André Leão Explained

André Leão
Fullname:André Filipe Ribeiro Leão[1]
Birth Date:20 May 1985
Birth Place:Freamunde, Portugal
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Leça
Youthyears1:1993–2003
Youthclubs1:Freamunde
Years1:2003–2005
Years2:2005–2006
Years3:2006–2007
Years4:2007–2010
Years5:2010–2014
Years6:2014–2017
Years7:2017–2019
Years8:2020–2021
Years9:2021–2022
Years10:2022–2023
Years11:2023–
Clubs5:Paços Ferreira
Clubs6:Valladolid
Clubs7:Paços Ferreira
Clubs8:Trofense
Clubs9:Varzim
Clubs10:Salgueiros
Clubs11:Leça
Caps1:30
Caps2:23
Caps3:20
Caps4:25
Caps5:108
Caps6:103
Caps7:30
Caps8:10
Caps9:41
Caps10:20
Caps11:13
Goals1:1
Goals2:0
Goals3:2
Goals4:0
Goals5:3
Goals6:0
Goals7:0
Goals8:0
Goals9:0
Goals10:0
Goals11:0
Nationalyears1:2005–2006
Nationalteam1:Portugal U20
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:21:32, 12 December 2023 (UTC)

André Filipe Ribeiro Leão (born 20 May 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Leça.

Club career

Early years

Leão was born in Freamunde. After a brief spell with FC Porto's reserves, he made his professional debut at Aveiro's S.C. Beira-Mar, his Primeira Liga debut coming on 17 September 2006 in a 2–0 home win against C.F. Estrela da Amadora where he came on as a 76th-minute substitute.[2]

Leão was used regularly during that season, but only won one of the matches in which he appeared and his club was relegated.

CFR Cluj and Paços

Leão then moved to Romania with CFR Cluj, joining a host of compatriots and winning the Liga I championship in his debut campaign, appearing in 15 games. However, he would be rarely used during his two-and-a-half-year spell, and returned to his country in the late hours of the January 2010 transfer window, joining F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[3]

In the 2010 off-season, Swansea City of the Football League Championship made an offer to sign Leão,[4] but nothing came of it. He started in all his 29 league appearances in 2012–13 (two goals),[5] [6] as Paços finished a best-ever third and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever.[7]

Valladolid

On 12 June 2014, aged 29, Leão signed a three-year contract with Spanish club Real Valladolid.[8] He made his competitive debut on 23 August, playing the 90 minutes in a 2–1 Segunda División home defeat of RCD Mallorca.[9]

Leão was an undisputed starter in a three-year stint at the Estadio José Zorrilla,[10] [11] taking part in 107 matches in all competitions.

Paços return

On 13 July 2017, after alleging personal problems, Leão was transferred back to his previous club Paços Ferreira.[12]

Honours

CFR Cluj

2007–08, 2009–10

2007–08, 2008–09[13]

2009[14]

Paços Ferreira

2018–19[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: André Leão. Mais Futebol. pt. 30 November 2020.
  2. News: Beira-Mar vence Estrela por 2–0. Beira-Mar defeat Estrela 2–0. Público. pt. 17 September 2006. 27 July 2017.
  3. News: André Leão reforça meio-campo. André Leão bolsters midfield. Record. pt. 21 January 2010. 27 July 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010327/http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/p--ferreira/detalhe/andre-leao-reforca-meio-campo.html. 7 November 2017.
  4. Web site: Swansea set to sign Leao. Planet Swans. 22 June 2010. 22 June 2010.
  5. News: Nas mãos de Ricardo. In the hands of Ricardo. Correio da Manhã. pt. 20 August 2012. 30 November 2020.
  6. News: Paços vence Rio Ave e garante pelo menos o quarto lugar. Paços beat Rio Ave and confirm fourth place at least. Público. pt. 20 April 2013. 30 November 2020.
  7. Web site: Paços defende sonho frente ao Zenit. Paços defend dream against Zenit. UEFA. pt. 14 August 2013. 30 November 2020.
  8. Web site: André Leao, primer fichaje del Pucela 14/15. André Leao, first Pucela 14/15 signing. Real Valladolid. es. 12 June 2014. 12 June 2014.
  9. News: El Valladolid se impone al Mallorca y se lleva los primeros tres puntos de la temporada. Valladolid impose Mallorca and get first three points of the season. El Norte de Castilla. E.. Mongil. es. 23 August 2014. 27 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Álvaro Rubio, de indiscutible a suplente. Álvaro Rubio, from undisputed to backup. Vavel. José María. Gangoso Rosón. es. 4 September 2014. 27 July 2017.
  11. News: André Leao vuelve a la lista ante el Almería de la que sale Anuar. André Leao returns to squad against Almería and Anuar is left out. Diario AS. Ignacio. Bailador. es. 5 May 2017. 27 July 2017.
  12. Web site: André Leao, traspasado al Paços de Ferreira. André Leao, transferred to Paços de Ferreira. Real Valladolid. es. 13 July 2017. 15 July 2017.
  13. Web site: Cupa României ramâne la Cluj-Napoca!. Cluj-Napoca renew Cup title!. CFR Cluj. ro. 13 June 2009. 14 June 2009. dead. https://archive.today/20090616202549/http://www.cfr1907.ro/ro/stiri/779/cupa-romaniei-ramane-la-cluj-napoca/. 16 June 2009.
  14. News: CFR Cluj câştigat Supercupa României. CFR Cluj win Romanian Supercup. Gândul. ro. 27 July 2009. 27 July 2009.
  15. News: Paços de Ferreira campeão da II Liga. Paços de Ferreira II League champions. O Minho. pt. 19 May 2019. 28 June 2023.