Joe Rodon has been a consistent performer ever since he joined Leeds United.
The defender joined the club on loan initially during the 2023/24 season, before arriving on a permanent deal from Spurs this summer. The Welsh international has become a key part of Daniel Farke’s team. His performances in his early days at Elland Road kept former club captain Liam Cooper out of the side.
Since the start of last season he has been a core of the Leeds defence. Rodon and Pascal Struijk formed a solid partnership at the back and have never looked back. This season, the pairing have started every game in the Championship. The duo have managed to keep Max Wöber out of the team.
Leeds have the third best defensive record in the league, conceding just nine goals. The club sit in third place in the table and are firmly in the promotion race, despite multiple injuries.
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Joe Rodon almost missed out on Leeds United move
Credit: Imago Images
Rodon was in action as Wales played a 0-0 draw with Turkey in the Nations League. The defender played the full game and picked up a yellow card.
After the game, Wales manager Craig Bellamy admitted that he almost signed Joe Rodon on two separate occasions when he coached at club level:
“I remember when I was going to go to Oxford, I wanted him,” Bellamy added, “He was at Swansea and I wanted him on loan, because I’d watched him. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I remember that even when I was at Burnley we wanted him. So he’s a player where a lot of clubs would love in terms of profile.”
Bellamy almost joined Oxford United as head coach in 2018, and had Rodon on his shortlist. The Wales boss also recommended the Leeds United star to Vincent Kompany when he was in charge at Burnley.
The defender could be in line to win his 50th cap for Wales when they face Iceland on Tuesday. Bellamy praised the defender for his ability.
“His box defending – I know you’ve heard me mention that phrase – it means when you’re deep in defending in the box. Headers, blocked shots. He’s so good at it,” Bellamy told Wales Online, “That’s difficult. Trust me. There’s a lot of defenders that are not as good at that as him. When you look at him with the ball, he’s brilliant. He really is.
“The way we play enhances him even more. How he keeps it central. He doesn’t get blocked. He doesn’t go down pathways, cul-de-sacs he can’t get out of and then losing the ball. If you look at those profiles, defending the goal line, he wants to defend. Loves defending. Obviously in the air he’s exceptional, but he’s good on the ball. Very, very quick. That’s a good defender.”
