Brentford hit the jackpot after raiding Leeds United for Elland Road cult-hero: View | OneFootball

Ever heard of the saying: ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure’? Well that old adage was never truer than in the Pontus Jansson, Leeds United, Brentford love triangle three years ago.

The Swedish defender had become a fans’ favourite at Elland Road after his heart-on-sleeve performances while in Yorkshire, and played over 100 times for a Whites side that were battling for a return to the Premier League.

Having joined from Italian side Torino, the centre back immediately won over his new fanbase with a series of dominant, tenacious displays at the heart of the backline, and came so close to leading his side back to the promised land before losing out in the playoffs in 18/19.

That season would prove to be his last in Yorkshire though, with boss Marcelo Bielsa not seeing a future for him at the club, much to the dismay of United supporters.

As Leeds and Jansson went Marching On Apart, the Swede went on to have success with Brentford instead; playing a huge part in the Bees promotion to the top flight in the 20/21 season, as he turned his playoff fortunes around to emerge victorious at Wembley.

Pontus Jansson EFL career: Leeds United, Brentford

Initially moving to Elland Road on loan from Italy, Jansson planted his flag in the centre of the Leeds backline as soon as he arrived on English shores, with 36 appearances in his first season at the club earning him a permanent deal the following summer.

So often the rock that stopped Championship attacking forces in their tracks, Jansson was universally loved by everyone in an LS postcode, as he immediately understood what it took to represent such a historic and proud football club.

A thundering tackle here, a towering header there, the Swede would have run through brick walls to keep the ball from entering the penalty area, and with a tough Yorkshire crowd watching your every move those sorts of actions couldn’t have gone down any better.

A bullet header to clinch win against Blackburn Rovers in the dying minutes would have done his reputation no harm either, while his 16 bookings in that first campaign highlights his penchant for leaving his mark on the opposition.

With the deal made permanent that summer, Jansson was a Leeds player for keeps, and despite a poor season seeing the Whites finish in mid-table, the Swede was still a constant in the side.

With Marcelo Bielsa appointed in 2018 things started to look back up for United on the pitch, but behind the scenes trouble was brewing, with Jansson struggling to come to terms with his new boss’ approach on the training ground.

After a number of ‘disputes’ with the Argentine, Jansson was made available for transfer after the playoff semi-final defeat to Derby that year, with local journalist Phil Hay claiming that the Swede was seen as a ‘disruptive presence’ in the dressing room.

It was a sad end to a continental love affair for Leeds fans, many of whom had taken Jansson under their wing and regarded him as one of their own, and for that he will never be forgotten at Elland Road.

Jansson makes history after move to Brentford

Never one to turn down an exciting transfer deal, Brentford wasted no time in snapping up the colossal centre back, and tied him down to a deal for three years in West London.

Leeds fans wouldn’t have been able to comprehend seeing the Swede turn out for the Bees on his old stomping ground just months later, but were soon forgetting about that sorry state of affairs once promotion to the Premier League was assured later that season.

For Jansson, it was another close-but-no-cigar campaign, with Brentford finishing in third, although he had done plenty to continue to prove himself as one of the EFL’s top defenders, and would do so again with another season of combative performances in 20/21.

That was the year that history was made, as the Bees finally got over the line and secured their debut season in the Premier League thanks to a playoff final victory over Swansea City at Wembley.

Even at that time, Jansson still had a lust for Leeds United, with his yearning for Yorkshire life still evident:

“To be completely honest, I miss Leeds and love Leeds, but I’m in a place in life where I’m incredibly happy with where I am now at my new club and how appreciated I am there,” he told the Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen at the time.

“But it is clear that I miss Leeds, my team-mates and the club.

“It was something special. I will love Leeds for the rest of my life and I still follow them.

“I have a pretty close relationship with many of the players, I still often talk to Andrea [Radrizzani]”

Nevertheless, Jansson continued to excel for the Bees in the Premier League; becoming something of a modern day legend in doing so with his memorable performances in wins over Chelsea and Manchester United immediately springing to mind.

A 5-2 thumping over his old darlings Leeds would have no doubt left him with a flicker of bitter-sweet happiness, although his place in both teams’ folklore is very much established.

It is very rare these days that a player earns himself cult-hero status at one club, let alone two, but that is exactly what Jansson has with Brentford and Leeds; two clubs the love him dearly, and yearn for defenders to show half the passion he does.

A throwback to players of yesteryear with his body-on-the-line shenanigans at the back, Leeds fans will still rue letting him leave so easily, knowing he could have been a feature in their backline for plenty of years to come.

In the end both sides profited from the deal, with United earning promotion the following season, while Jansson needed just another year to join them in the top flight.

The real winners though are Brentford, who have built on that success and continue to thrive in the Premier League; give it a month or so and they might be joined by the Yorkshire side once again, leaving Jansson’s two loves back on an even keel.