In his first full season in charge Wilkinson took the club back to the First Division - and as champions of the Second Division. After eight seasons of trying, United were back in the big time.

He had sown the seeds for success towards the end of the 1988-89 season when he persuaded Scottish international Gordon Strachan to sign a £300,000 transfer from Manchester United.

The little Scot was 32 years of age when he linked up with United but he turned out to be one of United's best-ever signings spending six eventful seasons at Elland Road. He also signed Gary McAllister, Mel Sterland and John Hendrie and surprised many by going for Vinnie Jones, a member of the so-called Wimbledon 'crazy gang'.

Strachan brought experience and know-how and his undoubted skills to United's cause as Wilkinson's side surged to promotion with the little Scot top-scoring with 17 goals - five more than Bobby Davison. But Wilkinson made a timely addition to his side when he brought in striker Lee Chapman from Nottingham Forest half way through the campaign.

He cost £400,000 - a tidy sum in those days - but he was good value for money, scoring 12 goals in the final 21 games of that season.

United settled in remarkably well to life in the top flight - much better than their critics had predicted - and finished the 1990-91 season in fourth place, Chapman being leading scorer with 21 goals from 38 league appearances.

The following season United took the First Division title, beating their nearest challengers, Manchester United, to the coveted award. Surprisingly, though, United then struggled and finished the 1992-93 season in 17th place, while reaching only round two of the European Cup.

United finished fifth in the following two seasons but the 1995-96 season was more notable for progress in the League Cup and FA Cup. United went out of the UEFA Cup at the second round stage but reached the sixth round of the FA Cup before going out to Liverpool in a replay at Anfield.

In the League Cup, United reached the final at Wembley but lost 3-0 in disappointing fashion to Aston Villa. This was the club's first final appearance for many years - an achievement in itself - but sadly the manager was booed off the field at the end of it by dejected fans.

Some would say that was the beginning of the end for Wilkinson. United's poor form in the league continued and after a 1-0 win at home to Southampton United lost seven games on the trot, equalling the club's worst run since 1946-47.

But he was still at the helm when the 1996-97 season kicked off having brought in winger Lee Sharpe, from Manchester United, goalkeeper Nigel Martyn, from Crystal Palace, and young midfielder Lee Bowyer, from Charlton, while Liverpool legend, Ian Rush, arrived on a free transfer.

United had new owners in the Caspian Group and rumours abounded that George Graham was being lined up to replace Wilkinson. Five League games into the season the axe fell. A 4-0 hammering at home by Manchester United in early September proved too much for the new board.

The reign of the most successful United manager since Don Revie, was over and the rumours proved to be right when former Arsenal boss George Graham was installed as his successor. David O'Leary arrived as his assistant and with United struggling in the depths of Division One, Graham, noted for his defensive style at Arsenal, put the emphasis on that at Leeds.

Safety having been achieved with an 11th place finish, Graham embarked on a mission to pep up his team's attack for the 1997-98 season.

Striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, from Portuguese side, Boavista, midfielder David Hopkin (Crystal Palace) Alfie Haaland from Nottingham Forest and Bruno Ribeiro (Vitoria Setubal) arrived while Tony Yeboah, Tony Dorigo and Carlton Palmer left.

Harry Kewell first appeared on the scene and United did well enough to finish in fifth place and secure a place in the UEFA Cup. Hopes were high as supporters began to sense a new era might be about to dawn.

Things, however, didn't quite go according to plan when the 1998-99 campaign got underway. By the end of September, Graham had left the club to become manager at Tottenham and United had upgraded O'Leary to manager.

United just managed to beat CS Maritimo in the UEFA Cup before going out on a 1-0 aggregate scoreline to AS Roma in the second round. But O'Leary made an immediate impact and, placing much of his faith in youth, he steered United to a fourth place finish.

If that season was encouraging, the following campaign - 1999-2000 - was even more so, as United clinched a third place finish behind Manchester United and Arsenal to reach the qualifying stage of the Champions League. In the UEFA Cup United reached their first European semi final for 25 years and were drawn against Turkish side Galatasaray.

On the eve of the semi-final, disaster struck when two United fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, who had travelled to Istanbul forthe first leg were stabbed to death.

The game went ahead, United losing 2-0, and when the second leg at Elland Road ended in a 2-2 draw, United went out of the competition.

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