26 Facts About Lucas Radebe

Lucas Valeriu Ntuba Radebe OIS was born on 12 April 1969 and is a South African former professional footballer who played as a centre back.

Lucas Radebe began playing in South Africa with Kaizer Chiefs, before transferring to Leeds United, where he played 256 matches for the Yorkshire side.

Lucas Radebe became captain of Leeds United and of the South African national team, most notably at World Cup 2002.

Lucas Radebe attended the local Bopasenatla Secondary School until he was 15 years old.

Lucas Radebe's parents sent him to one of the former homelands in Grade 10, Bophuthatswana, as a way to keep him safe from the violent neighbourhood of Diepkloof Zone Four in Soweto.

Lucas Radebe originally started his career with the Kaizer Chiefs as a goalkeeper, and then switched positions to central midfield and then finally to central defence.

Lucas Radebe was only included in the deal to keep Masinga happy; as it turned out, he became the more valuable investment.

Lucas Radebe returned to the goalkeeper position in March 1996, replacing John Lukic in the position after he suffered an injury in the second half of a defeat to Middlesbrough.

However, in 2000 Lucas Radebe sustained serious knee and ankle injuries, which kept him out of the game for almost two years, and subsequently found it difficult to regain his form and his place in the team.

Lucas Radebe was the captain of the South African national football team during both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

South Africa failed to reach the knockout stages on both occasions; however Lucas Radebe did get on the score sheet in 2002.

Lucas Radebe earned 70 caps for South Africa and scored two goals during his international career, with his last match being against England on 22 May 2003.

Lucas Radebe could be seen working as a pundit for South African television, and during ITV's coverage of the tournament.

On 28 August 2006, Lucas Radebe announced that he was going back to Leeds after failing to secure a job with the World Cup hosts to be involved in the set-up of Bafana Bafana.

Lucas Radebe said he was "tired of waiting for unreliable people" who had allegedly promised him a role in the national team set up as the South African Football Association prepared to host the next World Cup in 2010.

Lucas Radebe revealed in September 2010 that he would like to manage Leeds United in the future and manage the South African national side.

Lucas Radebe said both jobs were the only coaching jobs that he would consider.

In July 2012, it was announced that Lucas Radebe had accepted a position as team manager with the South African national side.

In October 2013, Lucas Radebe announced that he was set for another emotional return to the Elland Road ground at Leeds, to be presented to the crowd on Sunday, 30 October 2013.

When Leeds United confirmed their interest in 1994, Lucas Radebe's decision influenced in part by an incident that had taken place three years previously.

Lucas Radebe was shopping for his mother, accompanied by his brothers, one of his sisters and her baby.

Lucas Radebe felt a pain in his back and he was bleeding, and his left leg went limp.

Lucas Radebe was rushed to hospital but nothing vital had been damaged.

Lucas Radebe was voted 54th in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004.

In December 2008, Lucas Radebe was treated for a heart complaint after collapsing while at the gym.

Lucas Radebe has been an ambassador of FIFA for SOS Children's Villages; he received the FIFA Fair Play Award in December 2000 for his contribution in ridding soccer of racism as well as for his work with children in South Africa.