South Africa football great Lucas Radebe is pondering a move into coaching with Leeds United after being approached by manager Kevin Blackwell.
The 36-year-old former Bafana Bafana captain has spent the past 11 years at Leeds, now in the second tier of English football, but is set to retire at the end of the season following an Achilles tendon injury.
Nearly 38 000 fans turned up on Monday at the northern club’s Elland Road ground for Radebe’s testimonial match, a tribute to the defender’s popularity.
After playing for both sides as an International XI beat a Leeds United XI 7-3, Radebe said he was desperate to make one last senior appearance for the club in Saturday’s Yorkshire derby against Rotherham, already relegated to League One.
Leeds, now under the control of former Chelsea chairperso Ken Bates after coming close to financial collapse, are currently 14th in the table and in no danger of demotion ahead of this weekend’s final round of matches.
But while the fans would welcome Radebe’s continued employment by Leeds, where he has made 261 appearances since being signed by former manager Howard Wilkinson from South Africa’s Kaiser Chiefs in September 1994, the player could be heading home.
Radebe has also been courted by officials from the South African Football Association, who are keen to see him coach the national side when the country stages the 2010 World Cup.
”I’ve had a word with the gaffer [Blackwell] and he said he will create something for me,” Radebe said after the testimonial game.
”I have to let him know my whereabouts, so we will see what happens.”
He added: ”Yes, there are expectations. There were a few South Africa people here from the FA. They wanted me to get involved earlier, but I’ve stalled them because I had a job to finish at Leeds.”
Radebe, who has played just two games for Leeds this season after rupturing his Achilles tendon in August, is also weighing up potential offers from Fifa and Kaiser Chiefs.
”Long-term for me the Kaisers are an option and I’d like to be a part of them — but I don’t know, I will leave my options open. Fifa have been in touch. I have a couple of invitations in the next couple of weeks to meet up and we’ll see what comes out.”
Radebe, who won 70 caps for South Africa and captained them at both France 98 and Japan and South Korea 2002, said he hoped his testimonial would raise 500 000 pounds for several of his chosen charities and admitted he had been taken aback by the size of the crowd at the game as well as by the players who took part.
”It’s been a great turn-out. I’m really honoured to be given this opportunity. Sometimes you don’t know the impact you have had on a club until times like these come.”
Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister, Gary Speed, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tony Yeboah, Vinnie Jones and David Batty awere among those who played for a Leeds XI, with the likes of Bruce Grobbelaar, Mario Melchiot, Olivier Dacourt, and Jay-Jay Okocha appearing in the international side.
”It’s been so nice to see them all. It shows how much respect they have for me and I have the same for them,” Radebe said.
He added: ”Now I’ve shown I’m fit enough hopefully the gaffer can put me on for five minutes [against Rotherham].
”After that I’m tempted to carry on, but I think that’s it. I have to accept with my injuries that I have to move on, but I’ll still be in Leeds.
”I’d like to finish in the last game and be there, but a lot depends on the manager.” – Sapa-AFP