Scoring on your debut is a perfect way to win over fans, whether it’s a youth team breakthrough or a big-money signing making an instant impact. In Leeds United’s history, 76 players have managed to score on their debut, with Joel Piroe being the latest to join this elite group after netting against Ipswich Town last season.
November 14 marks the anniversary of one of Leeds United’s most unforgettable debuts, when a young Alan Smith burst onto the scene with a goal at Anfield. In honor of that iconic moment, here’s a look back at some of the most memorable goalscoring debuts in Leeds United’s storied history.
Alan Smith’s Leeds United legacy might be complicated by his 2004 move to Manchester United, but his debut for the Whites was unforgettable. At just 18, the Thorp Arch graduate made an immediate impact, scoring with his first Premier League touch after coming off the bench against Liverpool with Leeds trailing 1-0. Smith’s spark inspired a late comeback, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring twice to secure all three points at Anfield.
This moment also marked the early days of David O’Leary’s tenure, signaling his intention to build around a thrilling group of homegrown talent.
Sure, the opposition wasn’t the toughest, but Samu Saiz made a dazzling first impression for Leeds United, scoring a hat-trick against League Two side Port Vale. This feat made him the first Leeds player since Carl Shutt in 1989 to net three goals on his debut – a memorable start that left fans buzzing.
Following Andrea Radrizzani’s takeover from Massimo Cellino, there was a fresh sense of optimism at Elland Road, and Samu Saiz was one of the most thrilling new additions to the squad. His debut hat-trick hinted that Leeds had secured a game-changing talent. However, disciplinary issues soon clouded Saiz’s time at the club, and his progress stalled further when he struggled to adapt to Marcelo Bielsa’s demanding methods upon the Argentine’s arrival the next season.
In the summer of 1993, Leeds United broke their transfer record to sign Leeds-born striker Brian Deane from rivals Sheffield United for £2.9 million. After a disappointing 17th-place finish in their title defense, Leeds needed a spark, and they put Deane straight into the starting lineup on opening day against Manchester City. He delivered instantly, scoring an injury-time equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw—a debut goal that hinted at brighter days ahead.
“The game I look back on with the most fondness was my first game, when I made my debut at 17,” Eddie Gray once reflected. “It was against Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road, and that meant a lot for a Scotsman, to make your debut on New Year’s Day. If people ask me to pick one game, it would be that game—not a cup final, not a European match, but that first game. That’s something you don’t forget.”
Don Revie famously hailed Bobby Collins as his best-ever signing for Leeds United—a bold claim given the wave of iconic players who would follow in the next two decades. The diminutive Scottish midfielder made an instant impact, scoring on his debut against Swansea City in March 1962 and helping Leeds fight their way out of the Division Two relegation battle. This debut marked the start of Leeds’ Golden Age, with the next match against Swansea a season later featuring debuts for future legends Paul Reaney, Rod Johnson, and Norman Hunter, signaling the rise of the Whites juggernaut.