On this day in 1961, Albert Johanneson made his Leeds United debut against Swansea Town. It was the first of 200 appearances the South African made for the club, making plenty of history along the way.
Prior to his debut, Johanneson had arrived at Leeds initially on a three-month trial, after being recommended to the club by a South African school teacher. Don Revie became player manager of Leeds United in March 1961 following the resignation of Jack Taylor and after an impressive trial period, Revie made Johanneson his first signing. Johanneson became the second black footballer to play for Leeds United after fellow South African Gerry Francis, who made his debut on Saturday 30th November 1957. Johanneson went on to make a further four appearances for Revie’s side prior to the end of the 1960/61 season.
In his second season with Leeds, Johanneson featured 14 times in all competitions. He scored his first goal for the club in a League Cup Fourth Round replay against Rotherham United on Monday 15 January 1962 and his first league goal soon followed in a 1-1 away draw with Walsall on Saturday 14 April 1962. Leeds were almost relegated from the Second Division at the end of the 1961/62 season, but following his goal against Walsall, Johanneson played in the final four matches of the campaign which saw Leeds go undefeated and avoid the drop. On the final day of that season, Saturday 28 April 1962, Johanneson scored the opening goal of a 3-0 victory away to Newcastle United that ensured Leeds finished 19th (W12 D12 L18), three points clear of a relegation slot.
Johanneson’s form at the back end of that 1961/62 campaign was rewarded with the winger becoming one of the first names on Don Revie’s team-sheet the following season. He missed just one league match during the campaign, making 44 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals. His performances helped Revie’s side to a fifth-place finish in the Second Division (W19 D10 L13) with Leeds just four points shy of a promotion spot.
Now established in the side alongside the likes of Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton and Bobby Collins, Johanneson helped the club become Second Division champions for the second time at the end of 1963/64 (W24 D15 L3), a season in which Leeds were undefeated at Elland Road in all competitions. Johanneson netted three goals in the opening four games of the campaign, finding the net against Bury, Rotherham United and Manchester City. He also scored four in as many matches on a run from November to December, netting against Preston North End, Leyton Orient, Swansea Town and Plymouth Argyle. He ended the campaign having made 37 league outings and scoring 13 goals. Two League Cup goals took his tally up to 15 for the campaign, his highest seasonal total during his time at the club.
In the 1964/65 season Johanneson made 30 league appearances and chipped in with nine goals for Leeds on the club’s return to the top flight, with the team missing out on the First Division title only on goal difference to Manchester United (W26 D9 L7). He also helped Leeds reach the FA Cup final for the first time, scoring in victories against Southport and Shrewsbury Town en route to Wembley.
On Saturday 1 May 1965, Johanneson made history by becoming the first ever black player to play in the FA Cup final as Leeds lined up against Liverpool. Leeds battled hard, but were defeated 2-1 after extra time.
Injuries prevented Johanneson from featuring as regularly for Leeds over the following seasons. In the 1965/66 campaign he was limited to 13 league appearances as the side again finished as runners-up (W23 D9 L10). Johanneson was able to take part against Real Zaragoza in the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, netting his first European goal against the Spanish side at Elland Road on Wednesday 27 April 1966.
Johanneson made further Leeds United history on Wednesday 26th October 1966 by becoming the club’s first player to score a hat-trick in European competition as DWS Amsterdam were dispatched 5-1 at Elland Road in the Fairs Cup Second Round. The following season, nearly a year to the date of his first hat-trick in his Leeds United career, Johanneson again hit three against Spora Luxembourg in a 7-0 victory at Elland Road on Tuesday 17 October 1967, with Leeds going on to win the competition. To date, he is the only player to have scored two hat-tricks for Leeds United in European competition.
He also found the net in a 3-0 League Cup victory over Bury on Wednesday 11th October 1967, with Leeds going on to win the competition, which was the club’s first major piece of silverware. During the 1968/69 season Leeds were crowned First Division champions for the first time, with Johanneson making one substitute league appearance which he scored in, against Stoke City on Saturday 17 August 1968.
Johanneson’s 200th and final appearance for Leeds came against Burnley in the First Division on Saturday 4 April 1970. He departed the club at the end of the campaign, joining York City. He left Leeds having made history and contributed to one of the most successful eras the club has ever had.
Johanneson sadly passed away on Thursday 28 September 1995 at the age of 55. In January 2019 Leeds United and Leeds Civic Trust unveiled a blue plaque, situated at the East Stand at Elland Road, commemorating his contribution to football and the city of Leeds.
