Rio Ferdinand makes extraordinary Elland Road claim after Leeds promotion
Rio Ferdinand has made an extraordinary claim about Elland Road as Leeds United have won promotion to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side beat Burnley to the league title on the final day of the regular season and have ended their two-year absence from the top flight.
The Elland Road faithful celebrated the Championship win in style as they came out in numbers during the bus parade.
With the West Yorkshire outfit set to be back among the top teams, Ferdinand, who isn’t really liked much by the Whites’ fanbase, has shared his thoughts on the prospects in LS11.
Leeds United deserve Premier League promotion as Elland Road faithful phenomenal
Ferdinand believes the Peacocks belong in the top flight and deserve to be in the Premier League.
The ex-defender was also complimentary about the Elland Road faithful, terming them phenomenal.
| Championship table (2024/25) | Matches played | Points | Goal difference |
| 1. Leeds | 46 | 100 | 65 |
| 2. Burnley | 46 | 100 | 53 |
Ferdinand, who left the Whites for bitter rivals Manchester United in 2002, feels the West Yorkshire outfit’s supporters could fill their home stadium “two or three times” if it were any bigger.
Speaking on Optus Sport (19 May), the former centre-back said: “It’s great to see them get back in the Premier League because that’s where they deserve to be. Their fanbase is phenomenal. It’s a one-club city. They could fill out that stadium two or three times if it were any bigger. And it’s a great environment and atmosphere when you’re down there.”
49ers Enterprises must bring stability to Elland Road
Paraag Marathe must do what Andrea Radrizzani failed: to establish the Whites again as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.
Farke should demand quality signings from 49ers Enterprises in the upcoming transfer window to ensure the West Yorkshire outfit survive immediate relegation.
Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town have shown how hard it has become for newly promoted sides to avoid returning to the Championship.
Leeds must learn lessons from their rivals and build a squad capable of competing against the biggest teams in the top flight.
While there’s no doubt the Elland Road faithful will stand behind the team during their highs and lows, the Whites must put in some effort to encourage fans that work is being done behind the scenes for the betterment of the club.
It will be interesting to see how much money the Americans are willing to spend in LS11 next summer, with a lack of investment arguably detrimental to the West Yorkshire outfit’s goals.
Whether the 49ers can rebuild the Peacocks’ reputations remains to be seen.