Gary Kelly picks his combined Leeds and AC Milan XI

Leeds United are back in the big time and are set to face Italian giants AC Milan this summer.

We caught up with Leeds United and Republic of Ireland legend, Gary Kelly, to chat about his past encounters with the Rossoneri, which Milan player he would have loved to play with, and also forced him to pick between his nephew and Paolo Maldini.

We’re here at what’s now known as the Aviva Stadium. What’s your fondest memory of playing here at the old Landsdowne Road?

At the old Lansdowne Road? It’s ’94. It’s the last time we had a friendly when Jack Charlton had the squad. Pre-94 World Cup, we were here against Russia, and it was just amazing having my family in the stands, watching me make my debut. It was just amazing. Amazing achievement for the family, and it’ll always stay in the memories of the Kelly clan.

The last time Leeds and Milan crossed paths was in the Champions League in 2000, what was the highlight moment from that campaign for you?

Oh, the highlight moment straight away was Leeds United getting back onto the big stage, playing against AC Milan. We had a great night in the San Siro. Brought thousands and thousands of fans. Dom Matteo scored a great goal. We were one-nil down. I think I gave away the penalty.

One-nil down, then Dom scored from a corner and, I think, we celebrated like we won the Champions League, but it was an amazing night. And then we got the fixture at Elland Road as well, the return leg. I don’t know who was at home first, but Lee Bowyer scored the best flukiest goal I’ve ever seen in my life.

So, two amazing nights and two amazing clubs, and the fan bases are crazy. And you’ll see that now in this upcoming friendly as well, when the Italians travel, they’re very passionate, and the Leeds United fans, Leeds United love their team, and they’ll travel in their numbers as well.

Gary Kelly picks his combined Leeds and AC Milan 11

You faced the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and, of course, Milan during that campaign. Who were the standout players you came up against?

There was a lot of players. Like, you can’t put anyone on a pedestal, but I will say the Leeds squad at the time was a band of brothers, everyone could do a job if we were injured. Just say Danny Mills is right back. He got injured, I’d go into right back. Harty was left back. Danny could play left back. Centre Half, you had Lucas, I’m more concentrating on our own team now.

We knew what we were up against, and it was all about us, really, that we had to turn up, be as professional as we could, and run through that wall for Leeds United and David O’Leary and Eddie Gray at the time. As you said, world famous clubs we came up against in that group, and they’re just great memories to always have as a player.

If you could pick one AC Milan player to play with past or present, who would that be?

Em…it was something that I’ve never really thought about. I’d be Leeds and Celtic. AC Milan? You’d go, Maldini. Just the name itself with his dad, and I think his granddad and everything. The involvement they had with AC Milan is very similar, well, not very similar to my career at Leeds United. I was at Leeds for seventeen years, but the Maldini family have been connected with AC Milan for years and years and just stand out.

He’s the gaffer, isn’t he? I’d say he could still play as well because he looks alright. I seen him in a photo shoot recently, and he just looks amazing, but they’re all brilliant. It’s a massive club, and they had world-renowned players.

If you could pick one current AC Milan player to sign for Leeds this summer, who would you pick?

I’ll tell you the truth. You leave the transfer market to the manager. That’s why Daniel has done so well in the Championship. Now it’s a step up for the manager and the club again; he’ll have his eye on targets.

About AC Milan players, I’m not sure. We’ll have to keep within the limit. I wouldn’t be great now telling you the top to bottom of the AC Milan squad, but it’s all about Leeds United. And if he decides to go for someone big, I’m sure the club will financially back him. So, we’ll wait and see. And rather than just picking one player from AC Milan, like, I’m sure he has his targets, and he’ll go from there. So we’ll leave all the transfer speculation, and all up to Daniel.

So…I’m gonna give you two options. A Leeds player and an AC Milan player, and we’ll make your ultimate combined 11. Okay?

Okay…so I have to pick from one or the other?

Yeah, that’s right. So…Nigel Martyn or Dida?

Oh, Nigel.

Gary Kelly or Cafu?

Come on! Cafu

Ian Harte or Paolo Maldini?

*Long pause*…Maldini

Jack Charlton or Franco Baresi?

Oh, Jack, all day just as a manager.

Lucas Radebe or Alessandro Nesta?

Jesus, this is the hardest quiz question ever. I’d go with the chief because he loves Leeds. We all love Leeds chief!

Johnny Giles or Andrea Pirlo?

Jesus! Johnny, because he lives in Dublin and he’ll catch up with me, and he won’t buy me any Bacardi ever again. Johnny, two of them. They’re all legends. Everyone that I’m picking are all legends…I’ll go Johnny Giles.

David Batty or Gennaro Gattuso?

Oh, it has to be Batts.

Billy Bremner or Ruud Gullit?

Billy all day long.

Raphinha or Rafael Leao?

Raphinha.

Viduka or Inzaghi?

Oh, big Mark all day long, yeah.

Harry Kewell or Kaka?

Oh, Kaka all day long, Kaka all day long.