Nigerian legend John Obi Mikel reveals how ex-Baafana Bafana defender Lucas Radebe inspired him to play in the Premier League. Image Source: (@LeedsUnited/Twitter)
Where is former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana icon Lucas Radebe now?
What a guy.
Nigerian legend John Obi Mikel reveals how ex-Baafana Bafana defender Lucas Radebe inspired him to play in the Premier League. Image Source: (@LeedsUnited/Twitter)
Lucas Radebe is the most capped player in Bafana Bafana history. He’s also a Leeds United and Premier League legend whose journey started at Kaizer Chiefs.
A Bafana Bafana icon
Lucas Radebe made 70 appearances for the South African national team and was a cornerstone of the 1996 Afcon-winning side. Radebe’s cool and composed demeanour in the centre of defence earned him a move from Kaizer Chiefs to Leeds United in 1994. In 11 years at Elland Road, he made 255 appearances for the West Yorkshire giants. He was a one-club man because he made no senior appearances at Chiefs.
Did you know?
Popular alternative rock band Kaiser Chiefs were originally named after Kaizer Chiefs Football Club. The band is inspired by Radebe, a Leeds legend. The band is from Leeds and staunchly supports the club.
“You can tell that Lucas was brought up in a team of high standards and values,” said band manager Paul Bolton.
NOBODY IS ‘TOO GOOD’ TO GO DOWN, AS LEEDS AND RADEBE LEARNED
Remember when Leeds United were in the 2001 UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Valencia with Lucas Radebe in the side? They finished fourth in the Premier League that year. However, gross financial mismanagement and a hefty wage bill slowly rotted Elland Road from the inside. A fifth-placed finish in 2002 was the start of the slide, without Champions League revenues their player salaries became unmanageable. They finished 15th in the 2002-2003 campaign before eventual relegation in 2004 after placing 19th. It took them 17 years to fight their way back to the promised land of the Premier League before again getting demoted following the 2022-23 campaign.
“Being back at Kaizer Chiefs was like being at home”
Kaizer Chiefs held a glitzy exhibition match back in December 2022 where a host of football stars came out to play. One of them was Lucas Radebe!
The Chief to be the next Safa president?
Via Goal in March:
“Absolutely, I am equipping myself [to be Safa president] and there are a lot of people that I’m talking to that are helping me with the right and relevant information,” Radebe said as per Sunday World.
“That will assist me to be ready one day. I don’t have that attitude of telling myself that I know what to do or know better because I’m Lucas and all of that.”
“Yes, some of the issues [happening at Safa] I think that they are personal,” he added.
“But to be honest, we should be going there. We should be working towards bringing people closer together.”
“Because for me, the most important thing is leaving a legacy more than anything else, and bringing progress to our football,” the Bafana legend continued.
“And how you do that is by identifying people within the structure. Bringing them closer and working on a succession plan with them.”
“Instead of bringing personal issues, of which I think is absolutely wrong. The reality is that things have changes in life, there are young presidents now with different ideas,” he concluded.
“So why can’t we change as well? Change is good and I think footballers with know-how should be involved in the game at that level.”
What are your best Lucas Radebe memories?
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