| Eric Leonard | |
| Birth Date: | 5 October 1995 |
| Birth Place: | Palatine, Illinois, United States |
| Height: | 1.75m (05.74feet) |
| Position: | Defender |
| Youthyears1: | –2014 |
| Youthclubs1: | Chicago Sockers |
| Collegeyears1: | 2014–2017 |
| College1: | Butler Bulldogs |
| Collegecaps1: | 73 |
| Collegegoals1: | 6 |
| Years1: | 2017 |
| Clubs1: | OKC Energy U23 |
| Caps1: | 13 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2018 |
| Clubs2: | Nerang Eagles |
| Years3: | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs3: | Forward Madison |
| Caps3: | 100 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2023 |
| Clubs4: | Chicago Fire II |
| Caps4: | 15 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Pcupdate: | November 5, 2023 |
Eric Leonard (born October 5, 1995) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender.
In addition to playing for William Fremd High School, Leonard also served as the captain for the Sockers FC Chicago development academy.[1] In 2014, he joined Butler University, making 73 appearances and scoring 6 goals for the Bulldogs during his four seasons. He was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team in his freshman year, and twice was included in the division's All-Tournament Team in 2016 and 2017. He also served as the team's captain in his senior year.[2] [3]
Leonard joined the OKC Energy U23 team of the PDL in 2017. He made 13 regular season appearances, scoring one goal, along with one appearance in the play-offs.[4]
In 2018, Leonard joined Australian club Nerang Eagles in the Gold Coast Premier League. At the end of the season, he won the Gold Coast Premier League Players' Player of the Year award.[5]
In December 2018, Forward Madison FC announced the signing of Leonard for the team's inaugural season in 2019.[6] [7] [8] He made his league debut for the club on April 13, 2019, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute for Josiel Núñez in a 1–0 away defeat to North Texas SC.[9]
Leonard is Forward Madison's all-time appearance leader, with 99 appearances across all competitive competitions.
On December 13, 2022, Leonard was transferred from Forward Madison FC to the Chicago Fire FC organization. Details of the transfer were not disclosed.[10] It was later reported that Leonard would start with Chicago Fire FC II of MLS Next Pro.[11] [12]
Leonard was born in Palatine, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.