Benni McCarthy’s Former South African Team-mate Lands Global Role at Newly-Promoted EPL Club

South African legend Lucas Radebe has landed a big role at newly-promoted Premier League club Leeds United.

Rabede, who is a Leeds legend, has been named as the club’s first Global Ambassador in what is a major role for him and Africa as players from the continent rarely get such positions at European sides.

The former defender’s appointment was confirmed by Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear on Tuesday, a day after the club secured promotion back to the English Premier League, two years since their relegation.

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Kinnear confirmed Radebe’s appointment to South African broadcaster Robert Marawa on his Marawa Sport Show on Tuesday, expressing confidence that the former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana defender will do well in his new role.

Popularly known as The Chief, Radebe enjoys cult status among Leeds fans with his popularity still all-time high despite his final match for the English side coming 20 years ago.

Radebe played for Leeds for 10 seasons between 1994 and 2005, and would later captain the side to great success.

He was part of the Leeds team that finished fourth in the Premier League in the 1998-99 season before improving to third the following campaign, to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

The former centre-back was captain when the club had an impressive campaign in Europe, reaching the semi-final of the Champions League, and was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award at the end of the 1999-2000 season.

Radebe would attract interest from the likes of Manchester United, AS Roma and AC Milan but he chose to stay at Leeds, a decision that endeared him to the club’s fans.

So popular is Radebe at Leeds that in August last year, a fan named his newborn son after him, while in 2008, a local brewery named their beer after him, following an overwhelming vote from the club’s supporters.

Known for his great ability on the ball, added to his impressive tackles, Radebe, who joined Leeds for £250,000 from Kaizer Chiefs, also captained South Africa’s national team at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, when he played alongside Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy, while he was part of the Bafana Bafana team that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.