In American sport parlance, Luciano Becchio was what is called a ‘walk-on’, in that he turned up for Leeds United’s tour in Ireland, pulled on a shirt and earned a place on the team.
It’s usually a story that makes Hollywood film lore, a Saturday afternoon Disney type of film, where an unheralded player just turns up, slings his boots on and has a successful trial. The club take him on and the rest is history as he goes from success to success – becoming a world beater and a good person to boot.
This is all good and well but overcast West Yorkshire isn’t sunny California, nor is the city of Leeds the shining paths of Hollywood. But in this instance it came true. Luciano Becchio, a bit part player who once turned out for Barcelona’s B side after coming over to Europe from his native Argentina, walked on to the Leeds United side and became something of a folk hero at the Whites.
Becchio may have left Leeds United for an ill-advised stint at Norwich City at the end of the January 2013 transfer window, but he is one of the players that hasn’t left the affections of the fans. He is also one of those players where Leeds United hasn’t left him – as seen by the following tweet ahead of Leeds United’s game against his former side Norwich, a tweet he posted earlier this morning.
Come on @LUFC you have to win to day. Pleaseeee… 🙏🙏🙏 we have to get the play off 💪🏻⚽️
— Luciano Becchio (@becchioluciano) April 29, 2017
With such a tweet, it was to be expected that Leeds United fans would respond to a player that they still hold in high esteem, and that has proven to be the case.
Becchio pleads for Leeds to win – fans respond on Twitter
Helen agrees that luck is needed today.
Wish you were here today need all the luck we can get 🙏🙏🙏 #ALAW #MOT
— Helen Louise🏆 💙💛🤍 🇺🇦 (@hellsbelles92) April 29, 2017
Common theme developing here involving the replies from these two Leeds fans.
https://twitter.com/RCroft_LUFC/status/858206277234810880
https://twitter.com/JoeCatling19/status/858208696953962496
Love shown here for the man who some Leeds fans refer to affectionately as Luc or Luci.
Against his former club too 😂 love everything about you Luciano #MOT
— Ben Cawley (@BenLufcCawley) April 29, 2017
Leeds fan Jake feels the love too.
Love you Luci
— Jake (@Jonesylufc88) April 29, 2017
Love leading to a proposal from Leeds fan Jase?
Marry me.
— Jase 🦁 🦁 🦁 (@Jase0909) April 29, 2017
It will be a tough game today at Elland Road, a game in front of a huge, 30,000 plus crowd and one where the Whites really need to pull out all the stops. Garry Monk has already asked for the home crowd to bring the noise; they’ll also be wanting the three points too.
