Editing David Batty (section)

===Return to Leeds United===
Batty rejoined a resurgent Leeds team under the management of [[David O'Leary]]; O'Leary wanted Batty to provide bite and experience for his youthful side. A rib injury picked up in his first game kept him on the sidelines for some time, but by the end of the [[1998-99 in English football|1998–99]] season he was a regular in the Leeds team. However, in the early part of the [[1999-00 in English football|1999–2000]] season he suffered an [[Achilles tendon]] injury, and recovery was lengthened by side effects of the drugs he had to take for the heart problems he suffered as a result of the earlier rib injury.{{citation needed|date=January 2010}} This caused him to miss [[Euro 2000]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Batty's experience was a key factor in Leeds qualification for the [[UEFA Champions League]], and the cup runs to the semi-finals of both the [[UEFA Cup]] and the Champions League; however, when O'Leary was sacked by Leeds in 2002 Batty found himself out of favour with subsequent managers, and in May 2004 he was released by Leeds and retired from football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsunited.com/playerarticle.asp?article=203185& |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616082425/http://www.leedsunited.com/playerarticle.asp?article=203185&amp |archive-date=16 June 2004 |title=Six Departures Confirmed |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |first=Graham |last=Walker |date=14 May 2004 |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> He was injured in a game against former club Newcastle United on 7 January 2004. This would turn out to be the final game of his career.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3362527.stm
|title=Newcastle 1–0 Leeds
|website=BBC Sport
|date=7 January 2004 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref>