EX-SPILLER: Alan Smith

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Alan Smith revisits Leeds United days: that temper, one night in Florence, favourite strike and Valencia - Leeds Live

Grit and determination crafted the career Alan Smith made for himself at Leeds United after doubts around his temper and emotions at Elland Road.

The 37-year-old has retired from professional football after most recently playing for League Two Notts County last season.


To mark the change in his career, the former England international has been speaking to Mirror about his playing days, with plenty of column inches dedicated to the Whites.

Smith scored 56 goals in 228 appearances for the Whites between 1998 and 2004 before moving onto Manchester United.


Sir Alex Ferguson and Alan Smith share a joke during a press conference to unveil new signings Alan Smith and Liam Miller on July 20, 2004 at Carrington Training Ground(Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Asked about his days in West Yorkshire, he said: “I was a kid at 17 who respected and looked up to all players but when you were out there on the pitch you had to compete and you couldn’t show them respect.

“You have to believe in yourself.


“At Leeds at one stage, people kept thinking [of him], 'He keeps getting in trouble with his discipline, maybe he is too emotional to play for the club.'


“But we then went away to Fiorentina to play against Tel Aviv and I scored four goals. It is down to sheer single-mindedness, at times.

“When I look back and I needed a performance I have always been able to find one. It was through grit and determination.

“Football is a team game and I would always hope I was selfless for the team and always did my best for the team.”

Alan Smith celebrates after scoring his goal during the Leeds United v Metalurh Zaporizhya UEFA Cup first round first-leg at Elland Road on September 19, 2002(Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Aside from that four-goal haul in November 2002, Smith was also asked about the favourite goal of his entire career, and it came for the Whites.

“For the occasion, away against Lazio for Leeds United in the Champions League,” he said.

“As a kid we all grew up watching Italian football on Channel Four and to score at the Olympic Stadium in Rome was a special night in a 1-0 victory.”


Smith, who now plans to move to the US and continue with his new hobby of surfing, also reflected on one memory from United’s two Champions League ties with Valencia in 2001.

8 May 2001: Alan Smith is sent off after a horrific challenge on Vicente during the match between Valencia and Leeds United in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at Mestalla(Image: Laurence Griffiths/ALLSPORT)
Asked about the toughest opponent of his career, Smith said: “Roberto Ayala, the centre-half for Valencia.

“I played against him a couple of times. It seemed the harder you hit, the harder he got. He was a great Argentinian centre-half.

“They are renowned for how tough they are and he lived up to that.”