The 2001-02 campaign was a season of soaring ambition and dramatic turbulence for Leeds United, as The Whites, under David O'Leary, started strong and topped the Premier League table until the new year with an 11-match unbeaten run. The squad was bolstered by the high-profile £11 million arrival of star striker Robbie Fowler, whose 12 league goals, alongside joint top league scorer Mark Viduka, contributed to their attacking threat. However, a crippling mid-season slump, compounded by off-field drama including the legal trial of key players Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate, saw the team miss out on a Champions League spot, ultimately finishing 5th and securing a UEFA Cup place. It was an unforgettable year that, despite the disappointing finish and the eventual sacking of O'Leary, marked a dramatic closing chapter of the club's 'Baby Blues' era.