"This club changed my life" ❤️ | Lucas Radebe on his journey from the Kaizer Chiefs to Leeds United

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Lucas Radebe on his journey from Soweto to Leeds United and captaining South Africa

In this interview, Lucas Radebe reflects on his Soweto upbringing, his move to Leeds United, captaining the club under Graham, and leading South Africa. He concludes that adversity, humility, and Mandela-style leadership shaped him, and that his football success is a chance to inspire others.

► Subscribe to Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub ► Watch Sky Sports with NOW: https://bit.ly/NOWFootballYT Former Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe speaks about his career, from growing up in Soweto, South Africa to captaining Leeds at Elland Road in the Premier League! This year’s theme for Black History Month is Honouring Our Communities, recognising the individuals whose everyday contributions shape, support and sustain Black life across the UK. football blackhistorymonth efl premierleague leeds Chapters: 00:00 - Humble beginnings in South Africa 01:50 - Joining Leeds and his leadership qualities 06:46 - Becoming captain of the club 09:04 - Leading South Africa through difficult times 10:49 - What he remembers most fondly about his career ► EFL highlights: https://bit.ly/EFLHighlights2627 ► EFL Cup highlights: https://bit.ly/CarabaoCupHL ► SPFL highlights: https://bit.ly/SPFLHighlights2627 ► Bundesliga highlights: https://bit.ly/BundesligaHighlights2627 ► Buy this season’s shirts: https://bit.ly/SkySportsShop More from Sky Sports on YouTube: ► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub ► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub ► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket ► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts ► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1 ► Sky Sports Golf: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsGolf ► Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub ► Sky Sports Premier League: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsPL ► Sky Sports Retro: http://bit.ly/SkySportsRetroSub ► Sky Sports WSL: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsWSL ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkySportsFootball ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skysportsfootball ► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportsfootball / https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportswsl ► X: https://x.com/SkyFootball / https://x.com/SkySportsWSL ► Website: https://www.skysports.com ► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports content, you can find out more here…

Transcript

Lucas, you had such a a long and successful football career, a legend here at Lead United, captain of the club, captain of your country as well, but can we take you back to the start and your upbringing and just give us a bit of an insight into what shaped your character? humble beginnings, you know, was always from Soetto, you know, where it was um a really overcrowded, you know, where community close-knit black community is bound to be a violence. I was one of those who was born and bred in so the way I saw a lot that happened in front of my eyes where people died. And uh to be honest that's some of those things that I still see in my mind that I imagine you know when obviously by being there being involved and seeing that I think that really was part of formed part of my character growing up you know when you have guns in in in in wrong hands anything is possible you know people die and no follow up because the police won't come into our community, you know, because that's how dangerous it is, you know, when and for me, I grew up in that environment and that really formed a big part, you know, of my life where you end up looking for a way out where your career seems to be doomed, you know, because we were confined to to one area and that area obviously it's survival of the fittest. When did you realize that you had leadership qualities? >> I think everything that had happened and what I've seen in the community, you know, that really built me up and and and and into the leadership that, you know, I enjoyed, you know, through my career, through the talent that I've that that I've had, which is football. >> And you got the opportunity to come here to Leeds. Was that a real test of your character? at quite a young age to come over here and to be around everything that was unfamiliar to you. >> Getting to be able to have a stage where you can showcase your talent. It was absolutely amazing. having to come from the Kaiser Chiefs, you know, when being one of the their best players and then and then coming to it was it really tested my character because we've never had something like this happen, you know, for me where I had to leave home, you know, to go that far and leave my parents and because obviously it was a comfort zone, you know, I knew where to go every day. you know, my parents, I got my food and and yes, they I was looked after very very well, but then having to leave all that behind, you know, going to, you know, the unknown, you know, but uh a lucrative opportunity, you know, for for someone who comes from Suto, you know, it was it was a huge change. I was willing, you know, what to go out and explore and I was the first one in the family to do that and and and be able to leave South Africa, you know, and and come to England where I didn't know anyone, you know, I mean, the weather conditions, I mean, the challenges that I've that I've faced with the food, the food and and it was it was crazy, but I think it carved And I think for me that was part of my journey. I think I've learned a lot and it made me the person that I am today. Tell us about your leadership style because whenever you walk into a room, you light the room up. Is that part of your style as a leader that you bring that presence, that humor, that life into a room when you walk in? Is that part of your leadership style? You know what? It's humility. You know, I I I believe that uh you know, where we grew up with values, you know, that we instilled when we young and and and I mean growing up, you know, having a president like Nelson Mandela, we looked up to him, you know, and we grow up and knowing Madiva as a leader. the values that we that were instilled from the young age. I think that's we even now we take them for granted but that's what makes you who you are that defines you you know where because okay people respect not the car you drive a beautiful car house that you live in or the clothes you wear you know they respect the person that you are. >> Nelson Mandela once famously described you as his hero. Did you ever talk to him about leadership? >> Uh we spoke about leadership. I think it was um early a early early days uh when he was released got in touch with us through the national team. He came to give us a pep talk at some point and his presence was unbelievable. you know when and that's when you realize that you know you're in the midst of not just any other person but this is huge presence you know when and I think since then you know where he invited me to his house at some point and we chatted about the country we chatted about leadership in terms of how you lead and and and how he himself you know managed to to to come out of jail and and and not really come out and then pay revenge, you know, but he come out and see and has this vision of uniting, you know, uh the the country, you know, which he had to forgive himself first and and and have peace before you can do that to other people. And I think that's one of the one of the things that I've learned from the lessons that I've learned from him is that you know when somebody goes higher you step down for me to just to be in touch and not even talking about me just to be there and is missed it's made a huge difference. >> Let's bring it back to football. You were given the captaincy here at lead United. Can you remember that moment and how special it was for you? >> Oh yeah, it was absolutely very special. I think um it was a change of um management to be honest because uh when I arrived it was Howard Wilkinson. I mean credit to him, you know, with great respect to How just to to get me here and gave me that opportunity. And then when Judge Graham came because he came in with a reputation, you know, with a very strict stroller, great manager, you know what I mean? Scottish and um disciplinarian. He said he's going to give everybody a chance, you know. Well, that really I saw the light, you know, and then I felt, you know, that this is where things will change, you know, got somebody now who's like for me he who's willing, who's looking at me, you know, as one of the players, you know, and say, you know, this is an opportunity for everyone. People have to leave the club. I have to make sure that the club becomes successful and whoever does well they say you know he was equal he treated everyone equally and that's when uh my life changed and when he gave me the captaincy when you qualified for Europe you know he called me in in in in his office and normally you know when the manager calls you in you're in trouble but uh I went I went and sit in his office and he chucked that I'm bend across the table and says I want you to to be to lead the club. I want to be to captain. I'm telling you, I had it like I had like a lump on my throat. I didn't know what to say. And before I can say anything, he says, "Let's go training." What an honor, you know, to be able to do that and lead such great players and become the chief, you know, the chief, you know, in in Yorkshire, you know, and uh and I thank to George, you know, he changed my life and and and this club, you know, and to today, you know, the resp the relationship still stronger than before. You also captain your country at a pivotal time for South Africa with so many eyes on you. Did you feel a huge responsibility, a huge expectation, you know, uh because obviously I think I was one of the first black captains of the national team, the captain of two boats, you know, lead country, clapping country, which is something, you know, that was unique. It took me from here you know where to the highest level you know where as a as an individual you know it made me realize not just football but life it's not about you it's about everyone around you in order to make you to be where you are because you're not leading you're leading yourself first but then you're leading people and you help people you bring them up with you don't leave them behind which I think that is the most important lesson >> and leading your nation into the World Cup in 98 must have been incredibly special. It was it was huge um achievement not just for for us but for for South Africa as a whole in Africa representing a greater Africa which is was absolutely amazing and for me yes great responsibility uh proud as well you know coming from from from from Suetto and keing the the national team and and that inspired me this is the one chance in your life that you represent and represent and do the best you can, you know, in what you where God gave you, you know, as a talent. >> And to finish, I hope you realize what an inspiration you are to so many people, but when you look back on your life and your career and the legacy that you've left, how do you reflect on that? >> You know, I think for me, you know, it's a vice versa. I think the people are an inspiration to me. I I don't think I was the best one of the best players to come from South Africa at that time. They would it could have been someone else but I got the opportunity which was a calling to be able to stand and represent uh Africa as a whole being able you know to to to change and inspire the young to say I can do it. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. It is possible.