“Who’s your Icon at Elland Road?”- Archie Gray names his Leeds United icon as his idol, says he felt starstruck meeting him last season. Fans couldn’t believe the player he mentioned
Archie Gray is currently excelling in an out-of-form Tottenham Hotspur defense, stepping up to play as a central defender while the team deals with a long list of injuries under Ange Postecoglou.
The 18-year-old joined Spurs from Leeds United in the summer after making his debut for Leeds on the opening day of last season. He played 52 times for the club before their play-off final defeat at Wembley. Had Leeds been promoted, Gray would likely have stayed, but instead, they were forced to sell him to Tottenham for £40m, along with Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.
Although Gray had never played as a centre-back during his time at Leeds or with England’s youth teams, he has had to fill that role alongside Radu Dragusin due to injuries to Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, and Cristian Romero.
Archie Gray’s Leeds Idol: Luciano Becchio
Though now at Tottenham, Gray’s heart remains with Leeds, as his family has deep ties to the club, and he grew up around Elland Road. In a recent interview with Stadium Astro, he was asked who his idol was at Leeds. Gray named Luciano Becchio, the Argentine striker who he watched closely while working as a ball-boy at Leeds.
“Someone I used to watch all the time was Luciano Becchio. I was a ball-boy at Leeds and got to see him pretty much every game,” Gray shared. “Even last season, when I saw him, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s Becchio.’ He probably doesn’t remember me as a ball-boy, but he was a great player.”
Could Harry Gray Follow in Archie’s Footsteps at Leeds?
Gray’s connection to Leeds runs deep, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, great-uncle, and father. While he has already played for Leeds’ first team, his younger brothers are also showing promise. Harry Gray, one of six Leeds youngsters who traveled to Germany this summer, is currently impressing in the Leeds U21 team.
When asked if he thinks he is the best brother, Archie humbly replied, “It’s difficult to say. We all have our own abilities, and none of us play in the same position. It’s hard to compare. I wouldn’t say I’m the best.”
