Leeds United: Fans reflect on former Whites midfielder Olivier Dacourt

Lots of Leeds United supporters have been reflecting on the ‘very underrated’ former Whites midfielder Olivier Dacourt, as a mark to celebrate the Frenchman’s 45th birthday.

Dacourt moved to Elland Road from RC Lens in May 2000, with the West Yorkshire outfit paying a then club-record £8.3million (BBC) to acquire the RC Strasbourg Alsace product on a five-year contract.

He would only see out two-and-a-half seasons of his deal before leaving for AS Roma on an initial loan deal the Italian side turned permanent in the summer of 2003, but Dacourt clearly left a mark on some Whites supporters.

The Montreuil-sous-Bois-born holding midfielder played 81 times for United across all competitions (TransferMarkt), including 33 outings in his maiden campaign back in the Premier League following a stint with Everton earlier in his career.

Leeds saw out the 2000/01 term with a fourth-place finish in the top-flight, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where Dacourt featured 13 times.

His playing days would go on to include stints with Inter Milan, Fulham and Standard Liege before hanging up his boots in 2010, to bring the curtain down on an 18-year career that included three Serie A titles, one Italian Super Cup, a French League Cup crown, and three Confederations Cups with France amid a 21-cap international career.

Dacourt is currently working as an investor in French Ligue 2 side Rodez AF, a position he has held since October 2012 (TransferMarkt).

Here are a selection of the messages shared by Leeds supporters to celebrate Dacourt’s 45th birthday…

Legend!

— Tom Stephenson (@Tigertom78) September 25, 2019

Class player tough as they come. Not many of this calibre around now..

— Jason Atack (@JasonAtack1) September 25, 2019

Great player and very underrated. Would win the ball back, dribble past 1/2, and set our attacks going. Showed up in big games too.

— Charles John (@Steve192447378) September 25, 2019