‘I hate being disrespectful’… Englishman admits he ‘dropped his standards’ after joining Leeds

Stephen Warnock spent two years at Leeds United during a tumultuous period marked by Massimo Cellino’s arrival, and he recently shared his assessment of his time at Elland Road.

The 42-year-old made the move to Yorkshire in January 2013 and remained there until January 2015 when he departed for Derby County. Throughout his tenure, he amassed 67 appearances for Daniel Farke’s current team.

Warnock notably captained Leeds, a remarkable achievement considering his background of having won two England caps and featuring in 67 matches for Liverpool, including a UEFA Champions League triumph in 2005.

Reflecting on his time at Leeds, Warnock acknowledges that his performance standards dipped, attributing this decline to transitioning from the Premier League to the Championship.

He draws a parallel with Wayne Bridge’s experience at Reading, suggesting that such a move can present challenges for players accustomed to the top flight.

Despite his admiration for Leeds’ passionate fanbase and the club’s stature, Warnock candidly admits that he was unable to deliver his peak performance for The Whites. This sentiment was expressed during an interview on the Under The Cosh podcast.