Leonardo Rocha (footballer) explained

Leonardo Rocha
Full Name:Leonardo Miramar Rocha
Birth Date:23 May 1997
Birth Place:Almada, Portugal
Height:2.00 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Radomiak Radom
Clubnumber:17
Youthyears1:2006–2007
Youthclubs1:Amora
Youthyears2:2007–2008
Youthclubs2:Colégio Guadalupe
Youthyears3:2008–2010
Youthclubs3:Belenenses
Youthyears4:2010
Youthclubs4:Vitória Setúbal
Youthyears5:2011
Youthclubs5:Boavista
Youthyears6:2011–2012
Youthclubs6:Pescara
Youthyears7:2012
Youthclubs7:Ituano
Youthyears8:2013–2014
Youthclubs8:Barra
Youthyears9:2014
Youthclubs9:Amora
Youthyears10:2015–2017
Youthclubs10:Monaco
Years1:2016
Clubs1:Monaco B
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2017
Clubs2:Vicenza
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Leganés B
Caps3:10
Goals3:3
Years4:2018
Clubs4:Ontinyent (loan)
Caps4:9
Goals4:3
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Lommel
Caps5:26
Goals5:16
Years6:2019–2022
Clubs6:Eupen
Caps6:19
Goals6:0
Years7:2020–2021
Clubs7:RWDM47 (loan)
Caps7:13
Goals7:7
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:Lierse
Caps8:17
Goals8:12
Years9:2023–
Clubs9:Radomiak Radom
Caps9:41
Goals9:14
Club-Update:6 August 2024

Leonardo Miramar Rocha (born 23 May 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Polish club Radomiak Radom as a forward.

Football career

Born in Almada to a Brazilian father,[1] Rocha represented nine different clubs during his youth career, and finished his formation with AS Monaco FC. He made his senior debut with the B-team on 26 November 2016, playing the last 11 minutes in a 2–1 loss against US Colomiers for the CFA championship.

Rocha terminated his contract with Monaco on 30 January 2017, and joined Serie B side Vicenza Calcio on 1 February.[2] He did not play for the club during his six-month spell, and subsequently moved to Spain with CD Leganés, being assigned to the reserves in Tercera División.[3]

Rocha scored his first senior goal on 1 October 2017, scoring his team's third in a 3–1 home defeat of CDF Tres Cantos. The following 31 January, after three goals in ten matches, he was loaned to Segunda División B side Ontinyent CF until June.[4]

On 19 July 2018, Rocha switched teams and countries again after signing for Lommel SK in the Belgian First Division B.[5] He made his professional debut on 3 August, starting in a 1–0 home win against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.[6]

Rocha scored his first professional goal on 17 August 2018, netting a last-minute winner in a 2–1 away success over KV Mechelen. On 6 October, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 home win against K.S.V. Roeselare.[7] He finished the campaign with 16 goals, being the division's top goalscorer as his side narrowly avoided relegation.

Remaining in Belgium, Rocha signed a three-year contract with First Division A side KAS Eupen on 23 July 2019. The fee was €500,000.[8] In 2020–21, he was loaned back to the second tier at RWDM47 where he was the club's top scorer.[9] On 10 October 2020, he scored a hat-trick for the Molenbeek-based club in an 8–1 win at Union Rochefortoise in the fifth round of the national cup.[10]

On 16 August 2022, Rocha signed a two-year contract with Lierse.[11]

On 13 January 2023, Rocha joined Polish Ekstraklasa side Radomiak Radom until June 2026, becoming their record signing for a reported fee of approximately €150,000.[12]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Monaco B2016–17CFA1010
Vicenza2016–17Serie B000000
Leganés B2017–18Tercera División103103
Ontinyent (loan)2017–18Segunda División B9393
Lommel2018–19Belgian First Division B2616126[13] 33321
Eupen2019–20Belgian First Division A601070
2021–22Belgian First Division A13020150
Total19030220
RWDM47 (loan)2020–21Belgian First Division B137231510
Lierse2022–23Belgian First Division B1712201912
Radomiak Radom2022–23Ekstraklasa136136
2023–24Ekstraklasa26410274
2024–25Ekstraklasa240024
Total41141000004214
Career total1345195006314959

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1B-topschutter Leandro Rocha: 21 jaar, 12 clubs in 7 verschillende landen. 1B top scorer Rocha: 21 years, 12 clubs in 7 different countries. Knack.be. nl. 12 March 2019. 25 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Vicenza, ecco il colpo Leonardo Miramar. Vicenza, here is the hot shot Leonardo Miramar. Tutto Mercato Web. it. 2 February 2017. 25 June 2019.
  3. Web site: El Leganés B ya se prepara de cara a una temporada ilusionante. Leganés B get ready for a hopeful season. CD Leganés. es. 3 August 2017. 25 June 2019.
  4. Web site: Leonardo Rocha, altura i futur per a la davantera. Leonardo Rocha, height and future for the forward lines. Ontinyent CF. ca. 31 January 2018. 25 June 2019.
  5. Web site: Leonardo Rocha versterkt de aanval. Leonardo Rocha bolsters the attack. Lommel SK. nl. 19 July 2018. 25 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180906153643/http://lommelsk.be/index-article.php?id=443. 6 September 2018. dead.
  6. News: 2018-08-03 . Lommel vs Union Saint-Gilloise 1-0. Soccerway. 2018-08-08.
  7. News: Ver Elst . Bart . Leonardo Miramar Rocha bezorgt Lommel met een hattrick de zege tegen Roeselare. Leonardo Mirarmar Rocha gives Lommel the win with hat-trick against Roeselare. 28 December 2021 . Voetbal Krant . 6 October 2018 . Dutch.
  8. News: Walckiers . Johan . Dan toch 1A-oplossing voor vlotscorende spits? Eupen durft het risico wel nemen. Then 1A solution for a fast-scoring striker? Eupen dares to take the risk. 28 December 2021 . Voetbal Krant . 23 July 2019 . Dutch.
  9. News: Sterpigny . Sébastien . Leonardo Rocha ne prolongera pas au RWDM. Leonardo Rocha will not extend deal at RWDM. 28 December 2021 . . 15 June 2021 . French.
  10. News: Le RWDM déroule contre l’Union Rochefortoise (1-8) et poursuit son aventure en Coupe . RWDM relax against Union Rochefortoise (1-8) and pursue their adventure in the Cup. 28 December 2021 . BX1 . 10 October 2020 . French.
  11. Web site: Lierse. LEONARDO ROCHA NAAR HET LISP!!!. Leonardo Roach to Het Lisp. 16 August 2022. 22 August 2022. nl.
  12. Web site: Radomiak pobił swój rekord transferowy . goal.pl . pl . 13 January 2023.
  13. Appearance(s) in Relegation play-offs
  14. Web site: Piłkarz Lipca 2024: Leonardo Rocha (Radomiak Radom) . . 22 August 2024 . pl . 7 August 2024.