Nelson Mandela called Lucas Radebe "my hero". Few footballers get a reference like that.
Radebe began at Kaizer Chiefs and spent the rest of a career that ran from 1989 to 2005 at Leeds United. He could play at centre-back or just in front of the defence, and Leeds made him captain for over six years in the Premier League. He made more than 200 appearances for the club and was part of the side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.
For South Africa he wore the armband at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. In Leeds they simply called him the Chief.
Radebe in a Leeds shirt
Tomorrow: number 25.
