| Juan Carlos León | |
| Fullname: | Juan Carlos León Zambrano |
| Birth Date: | 24 January 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Esmeraldas, Ecuador |
| Currentclub: | Libertad FC (manager) |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthclubs1: | Barcelona SC |
| Youthclubs2: | Calvi |
| Years1: | 1999 |
| Clubs1: | Audaz Octubrino |
| Caps1: | 15 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2000 |
| Clubs2: | Panamá |
| Caps2: | 8 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2001 |
| Clubs3: | Santos Ecuador |
| Caps3: | 6 |
| Goals3: | 2 |
| Years4: | 2002 |
| Clubs4: | Valle del Chota |
| Caps4: | 10 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2003 |
| Clubs5: | Paladín "S" |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2004 |
| Clubs6: | 9 de Octubre |
| Caps6: | 0 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2006 |
| Clubs7: | Liceo Cristiano |
| Caps7: | 0 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Managerclubs1: | Barcelona SC (youth) |
| Manageryears2: | 2009 |
| Managerclubs2: | Norte América (youth) |
| Manageryears3: | 2009–2018 |
| Managerclubs3: | Independiente del Valle (youth) |
| Manageryears4: | 2018–2019 |
| Managerclubs4: | Independiente Juniors |
| Manageryears5: | 2020–2022 |
| Managerclubs5: | 9 de Octubre |
| Manageryears6: | 2022–2023 |
| Managerclubs6: | Orense |
| Manageryears7: | 2024 |
| Managerclubs7: | 9 de Octubre |
| Manageryears8: | 2024– |
| Managerclubs8: | Libertad FC |
Juan Carlos León Zambrano (born 24 January 1975) is an Ecuadorian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current manager of Libertad FC.
Born in Esmeraldas, León represented Barcelona SC, Calvi as a youth. After making his senior debut with Audaz Octubrino in 1999, he went on to play for Panamá, Santos Ecuador, Valle del Chota, Paladín "S", 9 de Octubre and Liceo Cristiano.[1]
After retiring, León worked for Barcelona and Norte América's youth categories before joining Independiente del Valle in the middle of 2009. After winning several titles with the under-16s and under-18s, he led the under-20s to the 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores final, and was later named in charge of reserve team Alianza Cotopaxi for the 2018 Segunda Categoría.[2]
After winning the Segunda Categoría and promoting Alianza (later named Independiente Juniors) to the Serie B, León renewed his contract with the club.[3] On 2 January 2020, he was appointed manager of former team 9 de Octubre in the second division,[4] and led the side back to the Serie A after a 25-year absence, also winning the title for the first time.
On 2 August 2022, León was sacked by 9 de Octubre,[5] and took over fellow top tier side Orense eleven days later.[6] He left the latter on 3 December, after narrowly missing out a continental spot.[7]
León returned to 9 de Octubre for the 2024 season, but was appointed at the helm of Libertad FC on 19 April of that year.[8]
Independiente Juniors
2018
9 de Octubre
2020