It is 25 years since an English manager last won the league... the story of Vinnie Jones' shotgun, Eric Cantona and how Howard Wilkinson and Leeds beat Manchester United to the title

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While Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino carry out their duel over the Premier League title in London, a significant anniversary has not been missed in the north of England.

Wednesday will mark the 25th year since the league title was last won by an English manager. Howard Wilkinson’s name may not roll freely off the tongues of most fans born after the advent of the Premier League, but he remains a hero in Leeds.

In 1992 he managed to lead a relatively unfancied Leeds United side to the summit of the English game. That has been celebrated by a new film, Do You Want to Win?, which looks at Wilkinson’s first three seasons in charge of a side that went from second division also-rans to champions in blistering fashion.

Leeds United won the league title in 1992, with the anniversary taking place on Wednesday

Howard Wilkinson revolutionised a club that was on its knees and took them to the top

The scale of Wilkinson’s achievement is not regularly discussed, sandwiched as it was between the end of the old league system and the beginning of the Premier League. 

But in the form of the film, he finally has a tribute worthy of what he accomplished in the late 80s and early 90s. The timeline of his success, for example, directly matches Leicester’s promotion and subsequent Premier League title.

Leeds were at a low ebb when Wilkinson was plucked from Sheffield Wednesday at the recommendation of Bobby Robson. The glory days under Don Revie were long gone and the club were more famous for off-field violence than any on-field accomplishment.

But Wilkinson changed that. This was a manager in the old school sense of the word, the person from whom all achievements stemmed.

Wilkinson pictured on Monday at the premiere of the documentary about his achievements

Leeds' board in 1988 after being told that they should hire Wilkinson by Bobby Robson

It was Wilkinson that took advantage of Alex Ferguson’s decision to cut Gordon Strachan loose, the first step in forming his team of winners. Strachan was told he would never play again by Ferguson, a decision that came back to bite him.

Wilkinson also knew that getting rid of John Sheridan - a cult icon at the club but a great difficulty off the field - was a key step to moulding a team in his image.

And Wilkinson insisted that Vinnie Jones was the right player to add at the start of the journey, despite his reputation. He wanted him to fix a broken dressing room.

Jones attended the premiere on Monday night, a Hollywood star who has revealed in the past that the only photo he has from his footballing days on his wall is in a Leeds kit.

Gordon Strachan said Alex Ferguson told him he would never play for Manchester United again

It is also the actor who provided the star turn in the film. 

In 1989-90, Jones played a key role as Leeds won promotion. He was the cult hero to end all cult heroes. Children copied his haircut. As he puts it himself in the film: ‘Michael Jackson weren’t as popular as me in Leeds.’

But on arrival in the top flight, he was replaced in the first-team by Gary McAllister. 

In the movie, the hard-man admits that he broke down after watching a game against Manchester United that he was dropped for and had to leave Elland Road. ‘I used to be in tears at the time in anger’, Jones said.

Vinnie Jones (left) at the premiere on Monday alongside Wilkinson and Gary McAllister (right)

He would depart - but only after pulling a shotgun on Wilkinson. They were on their way to Luton when Wilkinson felt metal against his skull. Jones commented: 'Feeling lucky, punk?' and got a game. It would be one of his last at the club, even though Wilkinson understood the joke.

The fact he returned for the production and premiere shows how much that season and a bit meant to him.

The film does not brush over those bad moments. Promotion was accompanied by terrible scenes on Bournemouth beach, with over 100 Leeds supporters arrested on one of the hottest days of the year, which led to a banner draped on the town hall apologising during the trophy presentation. 

The FA threatened to shut the club down in the event of any further trouble.

Jones was integral to Leeds' promotion in 1990 but was sold when they were in the top flight

But the great highs are also covered well. It was a time of revolution at Leeds.

There was a battle against the racism that was commonplace on the terraces, one that a combination of the club and fans groups succeeded in. Efforts were made to send players out to the local community to foster a greater spirit. The commercial side of the club was fixed by the dynamic team of owner Leslie Silver and managing director Bill Fotherby.

Leeds succeeded. There was promotion followed by a fourth place finish and then the league title in 1992. This occurred despite the difficulty of facing down Man Utd, who were looking to win a first title since 1967 and finally looked capable of doing so under Ferguson.

Ferguson would later comment that Leeds had not won the title - his side had simply lost it. The anger at that suggestion comes out in interviews with players, who clearly believe they were worthy champions.

Former managing director Bill Fotherby, who helped fix Leeds' commercial side

Jones signing autographs for Leeds fans - he is still highly regarded in the city

Finding additional details in a title win, 25 years on, should be difficult, but Do You Want to Win?, directed by Lee Hicken and Daniel Chapman, manages to find them.

Eric Cantona is given a key role by any outside observer of the season, but Wilkinson’s summary of why they signed him is almost laughable.

Lee Chapman, the top scorer, suffered a potentially serious injury. ‘Eric was important,’ Wilkinson recalls, ‘because there was a danger we’d be without Lee until the end of the season’. Cantona, therefore, was only ever backup to Chapman.

Eric Cantona played a role and several stories were told about his time at Leeds in the film

There is also the tale of Cantona going out to nightclubs with his new team-mates and finding offence in the fact that he had to go speak to women rather than them coming to him.

In truth, what the film provides is a tribute to an underrated figure in the game. England has not produced a greater manager than Wilkinson since him, judging on the record alone.

The film, while highlighting the importance of Strachan, Jones, Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed et al, ultimately ties it round to Wilkinson. His arrival is the beginning. His achievements are the conclusion. It is no less than he deserves.

Do You Want to Win? was made by The City Talking, BlackBox Creative, Leeds United and BBC Leeds, as part of Leeds International Festival, which is supported by LeedsBID. Copies of the film can be purchased here.