Flashback: Why goalkeeper Neil Sullivan proved to be shrewd signing for Leeds United

The club are busy installing their next custodian of the lead role, with Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman seemingly the man chosen to take the drama out of proceedings ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.

Among the men playing one of many supporting roles is former Scotland stopper Neil Sullivan, who is charged with handling the up-and-coming charges in his position as academy coach.

A calm, assertive man-mountain of a man, Sullivan re-joined Leeds United on this day five years ago.

Brought in as senior goalkeeping coach, it was the latest episode in his journey with the club, one that had seen him rack up over 100 first-team appearances between 2004 and 2007.

Signed from the depths of a Chelsea squad revolutionised by the billions of Russian Roman Abramovich, he quickly developed a rapport with the Elland Road faithful.

Experienced with well over 200 Premier League appearances under his belt, his steely eye for danger brought calm to a Leeds side still reeling from relegation, his presence in the dressing room a huge factor in rebuilding a Kevin Blackwell side that would go on to reach the play-offs in 2006.

That Blackwell and Leeds had managed to attract someone of his ilk and experience at a time when the club was very publicly shedding highly-paid stars was a testament to both the club and Sullivan’s character.

This didn’t go unnoticed. At the end of his first season with the Whites and after a string of impressive performances, Sullivan took home the player of the year award.

Blessed with a knack of saving penalties at crucial times, it is often forgotten that it was these imperious performances that kept future England international Scott Carson out of the side. Carson, sold to Liverpool after that season, would later admit that he learned a lot from the more experienced keeper.

Sullivan’s second outing with Leeds was somewhat more eventful.