Paul Reaney

The right-sided full-back who earned 745 appearances for Leeds United and became England's second non-white international player.

Paul Reaney (born 22 October 1944) is an English former international footballer who played primarily as a right-sided full-back. He made 745 first-team appearances at Leeds United from 1962 to 1978, winning seven major trophies under Don Revie's management. A player of mixed race, Reaney became the second non-white footballer after Frank Soo to represent the men's senior England national team in 1968, earning his first of three senior caps. His career at Leeds defined an era of dominance before he moved on to Bradford City and later Newcastle KB United in Australia.

Quick Facts

Born: 22 October 1944
Birthplace: Fulham, London, England
Height: 5 ft 10 in / 1.78 m
Position: Right back
Total caps: 649

Lore & Background

Reaney arrived from London as a child, leaving school at 15 to work briefly as a car mechanic before Don Revie signed him as an apprentice. He made his professional debut just before turning 18, immediately contributing to the team that won the Second Division in 1964. By the 1964–65 season, he missed only one League game and scored his first goal while Leeds challenged for both the League championship and FA Cup. George Best rated him as one of the two best defenders he ever faced. The 1970s brought heartbreak; a broken leg against West Ham United in 1969–70 cost him the run-in to a potential treble and his place at the World Cup in Mexico. However, he returned to help secure the second Fairs Cup in 1970–71 and the FA Cup in 1971–72. His career peaked in 1973–74 as Leeds embarked on a historic 29-match unbeaten start to win the League title for the second time under Revie.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that Paul Reaney played primarily as a right-sided full-back, not on the left. His career at Leeds spanned from his apprenticeship in the early 1960s until his free transfer after the 1977–78 season, totaling exactly 745 first-team appearances. He won seven major trophies: two League titles (1968–69, 1973–74), one FA Cup (1971–72), one League Cup (1967–68), the FA Charity Shield (1969), and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups (1967–68, 1970–71). His career ended at Leeds in 1978, after which he joined Bradford City before completing his playing days with Newcastle KB United in Australia. Post-retirement, he ran coaching sessions for children at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton during school holidays. A notable off-pitch incident occurred in 1993 when burglars stole a safe containing his medals but left behind his trophies, caps, and other honours.