Where are they now? Leeds United

Article by Lucas Whitehead

Any football club has made its fair share of bizarre signings, Leeds United included. After our ups and downs mentioned in our club songs, we have signed plenty of duds mainly due to financial restraint that has been placed upon our beloved club.

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Manuel Rui Marques

More commonly known as Rui Marques, the Angolan defender has transformed from being a below average defender into being a joke amongst many Leeds fans. At the time of his release in 2010, he was the longest serving player at the club, being signed by Blackwell on a Bosman in 2005. Rui Marques made only 90 appearances at the club, not many for a long five year stay (long for us!) After his release in 2010, he wasn’t signed by another club so instead I will write a small biography of Rui before his stay at Elland Road. Born in Angola, the country he represented internationally, Manuel and his family emigrated to Portugal when he was young, he spent his academy years at Benfica but he never made it for them. His first club were FC Baden, a club who the legendary Alan Brazil played for, of Switzerland who are in the Swiss third tier! The Swiss equivalent of the evostik postman’s wife’s uncle’s Wednesday night league. SSV Ulm only spent one year in the Bundesliga, Rui Marques played for this team in this season before he moved on to Hertha Berlin whom he never appeared for. A subsequent and successful loan to VFB Stuttgart in 2001 was made permanent and after a three year spell in Stuttgart, Maritimo of Madeira acquired his services for a year before we signed him on a Bosman. He went out on loan once, to Hull City. Rui Marques appeared in my first ever Leeds game versus Yeovil and his is a name I will always remember!

Habib Habibou

Mouhamadou Habib Habibou. What was Warnock thinking?!? This is the most peculiar signing I have seen in my short time as a Leeds fan. The man from Bria in the Central African Republic was signed on loan from SV Zulte Waregem in Belgium and his youth career was spent at Paris Saint Germain. Sporting de Charleroi were the first side who were graced by the presence of Habibou, 51 league appearances ensued with 14 goals. A loan spell at Belgian second division side AFC Tubize was successful and a loan at Steaua Bucharest led to interest from SV Zulte Waregem in 2010 who Habibou joined. He has spent three years at Waregem which were intercepted by a less than illustrious loan spell at Elland Road. Recently, Habib Habibou has appeared in the Belgian side’s Europa League campaign this year.

Armando Sa

A typical Bates era signing, cheap, loads of promise, overly publicised, and to be blunt absolutely dire. Billed as an experienced international footballer, Sa was signed on loan from Espanyol, Barcelona’s alternative side; to be fair to Sa, he was an experienced international, a Mozambican international. Sa played in eleven League matches for us all over the park at either full back’s position or in midfield. Armando Sa played for Vilafranquense, Braganca, Vila Real, Rio Ave, Braga, Benfica, Villareal, Espanyol, Leeds United, Foolad, and Sepahan. After a terrible stint at Leeds, Sa was transferred to Iranian second division side Foolad FC who were incidentally managed by his Father in law!!! After one promotion gaining season at Foolad he transferred to another Iranian side, Sepahan. A signing to forget for us and also one that will mesmerize the next generations of Leeds fans.

Paul Okon

Australian Okon began his career at Marconi Stallions, the club where Harry Kewell cut his teeth as an Australian legend. After two years in his homeland, Club Brugge wanted the services of Okon and 5 years in Bruges was ended when Lazio required and acquired his services as an indirect replacement for Roberto Di Matteo however his chances were limited due to a misaligned pelvis and subsequent, frequent knee injuries. 19 appearances in three years ensued and in 1999, he was signed by Italian rivals Fiorentina for whom he played 11 times. Glamorous north-eastern outfit Middlesbrough were the next port of call for okon where he played 28 matches, a loan to Watford in 2002 followed an underwhelming spell at Middlesbrough. Then, we stepped in. Regarded by many to be our worst and most pointless signing of all time only Tomas Brolin is in Okon’s class! Okon was lightweight, slow and not up to the pace. He went on to play at Vicenza, KV Oostende, APOEL and Newcastle Jets. He is currently coach of Australia’s under-20 side.

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