Leeds United are saddened to learn of the passing of former defender Gordon McQueen at the age of 70, following a battle with dementia.
Born in Kilbirnie, Scotland, on 26th June 1952, McQueen was signed by St Mirren as an 18-year-old in 1970, before joining the Whites in 1972, where he would go on to make 172 appearances.
In his first season at Elland Road he helped Leeds reach, and played in the 1973 European Cup Winners’ Cup final against AC Milan.
During the 1973/74 campaign, McQueen formed a key partnership in the heart of the Leeds defence with Norman Hunter and the Whites went on a 29-game unbeaten run in the First Division at the start of the campaign. He made a total of 36 league appearances as Don Revie’s side were crowned champions of England for the second time in the club’s history.
At the end of the season, he won the first of his 30 caps for Scotland, making his international debut against Belgium.
During the 1974/75 campaign, McQueen played a crucial role in helping Leeds reach the 1975 European Cup final, scoring three goals on route, but was unavailable for the final in Paris against Bayern Munich, after being sent-off against FC Barcelona in the semi-final second-leg at the Nou Camp.
He was twice named the club’s Player of the Season in 1974/75 and 1977/78, along with twice being selected in the PFA Team of the Year in 1974/75 and 1977/78.
In 1978, he went on to join rivals Manchester United, with whom he won the FA Cup and Charity Shield in 1983.
McQueen returned to Elland Road in 2019, with many former players, staff and legends as part of the club’s centenary celebrations and was also given the Freedom of the City of Leeds, along with the rest of the Leeds United team from 1967-1974.
The thoughts of everyone at Leeds United are with Gordon’s wife Yvonne, daughters Hayley and Anna, son Eddie and grandchildren Rudi, Etta and Ayla, along with his friends at this time.