Due to their immense standing in the game, Leeds United have obviously had and been linked with some of the best British players of many an era.

Gordon Strachan is one midfielder who the Whites will be proud to have as a former player, but at the turn of the century, they could have had someone who perhaps has surpassed even the great Scotsman.

Former Chelsea maverick Alan Hudson was reportedly the man who completely switched Frank Lampard's career path, as he noted his conversation with Frank Lampard Senior whilst speaking to The Times.

The 71-year-old told the publication in 2020: “I’m the reason he signed for Chelsea. His dad rang me and said he was going to Leeds. I wouldn’t say I talked him out of it, but I told him my view.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

The current Everton manager would move from West Ham United to the other side of London to sign for the Blues in an £11m deal in the summer of 2001.

Had Lampard Sr not enquired to Hudson for advice, perhaps the 648 games, 211 goals and 145 assists that his son gave to Chelsea could have been for the Whites instead.

Lampard Jr's illustrious career has given him three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League crown. In total, he scored 268 goals, an astounding return for a midfielder who went on to become the west London club's all-time leading scorer.

It is not a slight on Strachan to say that he is incomparable to Lampard, as very few ever will be. He played nearly as many matches (587) as the 44-year-old over his career, but while the Scot won some of the game's biggest prizes, his trophy cabinet pales in comparison to the Chelsea legend.

It is a testament to the qualities and personality of Lampard that the hugely decorated Jose Mourinho regards him as one of his favourite players with whom he worked.

When asked which of his former players the current Roma boss most enjoyed working with, he said: “At Chelsea, in my first period, I had Frank Lampard, probably the best player in the Premier League for one decade.”

Whilst Lampard was winning every trophy available at Stamford Bridge, Leeds were fighting for a return to the Premier League after their miserable relegation in 2004.

Perhaps if things had been different and they had signed the midfielder, it might have been them winning all the trophies that Chelsea claimed in the mid-2000s and beyond, led by one of the greatest midfielders England will likely ever see.