The results were published yesterday after every English league club was asked which rival team their fans hated the most and which team they liked best after their own. Morecambe in League Two were voted the best-liked club.
The survey had been expected to show Manchester United as the most loathed club because of jealousy over their fanbase, resources, trophy cabinet and Cristiano Ronaldo.
But when the results came in, Leeds beat them into second, with Roman Abramovich's Chelsea third.
The remainder of the top 10 is made up of Wolves, Millwall, Burnley, Bolton, West Ham, Stoke and Scunthorpe. Among the best-liked clubs Arsenal came second and Liverpool third.
A spokesman for Leeds said: "Everywhere we go everyone sings 'You're not famous any more'. I suppose this just shows that other teams haven't forgotten about us. But we are surprised that the survey says we are the most hated."
Football 'experts' think that the club has been unable to get rid of the 'Dirty Leeds' tag that the team acquired in the Don Revie era of the 1970s because of their tough tackling and style of play.
Shaun Thomson, of Sandler Training, said fans look at Leeds and immediately think 'they are arrogant and big-headed'. He added: "To change the perception of other fans, Leeds must stop living up to the negative image that's been created around the club and start doing things differently.
"Maybe that's what Morecambe have achieved, they are new to the league, have new ideas and positive appeal."
Leeds celebrity fan Ralph Ineson, who played Finchy in BBC comedy 'The Office', said: "I think the whole anti-Leeds thing stems originally from jealousy of the great 70s side of Don Revie. But more recently, when we haven't been quite as dominant on the pitch, the jealousy stems from how devilishly attractive Leeds fans are."