League and 1 World Club Cup medal with the Reds.

As one of only two players to actually go on to win the Champions League after being at Leeds, Rio is a big shout for the most sucessful of the 11 here.

RM Lee Bowyer

At one time the most expensive British teenager, at a mere £2.8million, peanuts compared to the £30million Man U paid for Rooney eight years later. Bowyer was the engine of the Leeds team.

Lee spent seven years at Leeds but will be remembered for events off the pitch more than on it, a shame considering he was the Champions League top scorer in 2000-2001 with 7 goals from midfield (including the 90th minute winner at home to Milan which kickstarted Leeds' campaign).

In January 2000 Lee and fellow Leeds player Jonny Woodgate were charged with assaulting an Asian student outside a nightclub, a charge which would scupper his England career even though he was aquitted of a criminal charge.

After Leeds, Lee had spells at West Ham, Newcastle and West Ham again before joining Birmingham on loan for the rest of the 2008-2009 season. He scored a 90th minute equaliser on his debut against Leeds rivals Cardiff City.

LM Harry Kewell

H, as his adoring Leeds fans called him, was the poster boy of the Leeds team. Moving through the youth ranks before cementing his first team place, Harrison moved to Liverpool in 2003 in acrimonious circumstances brought about by Leeds' financial plight, his agent Bernie Mandic claiming half the transfer fee which Leeds fans took as a kick to the proverbials from one of their favorite sons.

Never a hit at Liverpool, Harry did however play in their sucessful Champions League final of 2005. Kewell left the field injured with Liverpool 3-0 down to Milan after 20 minutes. His replacement, Vladimir Smicer scored the second goal as Liverpool completed the greatest comeback in Champions League history.

Kewell moved to Turkish side Galatasaray in 2008, the Istanbul club being infamous to Leeds as two fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were stabbed to death in Turkey before a UEFA Cup game, in which Kewell played for Leeds.

CM Olivier Dacourt

Olivier joined Leeds from RC Lens in 2000 and after 3 impressive seasons with the Whites moved on to Roma. After Roma, Dacourt won the Serie A title with Inter.

He is currently back in England on loan at Fulham.

CM David Batty

Mr Leeds, in his second spell at the club after being part of the title winning side of '92 was forced to retire in 2004 due to injury.

He is currently out of football, occasionally playing in charity matches.

CF Mark Viduka

Viduka signed for Leeds from Celtic in 2000, playing for four years in Yorkshire. He is well remembered for scoring all four goals in a 4-3 defeat of Liverpool in his first season.

After Leeds, Mark moved to Boro and then Newcastle where he still is, alongside the other Leeds striker that night Alan Smith...

CF Alan Smith

Local lad done proud, Alan endeared himself to the Leeds fans scoring on his proessional debut away to Liverpool at age 18.

Drawing plaudits along the way to the semi-final from the likes of Paolo Maldini and Sven Goran-Erikkson, Smith seemed to play his best for Leeds in Europe.

After relegation in 2004 Alan moved to arch-rivals Manchester United in a move which left Leeds fans dismayed. However, the £7million cash Leeds recieved was far beyond any other offer the cash strapped club recieved. After impressing United fans with his grit and determination whilst playing in an unfamiliar central midfield role, Alan suffered an horrendous leg break in a live FA Cup match against Liverpool. After 12 months recovery, Smith never regained his place at Old Trafford and moved to Newcastle.

The Bench

Paul Robinson - Robinson took the number one spot off Martyn shortly after this game. He moved to Spurs in 2004, having a mixed time there and losing his England spot. Currently resurrecting his career at Blackburn, don't be too surprised to see him back in an England shirt, at 29, he's still a young keeper.

Jonny Woodgate - Involved in the long-running court case with Lee Bowyer, Woodgate was sold to Newcastle in 2003 before a big money move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Never making it as a first team player he moved back to England first with Boro, now at Spurs and a regular in the England squad.

Stephen McPhail - Scored his first two Leeds goals in a memorable match away to Chelsea the previous season, but never lived up to his promise. Currently at Cardiff City in the Championship.

Jason Wilcox - A surpising but popular transfer from Blackburn, Wilcox regained his England place whilst at Leeds. Moves to Leicester and Blackpool followed before retiring in 2006. Currently running his own Judo schools in the North West.

Eirik Bakke - The Norweigian international did well at Leeds before moving with David O'Leary to Villa. Currently back home in Norway playing for Brann SK.

Jacob Burns - After only a handful of games for Leeds in 3 years, Jacob moved to Barnsley in 2003. Current whereabouts unknown.

Management

David O'Leary - Adored by the Leeds fans for his passion and faith in youth, O'Leary left Leeds after the somewhat foolish publication of an autobiography in which he was appeared to cash in on the media furore still abound from the long running Bowyer/Woodgate trials, this coupled with a growing breakdown with Chairman Peter Ridsdale led to his sacking in 2002. After a fairly unsuccessul spell at Aston Villa, David is out of the game and living in Yorkshire

Eddie Gray - Another Mr Leeds (454 league appearances 1965-1983, manager 1982-1985), Eddie took over as caretaker manager in 2003, being replaced by Kevin Blackwell before the start of the 2004-2005 season. Currently working as a Leeds United pundit on Yorkshire Radio.

Brian Kidd - Kidd moved on to the England assistant job after Leeds in 2003, then to Sheffield United to work with Bryan Robson in 2004. Currently assistant at Portsmouth.

Peter Ridsdale (Chairman) - The man who many see as mainly to blame for the financial crisis at Leeds which saw them tumble two divisions just 6 years after the semi-final. Ridsdale left Leeds in 2003 with the club £103 million pounds in debt. Currently chairman of Championship side Cardiff City.

Conclusion

So who has had the most success after Leeds?

It's got to be Rio. He's fulfilled his early promise shown at West Ham and Leeds to become arguably the best centre-back in the world.

Rock solid for England and Manchester United, the only thing missing on his CV is a World Cup, and in 2010, he'll be one to watch for.