MORE THAN JUST TALK
What's been said about Lucas Radebe...
"What a great character! Nothing seems to phase Lucas. He goes all over the world playing for South Africa and when he comes back you would think he had never been away."
Eddie Gray
(taken from the Official Matchday Magazine, Leeds v Arsenal, 11/5/99)
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"I think he is absolutely terrific, a truly marvellous player. He plays so well consistently and the most important thing is that he makes it all look so easy. He gets a foot in when he looks a million miles away from the ball, and he reads the game so well. I think he has got to be right up there as one of the best centre-halves playing in England"
Paul Madeley on Lucas
(taken from Leeds Leeds Leeds magazine, July '99 edition)
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"First rate defensive performances by captain Lucas Radebe and Jonathon Woodgate contributed to goalkeeper Nigel Martyn having just a single shot to save in the entire game"
Phil Rostron in the Leeds 0-0 Derby match report, understating the obvious. He then saw fit to give Lucas a rating of only 7 out of 10 for his performance.
(taken from the YEP, 9/8/99)
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"I would like your old skipper Gordon Strachan to try to get ... Lucas Radebe (because he is the most under-rated defender in the Premier League)."
Tony Ford, Coventry fan
(taken from Leeds Leeds Leeds Magazine, August '99 edition)
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LLL: Who's the first player you'd choose to play alongside?
"In front of me? It's got to be Lucas, Lucas Radebe, 'The Chief'... He's brilliant! He just cleans everything up for you, doesn't he? He stops so much coming through. It's a psychological thing, too. Because when someone gets around him, The Chief just sticks one of those big long legs out where you never thought possible. His commitment and everything is brilliant."
Paul Robinson, Leeds' second choice 'keeper, showing that he knows a good thing when he sees it
(taken from Leeds Leeds Leeds Magazine, October '99 edition)
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"...Lucas has no bad habits. He's a great guy."
Bruno Ribeiro on being roommates with The Chief
(taken from the Official Matchday Magazine, Leeds v Sheffield Wednesday, 16/09/99)
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"I thought Woodgate and Radebe were outstanding"
Everton defender David Unsworth describes Lucas (and Lucas Mark II) during the Everton 4-4 Leeds game. Are you watching Walter Smith?
(taken from the YEP, 25/10/99
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"L is for...
Lucas: Central defensive colossus, captain of Leeds and South Africa, and all-round top man."
from the A to Z of Leeds United
(taken from Leeds Leeds Leeds Magazine, November '99 edition)
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"Lucas Radebe: Towering influence - 9"
Performance summary given in the YEP for Lucas in the Leeds 1-0 Spartak game
(taken from the YEP, 10/12/99)
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"Lucas Radebe's role at English Premier League side Leeds United has been superb, and the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder and occasional stand-in goalkeeper is now regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe."
Mark Gleeson, writing about the South African squad in preparation for the Africa Nations Cup
(from African Soccer, January '00 edition)
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"He's a good tackler, he's quick, and he's a nice man with it. I've got a great deal of time for him. On the field and off it ... I wouldn't swap him for anyone in England."
King David of O'Leary, asked about Lucas as a player and his ranking among other centre-backs
(from Leeds Leeds Leeds Magazine, December '99 edition, a transcription of an interview originally on Radio 5)
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"Surely one of the most underrated centre-backs in the Premier League ... He's been outstanding tonight"
Jonathon Pearce, commentating for Channel Five, talking about The Chief
(from the Roma 0-0 Leeds UEFA Cup game, 2/3/00)
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"...the bottom line with Lucas is that he is one of football's great warriors and you can never write him off."
David O'Leary on Lucas and his struggles with injury
(from the YEP, 14/12/01)
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"Radebe... Such an elegant player."
Jonathon Pearce, commentating for Channel Five, talking about The Chief
(from the Hapoel 1-4 Leeds UEFA Cup game, 14/11/02)