Wilkinson 'extremely grateful' for statue
- Published
Former Leeds manager and club legend Howard Wilkinson says he is extremely grateful for the statue that is being erected outside Elland Road.
Wilkinson's legacy with Leeds is defined by leading the club to its last top-flight league title in 1991–92, making him the last English manager to win the First Division before it became the Premier League.
Appointed in 1988, he also secured promotion from the Second Division in 1990 and laid the foundations for a modernised club structure, including investment in youth development.
"I think early it was over the telephone, and I just went, 'what, why? Statue?" Wilkinson said to BBC Sport West Yorkshire.
"All I can say is, I'm extremely grateful and very aware of what it means.
"Well, I will only be asked my opinion, and my wife will support that I am not the best in what is good and not good art. I do believe that creating a sculpture will require a great deal of artistic talent."