As soon as I knew Leeds United wanted me I wouldn’t sign for anyone else

Former Leeds United legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says that his decision to come to Elland Road was a no-brainer once he discovered the Whites were interested in signing him.

The retired Dutch international joined the club from Portuguese side Boavista in 1997 and spent two seasons in West Yorkshire, winning the Premier League Golden Boot in his second campaign.

The forward later left the club when David O’Leary took the reins, later playing for Chelsea in the English top-flight, and had previously admitted that he felt forced out at the end of his tenure. But reflecting on how he came to join United, the 46-year-old remains effusive on his first days on British soil.

“There might have been [others] but I was not interested in nobody else,” Hasselbaink told the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast.

“There were a few other Portuguese clubs – Sporting was looking at me at the time and stuff – but as soon as we were speaking about Leeds and the Premiership, you know, the rest is really not important.”

The striker was managed initially by George Graham at the club, whom he credits with having significantly improving him as a player.

My relationship was very tough with him in the beginning, because he’s very no-nonsense. George Graham was a totally different manager as he was a player; they called him The Stroller when he used to play.