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Archie Gray once said: ‘My childhood dream was to win the Champions League with Leeds’

Archie Gray once said: ‘My childhood dream was to win the Champions League with Leeds’

One of the top prospects in the British game, Gray is a Leeds fan, continuing the family tradition of his father, grandfather, and great-uncle.

Archie Gray, 17, is sitting in the canteen at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch training ground at the end of a long day. He is thinking back on his rise to become one of the best young prospects in the British game.

The longtime Leeds supporter, who has been a member of the team since he was seven, was 15 when he came off the bench in a Premier League match against Arsenal and is a mainstay on a team that is aiming for an immediate return to the top flight.

Gray made his debut on August 6 against Cardiff at home in the Championship opener. He has since appeared in all 21 of Leeds’ games this season, starting 18. The 6ft 2in midfielder, who has represented England at the youth level, is highly anticipated. His rise is all the more intriguing given that his father, Andy, grandfather Frank, and great-uncle Eddie were all Leeds players.

“I’ve watched clips of my dad, Frank, and Eddie on YouTube, but I’m a bit too young to remember many of his games,” remarks Gray, the oldest of his four brothers, in his first significant newspaper interview. “I really enjoy watching Eddie’s goal against Burnley, where he scored after eluding about four defenders.” Observing their accomplishments is motivating.

Gray was added to the first team squad two years ago while preparing for his GCSEs because former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa thought so highly of him.

“Bielsa wanted me to train probably every day,” says Gray, who is equally calm and confident off the field as he is on it. I would attend school two days a week in some weeks and three days in others. It worked out well because the club and school were able to reach an agreement, and I passed my exams.

It was evident that Gray’s star was rising when he was not used as a substitute for an injured Leeds team that played Arsenal at Elland Road in December 2021. “It was completely insane to be on the bench because.

One day, I’m a fan in the stands watching the games on TV, and the next, I’m benched during a Premier League matchup with Arsenal. It was unbelievable to be training with these guys, who are my heroes. You learn so much just by observing everyone in training.

Was he upset that he was unable to start against Arsenal? “Deep down, I wasn’t expecting to because I was still in school and it was Arsenal.” A fifteen-year-old playing football for the first team, let alone making his debut, would not be considered typical. I’ve just realized how fortunate I was to have that opportunity and to have patience.

After Leeds was demoted from the Premier League after three years, Gray missed a large portion of the previous season due to injury, but the summer brought in a new chapter. The San Francisco 49ers’ investment division, 49ers Enterprises, acquired complete ownership of the team, and Daniel Farke was appointed manager.

Farke has guided a young team to third place after seven straight home victories, despite a sluggish start.

“Pre-season is the time to make a good first impression on the manager, and it starts with your fitness,” my dad has always said. I put in a lot of work and tried to make an impression during the preseason. I felt I performed ok when I made my debut against Cardiff.

“Obviously, I was happy with myself, but we didn’t really celebrate; instead, our family went out to eat. Although I still have a lot to prove and grow into, the manager has been amazing and has a lot of faith in me. I wanted to play as much as I could during the preseason, but I’ve definitely outperformed myself.

Gray started the season in midfield alongside new addition Ethan Ampadu before being moved to right back in early October. The teenager claims that it hasn’t affected him and that Joe Rodon, a Tottenham defender on loan, has helped him adjust.

It’s beneficial to understand various gaming viewpoints, according to Gray. “I’m learning even more about the game by playing right-back in preparation for switching back to midfield. Players such as James Milner alternate positions during each game.

“It would be unbelievable if I could even come close to his level of excellence. I believe that playing box-to-box midfield will be my best position, but with how the game is evolving, adaptability is becoming more and more important.

Because of safeguarding regulations, Gray cannot change with the first team squad until he turns eighteen. He remarks, “It’s crazy changing by yourself and then sprinting outside to play with your teammates.” That is what it is, but when I turn eighteen,

While Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi impacted Gray as a young child, he now lists his mother Giorgina and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid as two of his biggest influences.

“My mother puts in an incredible amount of work; she trains and runs marathons every day,” he remarks. Bellingham is a player I greatly admire due to his exceptional performance. He has demonstrated that there is a way to use the England system, and he won’t be the last to do so. I hope that will be possible for me as well in the future.

Harry, Gray’s younger brother, is a 15-year-old striker who competes at the youth level for England and Leeds. Gray says, “It’s my dream to play with Harry one day, but I wouldn’t tell him this myself.” We’ve always been so competitive in everything we do, so I just don’t know how we’d get along in training. We would need to be teammates, .

“My childhood dream was to win the Champions League with Leeds, captain England at senior level, and win a Ballon d’Or,” says Gray, who is deeply rooted but fiercely ambitious. There’s still a long way to go before any of that occurs because I’m still very young. However, I think I’m capable of doing it.

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