Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink - (Player Details)

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink: # 27 MOT 100 Greatest LUFC Players Ever

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink (1997-1999)

Surinam born, moved with his family to Holland and started his European football with Telstar, then AZ. Coming to Leeds from Boavista, for £2M in 1997, he soon became a firm favourite with the fans...if not with the management. Produced 42 (usually flamboyant) goals in 87 Leeds appearances, but was too temperamental for George Graham's liking and was frequently substituted. O'Leary gave him his chance, but in the summer of 1999 he was transferred to Athletico Madrid, for £12M, under very unclear circumstances. The official Leeds board statement said he demanded a new wage contract far above what they were prepared to pay...Jimmy himself says he wanted to stay at Leeds, as he saw O'Leary's team gearing up for European success, and that he was sold off to provide the money needed to take Leeds into Europe.