Léo Moura Explained

Léo Moura
Fullname:Leonardo da Silva Moura[1]
Birth Date:23 October 1978
Birth Place:Niterói, Brazil
Height:1.76 m
Position:Right back
Youthclubs1:Botafogo
Years1:1997–1999
Clubs1:Botafogo
Years2:1999
Clubs2:Linhares
Years3:1999–2000
Clubs3:Germinal Beerschot
Caps3:33
Goals3:16
Years4:2000–2001
Clubs4:ADO Den Haag
Caps4:29
Goals4:12
Years5:2001
Clubs5:Botafogo
Caps5:24
Goals5:1
Years6:2002
Clubs6:Vasco da Gama
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2002
Clubs7:Palmeiras
Caps7:9
Goals7:0
Years8:2003
Clubs8:São Paulo
Caps8:22
Goals8:0
Years9:2004
Clubs9:Fluminense
Caps9:41
Goals9:0
Years10:2005
Clubs10:Sporting Braga
Caps10:8
Goals10:0
Years11:2005–2015
Clubs11:Flamengo
Caps11:314
Goals11:27
Years12:2015
Clubs12:Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Caps12:9
Goals12:2
Years13:2015
Clubs13:FC Goa
Caps13:16
Goals13:2
Years14:2016
Clubs14:Metropolitano
Caps14:0
Goals14:0
Years15:2016
Clubs15:Santa Cruz
Caps15:33
Goals15:3
Years16:2017–2020
Clubs16:Grêmio
Caps16:54
Goals16:3
Years17:2020
Clubs17:Botafogo-PB
Caps17:5
Goals17:0
Totalcaps:597
Totalgoals:62
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalteam1:Brazil
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:6 April 2021
Ntupdate:17 August 2014

Leonardo "Léo" da Silva Moura (born 23 October 1978) is a former Brazilian professional footballer who played for several clubs including Fluminense, Flamengo and Grêmio. Mainly a right back, he also played as a midfielder.

Léo Moura previously played for Flamengo, for over ten years, where he was the team's captain, and Grêmio with whom he won his biggest title, the 2017 Copa Libertadores. He is famous being one of the few players who represented all four of the big Rio de Janeiro teams, Botafogo, Vasco, Fluminense, and Flamengo.[2]

Club career

Early career

Léo Moura begun his footballing career at the youth division of Linhares Esporte Clube, acting as a midfielder. Still at the youth level, he was transferred to the Rio club Botafogo. Making his professional debut for the Botafogo team in 1998, Moura has transferred to Belgian side Germinal Beerschot where he played for one season. Afterwards, he has transferred to ADO Den Haag, then at the Dutch second division, Eerste Divisie, where he adapted to play as a right back and had a remarkable season.[3]

Return to Brazil

On the second semester of 2001, he returned to Brazil and to Botafogo. Once there, Leo Moura sought a position as a midfielder, but lost it due to being sidelined by an injury. After his recovery, Leonardo switched to the role of right back, which suited him well and solved his club's lack of players for that role since César Prates's departure in 1999. However, Leo Moura surprisingly left Botafogo, moving to Vasco da Gama.[4]

At Vasco, Leo Moura showed good chemistry with Romário and Euller, the attacking duo for the club. In spite of his success, Leo Moura decided to move to Palmeiras in 2002, a move which he regretted, as he was part of the Palmeiras squad that was relegated to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.[5]

In 2003, he joined São Paulo FC, and due to the presence of another full back named Leonardo on the squad, Leonardo adopted the name of Leonardo Moura. After poor showings for the club, Leo returned to Rio de Janeiro, this time to defend Fluminense.[6]

At Fluminense, he showed great potential and became a crowd favorite, once again playing with Romário, and playing by the side of his future teammate at Flamengo Júnior César.[7] However, Léo Moura departed the club for Portugal's Sporting Braga in 2005, where he briefly stayed.[8] [9]

Flamengo

Joining Flamengo in 2005, Léo Moura arrived with certain suspicion from the fans, as he was known as a "nomadic player" who played for all of Flamengo's major rivals before. However, Léo soon made its mark for the Gávea club, being an important part of the squad and helping it avoid relegation.[10] A skilled passer and dribbler, Leo Moura cemented his status as a key player for the Rio Club.

In 2006, the well-travelled Léo Moura won his first career title, the 2006 Copa do Brasil. With this victory, Flamengo earned a place at the 2007 Copa Libertadores after a four-year-long absence, and Moura cemented his place as a definite starter for the team. Falling at the good graces of the supporters of the club, Leo Moura formed a competent full back duo with Juan, a partnership which would last until Juan's departure from the club in 2010. Alongside the versatile midfielder Renato Abreu and the goalkeeper Bruno, Moura was one of the highlights of the squad.[11]

In spite of a poor showing at the 2007 Copa Libertadores, Leo Moura had a good year in 2007, winning the Campeonato Carioca and being chosen by Placar magazine as the best right back of the season, winning the Bola de Prata award.

In 2008, after extending his contract with Flamengo, Leo Moura was called up to defend the Brazil national team in a friendly against Ireland. Moura was part of the squad which won the Taça Guanabara and the Campeonato Carioca, and was once again the winner of the Bola de Prata.[12]

2009 proved to be a very successful year for the right back and a very memorable year for the rubro-negro team, as Flamengo went on to win its sixth Campeonato Brasileiro title. Leo Moura was an instrumental player for Flamengo's third consecutive Campeonato Carioca win, a feat that Flamengo has repeated six times in its history. 2010, however, proved to be a more tumultuous year for the club. Leonardo Moura earned his place as captain of the team after the club's captain, Bruno, was suspected of murder.[13] Flamengo flirted with relegation throughout the year, staying dangerously close to the relegation zone in the league table, but it eventually reached the Copa Sudamericana qualifying zone by the final round.[14]

Leo Moura's time for the Rio club seemed to be at an end in 2011, as he was hinted to join SC Internacional.[15] The departure of his long-time partner at Flamengo's defense, Juan, reinforced the club's need for Moura to be on its team. Nonetheless, his time as the captain came to an end as the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2005 Ballon d'Or winner and Brazilian international Ronaldinho joined the club, earning the club captaincy.[16] Winning the 2011 state league title after winning both rounds of the competition, the Taça Guanabara and the Taça Rio, the Flamengo squad had great success at the first semester of the year, being a favorite to win the 2011 season of the Brazilian league. Flamengo mounted an impressive undefeated streak throughout the year, which was broken by Ceará SC in the Copa do Brasil quarter finals, and stayed unbeaten in the league season for 16 rounds, losing against Goiânia club Atlético Goianiense in the 17th round, on a match Moura played as a midfielder.[17] However, Flamengo did not follow up in the second semester, barely earning a place at the next year's Libertadores by the end of the season.

Leonardo Moura's last game at Flamengo was on 4 March 2015, when he played a testimonial match against Nacional at the Maracanã, the right-back made one of the assists as Flamengo beat the Uruguayan side 2–0.[18]

FC Goa

In 2015, he signed for FC Goa, who at the time were under head coach Zico. He scored 2 goals and had 8 assists and was a crowd favourite. He helped his team to the finals of ISL and was one of the most valuable assets of the club. In the final, against Chennaiyin, he was injured and couldn't help his team win the 2015 Indian Super League.[19]

Metropolitano

On February 2, 2016, Moura was announced by Metropolitano, from Santa Catarina, as their new player. He comes to club for playing League of Santa Catarina.[20]

Santa Cruz, Grêmio and Botafogo of Paraíba

In second semester, Moura was appointed by Santa Cruz. In 2017, Moura was contracted by Grêmio. In both teams won many titles. In 2020, at 41 years old, he signed with Botafogo-PB.

International career

Leonardo debuted for the Brazil national team in a friendly match played in Dublin against Ireland on 6 February 2008, which they won by 1–0.

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinental1OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Germinal Beerschot1999–00Pro League33163316
ADO Den Haag2000–01Eerste Divisie29122912
Botafogo2001Série A241241
Vasco da Gama20028181
Palmeiras20029090
São Paulo200322040260
Fluminense200441041451
Sporting Braga2004–05Primeira Liga8080
Flamengo2005Série A325325
200627110190462
200735580120555
2008358711445613
20093245100172547
2010351102131584
20113504020171581
20122407291393
2013262111130503
2014331404090501
20153030
Total 314 27 34 3 38 5 116 9 502 44
Fort Lauderdale Strikers2015NASL9210102
FC Goa2015ISL162162
Metropolitano2016Catarinense6060
Santa Cruz2016Série A333203040423
Grêmio201717020101122413
2018180208071351
2019190100030230
Total54350181223997
Botafogo-PB2020Série C502030100
Career Total597626055961511286785
1South American competitions include the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, and Recopa Sudamericana.

according to combined sources on the Flamengo official website,[21] Flaestatística[22] and Futpédia.[23]

Honours

Flamengo

Santa Cruz

Grêmio

Individual

2007, 2008[24] [25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017: List of Players: Grêmio FBPA . FIFA . 4 . 29 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043355/http://www.fifadata.com/documents/FCWC/2017/pdf/FCWC_2017_Squadlists.pdf . 1 December 2017 . dead.
  2. http://www.flamengo.com.br/site/perfil/perfil.php?id=15 Player profile
  3. http://gazetaonline.globo.com/_conteudo/2011/07/gazetaesportes/futebol/futebol_capixaba/920633-leonardo-moura-lateral-do-flamengo-inaugura-escolinha-e-faz-a-festa-das-criancas-em-linhares.html Futebol Capixaba - Leonardo Moura, lateral do Flamengo, inaugura escolinha e faz a festa das crianças em Linhares - GazetaEsportes.com
  4. http://www.lancenet.com.br/flamengo/Leo-Moura-conhecido-classico-Botafogo_0_556144395.html Léo Moura vai encarar velho conhecido: o Botafogo
  5. http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/brasileiro/2011/noticias/0,,OI5253209-EI17896,00-Leo+Moura+abraca+Felipao+e+diz+que+teve+proposta+do+Palmeiras.html Léo Moura abraça Felipão e diz que teve proposta do Palmeiras - Campeonato Brasileiro 2011 - Futebol Terra
  6. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u53073.shtml Folha Online - Esporte - Leonardo Moura já fala como jogador do São Paulo - 24/12/2002
  7. http://blogdofluminense.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/leo-moura-e-junior-cesar-vao-reeditar-parceria-do-fluminense/ Léo Moura e Junior Cesar vão reeditar parceria do Fluminense « Blogão do Fluminense
  8. http://www.ogol.com.br/noticia.php?id=28444 Brasileirão: Campeonato começa com muitas estrelas de regresso
  9. http://terceiroanel.weblog.com.pt/arquivo/2005/02/02/leonardo_moura_o_ultimo_reforco_do_sp_braga.html terceiro anel: Leonardo Moura: o último reforço do Sp. Braga
  10. http://6r.com.br/esportes/futebol/36890-reforco-em-2005-leonardo-moura-ve-situacao-confortavel-do-flamengo Reforço em 2005, Leonardo Moura vê situação confortável do Flamengo - Portal 6R Futebol
  11. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u106317.shtml Folha Online - Esporte - Flamengo vence o Vasco e conquista segundo título da Copa do Brasil - 26/07/2006
  12. http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/bprata.htm Bola de Prata Winners
  13. http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/brasileiro/serie-a/ultimas-noticias/2010/07/13/leo-moura-vira-capitao-do-flamengo-no-lugar-do-goleiro-bruno.jhtm Leonardo Moura vira capitão do Flamengo no lugar do goleiro Bruno - 13/07/2010 - UOL Esporte - Futebol
  14. Web site: Juca Kfouri - Grêmio na Libertadores, Flamengo na Sul-Americana. O Goiás mereceu mais.
  15. http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/noticia/2010/12/inter-e-leo-moura-estao-proximos-de-um-acerto.html Inter e Léo Moura estão próximos de um acerto | globoesporte.com
  16. http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/flamengo/noticia/2011/02/leo-moura-passa-faixa-de-capitao-ronaldinho-esta-em-boas-maos.html Léo Moura passa faixa de capitão a Ronaldinho: ‘Está em boas mãos’ | globoesporte.com
  17. Web site: Atlético-GO faz 4, derruba invencibilidade do Fla e ajuda Corinthians.
  18. Web site: Até logo, capitão: Fla vence Nacional por 2 a 0 na despedida de Léo Moura. Globo Esporte. 4 March 2015 . 5 March 2015. Portuguese.
  19. News: Chennai beat Goa in a 3-2 thriller to become Hero ISL 2015 champions. ISL. 20 December 2015. 20 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222085827/http://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/3495-chennai-beat-goa-in-a-3-2-thriller-to-become-hero-isl-2015-champions. 22 December 2015. live.
  20. http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas-noticias/2016/02/02/metropolitano-sc-anuncia-a-contratacao-de-lateral-leo-moura-ex-flamengo.htm Metropolitano-SC anuncia a contratação de lateral Léo Moura, ex-Flamengo
  21. http://www.flamengo.com.br Flamengo official website
  22. http://www.flaestatistica.com Flaestatística
  23. http://futpedia.globo.com/jogadores/leonardo-moura Globo Esporte's Futpedia
  24. Web site: São Paulo domina premiação da CBF . 21 June 2009 . 3 December 2007 . Globo Esporte . Portuguese.
  25. Web site: Hexacampeão, São Paulo domina também o Prêmio Craque Brasileirão. 21 June 2009 . 8 December 2008 . Globo Esporte . Portuguese.