A former Manchester United youngster turned reporter during Leeds’ promotion celebrations as their return to the Premier League was confirmed on Monday evening after Burnley beat Sheffield United in a crunch Championship clash.
Daniel Farke‘s side were on the brink of returning to the top flight following their match at Elland Road on the same day, with the league leaders thrashing Stoke 6-0 just hours before Burnley’s test at Turf Moor.
It meant the Whites only needed Sheffield United to avoid victory in the evening game, and Chris Wilder’s side did just that to count themselves out of the Championship’s automatic promotion places.
Burnley’s victory also confirmed the Clarets’ promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, with Scott Parker enjoying an excellent campaign following the departure of Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich at the end of last term.
The result triggered sensational scenes outside Elland Road, with fans gathering in their thousands to celebrate the achievement as they let off flares, climbed buildings and engaged in club chants.
Social media, meanwhile, detailed the players’ party, with former Red Devil Largie Ramazani speaking to some of his team-mates with a microphone during the celebrations.
Former Manchester United youngster Largie Ramazani was in the thick of Leeds’ promotion celebrations on Monday night
The Whites secured a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking on the back of Burnley beating Sheffield United
Leeds players jumped for joy and chanted for their success in footage shared after full time at Turf Moor
Left back Junior Firpo, who was in the Premier League with Leeds two years ago, said: ‘It’s an unbelievable day. I’m really happy, I just want to enjoy now.’
Harry Gray, brother of Spurs star Archie, meanwhile, sarcastically exclaimed: ‘Leeds are falling apart again, Leeds are falling apart.’
Ao Tanaka added: ‘I am so happy. So happy. I can’t find the words’
Patrick Bamford then joked: ‘The mic’s not working mate.’
Ramazani was also seen dancing with sunglasses on and waving a promotion flag, with one fan suggesting ‘think we’ve found our new Alioski.’
There appeared to be alcohol thrown around during the players’ celebrations, with Leeds sharing footage of the ‘carnage’ to their social media channels.
As the fans made their ways out to a balcony at Elland Road, meanwhile, to greet fans, they were met by chants of ‘Wilder is a w****r’, aimed at Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder. Full back Jayden Bogle was seemingly seen dancing along to the chants.
Ramazani also took to the microphone to ask his team-mates how they were feeling
Players were draped in promotion banners as news of Burnley’s victory filtered through
Defender Pascal Struijk posed with Monday’s four-goal hero Joel Piroe (right) following promotion to the top flight
Winger Manor Solomon also posed with a banner reading: ‘We stepped up’
Manager Daniel Farke, who took over the club at the start of last season when they were relegated from the Premier League, also greeted the crowd, with his hair seemingly soaked. He danced along to chants of his name with flares seen let off in the crowds.
Leeds, who were once an established part of the Premier League during the division’s formative years, were forced to endure two years away from the top flight on this occasion. Last season, their promotion hopes were dashed by defeat in the play-off final against Southampton, leading to doubts surrounding Farke’s future.
But they have not tripped up this time around, securing promotion with two games to spare, and they can now prepare for life in the top flight once again.
Joel Piroe scored four goals in the first half against Stoke, putting on an exhibition for the packed out crowd who were never going to stop the West Yorkshire rain from putting a dampener on their big day.
Their team weren’t either. By half-time, they were five goals up, with four courtesy of Piroe, who scored the quickest hat-trick in Leeds’ history. It ended six-nil but in reality, it could have been even more.
With 89 goals in 44 Championship games, they are the entertainers and now join Marcelo Bielsa’s side of 2019-20 as just the second Leeds team to secure promotion to the Premier League.
Pre-match, Farke had called on everyone from the stewards to the groundsmen to be in full voice as Leeds had ‘the chance to create something really special’ and achieve promotion to the Premier League for the first time with supporters – when they went up in 2020, it was during the pandemic.
They did just that, and the celebrations are full time were those of resignation, with all involved realising they were on the brink. After promotion was confirmed, he said: ‘I’m lost for words, which doesn’t happen that often. You could see from this morning that the atmosphere was amazing.
Leeds supporters arrived in their numbers outside Elland Road with flares and smiles aplenty
Celebrations began long before the final whistle in Burnley but soon went up to another level
Leeds are as side that many football fans think should be regulars in the Premier League
They can now prepare for their return to the top flight, having lost the play-off final last season
’94 points at this stage of the season is unbelievable. The players should celebrate, our supporters should celebrate and we will definitely make sure that Easter Monday lasts for one or two more days.
‘It’s difficult on such an emotional day to reflect too much but it was a long road. It’s not easy to stabilise the ship after relegation, and to deal with the lost important players and a hangover from relegation.
‘I just want right now beer after beer, champagne after champagne and don’t bother me about football for a few days.’
‘We were not able to spend too much money and I was also a bit jealous that some other clubs could spend money.’
Leeds have been the best side in the division this season, but it has been a campaign that hasn’t been without some slip ups.
In late March and early April, they won just one of seven games as their promotion push stumbled, but they have recovered to win their last four and secure promotion back to the top flight for next season.
