Leeds line up Valencia friendly

Leeds are to give their fans a flavour of seasons past after arranging a pre-season friendly against Spanish champions Valencia.

United are to break with tradition for the prestigious match is to be played at Elland Road, the first pre-season game on home soil for many years as the club have preferred to play all friendlies away in recent seasons.

The game could also represent an immediate return to England for Claudio Ranieri - he is tipped for the head coaching role of UEFA Cup holders Valencia following his recent sacking as Chelsea manager.

However, the match is also an indicator of just how far Leeds have fallen in the last few seasons.

It is just over three years ago United played Valencia in a semi-final of the Champions League.

Leeds, then under the guidance of David O’Leary, were initially held to a goalless draw at Elland Road before being beaten 3-0 in the return leg at the Mestalla.

While Valencia have won La Liga twice in the last three seasons, Leeds will be playing their football in the First Division from August following last month’s relegation from the Premier League.

But the match still represents a coup for Leeds as chairman Gerald Krasner confirmed: “The name of Valencia would figure high on anybody’s list.

“But Leeds are still highly respected too, and this is a really good game at home to whet people’s appetites for the new season.

“It’s the first pre-season game at Elland Road for many years, and we believe it is right to start a new tradition of having at least one high-profile, glamorous friendly each season at home.

“What better way to start off than with a game against our Champions League semi-final opponents of three years ago. It should be fantastic.”

Leeds, meanwhile, have received further welcome news in that they have so far raked in more than £4m (€6m) from the sale of over 12,000 season tickets.

With the renewal deadline passing this week, the Whites are expected to eventually sell between 17,000 to 18,000 – just 4,000 short of last season’s figure when the club were in the Premiership – bringing in a much-needed £6m (€9m) overall to help ease debts.

The cash will help Kevin Blackwell chase his transfer targets, with the Leeds manager hoping to sign Fulham striker Barry Hayles, Wolves defender Paul Butler, Manchester City defender Danny Tiatto, Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard, Coventry forward Julian Joachim and Port Vale striker Steve McPhee.