Leeds' All Time Greats: No 33 David Batty

Last updated : 16 April 2010 By Rick Broadbent
David Batty (1987-93 & 1998-2004) 382 apps, 4 goals

To understand the importance of David Batty, you really have to come from Yorkshire. As down-to-earth as a subterranean grouter, his approach was summed up in the penalty shoot-out that did for England in the 1998 World Cup. Batty missed, of course, but there was no pizza advert as with Gareth Southgate, no tears and six-year wait for an exorcism as with Stuart Pearce. Batty just poked out his tongue and walked back to the halfway line. "I thought I'd score," he said bluntly afterwards. "I knew he'd miss," his dad added. An underrated player with a joyous economy of ambition, his goals were celebrated as titles.

Personal information
Date of birth2 December 1968 (1968-12-02) (age 41)
Place of birthLeeds, England
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing positionMidfield
Youth career
Leeds United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1987-1993Leeds United211(4)
1993-1996Blackburn Rovers54(1)
1996-1998Newcastle United83(3)
1998-2004Leeds United90(0)
National team
1988-1989England U217(1)
1989-1992England B5(0)
1991-1999England42(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).