Leeds United parted ways with Luke Ayling in January 2024, and now he is being compared to legends of world football — www.isagoal.com reports.
Ayling built his reputation at Leeds during Marcelo Bielsa’s time in charge, where his relentless energy and consistency made him a fan favourite.
The Yorkshire Evening Post noted how Ayling’s arrival from Bristol City on a small fee turned into one of the club’s smartest bargains of the modern era.
He was a leader on and off the pitch, regularly taking the armband when Liam Cooper was absent, and was a vital figure in Leeds’ 2020 promotion.
Ayling’s influence stretched far beyond match days, with gestures like congratulating Dan James after promotion and sending words of encouragement to Willy Gnonto.
After nine years at Elland Road, his form dipped, leading to a move to Middlesbrough on loan before it became permanent.
Now at 34, Ayling has reinvented himself as a right-sided centre-back in Boro’s back three, helping them sit unbeaten at the top of the Championship.
In their 2-1 win against West Brom, Ayling provided an assist and earned Player of the Match from both Sky Sports and FotMob with an 8.1 rating.
Teammates joined in the praise, with George Edmundson calling him “the long haired Beckenbauer” and Jem Karacan nicknaming him “Aylesta,” likening him to Iniesta.
Despite his departure, Ayling still considers himself a Leeds fan, telling reporters: “I absolutely love the city… I’ll probably live here the rest of my life.”