Gabriel Leis Explained

Gabriel Leis
Fullname:Gabriel Leis Veiga
Birth Date:7 May 1950
Birth Place:Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Position:Defender
Years1:–1972
Years2:1974–1983
Caps2:164
Goals2:5
Years3:1983–198?
Caps3:36
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:200
Totalgoals:0
Manageryears1:1998
Managerclubs1:Compostela
Manageryears2:1998–1999
Managerclubs2:Compostela
Manageryears3:2004
Managerclubs3:Compostela
Manageryears4:2008
Managerclubs4:San Isidro

Gabriel Leis Veiga (born 7 May 1950) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defender, and later worked as a manager.[1]

Playing career

Leis was born in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, and began his career with SD Compostela. He later joined Pontevedra, being part of the team that was promoted as 1975 - 76 Tercera División group winners. He played 36 matches in the Segunda División the following season, before Pontevedra were relegated to the brand new Segunda División B. They suffered relegation again, back to the Tercera División, in 1980 - 81, and went on to win their group for the next two seasons, without achieving promotion. Leis left in 1983 to join Lalín, with whom he won a fourth Tercera División group in 1984 - 85, and endured another Segunda División B relegation a year later.[1]

Managerial career

After his retirement, Leis returned to Compostela as a coach. He took over as first team manager in March 1998 after the departure of Fernando Vázquez,[2] with the club in the La Liga relegation play-off places.[3] Leis guided them to victory in five of their remaining 11 matches,[4] but they still finished the season in 17th,[3] and faced a relegation play-off against Villarreal. A 0 - 0 draw at El Madrigal was followed by a 1 - 1 draw at home at San Lázaro, meaning Compostela lost on away goals and were relegated to the Segunda División after four years in the top flight.[2]

Leis was replaced by Antonio Maceda ahead of the new season, but Macedo lasted just nine games before departing in October with Compostela 13th in the Segunda División table.[5] [6] After Pichi Lucas acted as interim manager for three games,[5] Leis returned as manager in late November. He was in charge for 15 matches, winning six,[7] but despite improving the club's league position to 8th[6] he left his position in March 1999.[7] Compostela would total five managers that season, with Zoran Marić and Andoni Goikoetxea both taking the reins after Leis's departure.[5]

For the 2003 - 04 season Compostela, who had by now slipped into Segunda División B, appointed Pichi Lucas as their permanent manager, but he departed in January with the club second from bottom.[8] [9] After one match with Franck Passi in interim charge, Leis took over for his third spell as manager.[8] Compostela won just five of their remaining 18 matches, and were relegated to the Tercera División in 19th place.[9] Financial problems, which had meant players refused to play one of their matches against Conquense due to unpaid wages, also led to Compostela being demoted another step to Regional Preferente de Galicia, and Leis left the club.

Leis returned to management in January 2008, taking over at San Isidro in Segunda División B. He won only one of his 10 matches in charge, and lost eight, before departing in March[10] with the club bottom of the table. The rest of the season was no better, and they were relegated in last place.[11]

Honours

Player

Pontevedra

1975 - 76, 1981 - 82, 1982 - 83

Lalín

1984 - 85

Career statistics

As a player

[1]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Compostela1971 - 72Tercera División??2020
Pontevedra1974 - 75??4040
1975 - 76??4040
1976 - 77Segunda División36041401
1977 - 78Segunda División B25020270
1978 - 7932120341
1979 - 8036460424
1980 - 81350 - 350
1982 - 83Tercera División??3030
Total16452511896
Lalín1984 - 85Tercera División??2020
1985 - 86Segunda División B36030390
Total36050410
Career total20053212326

As a manager

[4]

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord Ref
Compostela8 March 199824 May 1998
Compostela22 November 1998align=elft6 March 1999
Compostela18 January 200416 May 2004[12]
San Isidro20 January 200823 March 2008

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leis . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  2. Web site: Matches Leis . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Classification First Division 1997-98 . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Leis . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  5. Web site: Squad of Compostela 1998-99 2nd Division . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Classification 2nd Division 1998-99 . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  7. Web site: Matches Leis . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  8. Web site: Squad of Compostela 2003-04 2nd Division B Group II . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  9. Web site: Classification 2nd Division B Group II 2003-04 . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  10. Web site: Matches Leis . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  11. Web site: Classification 2nd Division B Group I 2007-08 . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.
  12. Web site: Matches Leis . BDFutbol . 8 March 2021.