The man who spawned the Kaiser Chiefs, Radebe was just about the loveliest man to play for Leeds since Eddie Gray. In his early days in South Africa, he was shot in the back in Soweto and thought he was going to die, but he survived the violence and started out at Leeds on the, er, right wing. "Christ! Right wing!" he recalled. "I didn't have a clue." Having rewritten history, Howard Wilkinson was clearly losing the plot. He signed Ian Rush and said he was emotionally disembowelled after the 1996 Coca-Cola Cup debacle. He left and, under George Graham, Radebe flourished as a centre half. Athletic, passionate and more smiley than the old badge, the way he became the lifeblood of Leeds was especially satisfying in light of the tragic and lonely end that befell Albert Johanneson.
His wife Feziwe died of cancer in October 2008. In December 2008, Radebe was treated for a heart complaint after collapsing while at the gym.A suite at Elland Road is named the Radebe Entrance.
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lucas Valeriu Radebe | |
| Date of birth | April 12, 1969 (1969-04-12) | |
| Place of birth | Soweto, South Africa | |
| Playing position | Defender | |
| Youth career | ||
| ICL Birds Kaizer Chiefs | ||
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1990-1994 1994-2005 | Kaizer Chiefs Leeds United | 113 (5) 200 (0) |
| National team2 | ||
| 1992-2003 | South Africa | 70 (2) |
1 Senior club appearances and goals | ||