Leeds former fan favourite misery compounded after Firmino development
Leeds United supporters fondly remember those who were part of that Marcelo Bielsa side in 2020 to finally return to the Premier League.
The 16-year hiatus from the top flight was painful, but now having since been relegated once more, fans are hoping that at the second attempt, Daniel Farke and his side do enough to get over the line.
A dwindling number of Whites players remain at Elland Road from that Bielsa team, with one star to have moved on falling on hard times in his latest career situation.
Leeds players meet former star with nightmare career problem
The international break, for fans and managers alike, is often an arduous period several times per season in which everyone just hopes their clubs’ players return unscathed. Leeds United are no exception with the Premier League at stake.
As a result, thousands of Leeds fans with no Welsh connection found themselves watching Wales in their contests with Kazakhstan and North Macedonia.
The latter of the two saw former Elland Road maverick Ezgjan Alioski back on the scene, having left in the summer of 2021 weeks before the arrival of Wales star Dan James.
James, Joe Rodon and Karl Darlow all came up against Alioski in the dramatic 1-1 draw in Skopje (25 March), with the versatile 33-year-old now solely relying on international breaks to play any kind of competitive football.
Alioski left West Yorkshire for Saudi Arabia nearly four years ago and signed for Al-Ahli, for whom the Yorkshire Evening Post (26 March) recognised the Macedonian had a stellar debut season with 15 goal contributions in 28 starts.
He has since been drowned out by the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s buyout of Al-Ahli and three fellow Saudi Pro League clubs, and subsequent signings of some of the world’s greatest players of this generation.
Alioski and Firmino both left out at Al-Ahli
Al-Ahli, upon bringing in the likes of Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy, had filled their quota of foreign players in the squad which meant Alioski was discarded.
After just four appearances last season, the veteran has now only been able to feature in continental competitions and is ineligible for league and domestic cup clashes.
| Ezgjan Alioski – Leeds United career | APPS | GOALS |
| 2017-2021 | 170 | 22 |
Alioski has played comfortably more games for his national team than for his club this term, and now former Liverpool hero Firmino has suffered the same fate.
While the ship has certainly sailed for any kind of return to Elland Road for Alioski, Leeds fans will be hoping he can rekindle his club career elsewhere after their reminder of his quirks against their current heroes for Wales in midweek.