Marc Leonard Explained

Marc Leonard
Fullname:Marc Henry Leonard[1]
Birth Date:19 December 2001[2]
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Height:1.80 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Birmingham City
Clubnumber:12
Youthclubs1:Rangers[3]
Youthyears2:2014–2018
Youthclubs2:Heart of Midlothian
Youthyears3:2018–2022
Youthclubs3:Brighton & Hove Albion
Years1:2021–2024
Clubs1:Brighton & Hove Albion
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Northampton Town (loan)
Caps2:45
Goals2:1
Years3:2023–2024
Clubs3:Northampton Town (loan)
Caps3:46
Goals3:5
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:Birmingham City
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2017–2018
Nationalteam1:Scotland U17[4]
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:Scotland U18[5]
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019
Nationalteam3:Scotland U19[6]
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–2022
Nationalteam4:Scotland U21[7]
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:20:33, 17 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:08:09, 11 June 2022 (UTC)

Marc Henry Leonard (born 19 December 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Birmingham City. He is a Scotland under-21 international.

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

In 2018, Leonard, a former Rangers youth player joined the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion from Heart of Midlothian.[3]

Leonard made his professional debut on 24 August 2021, starting in the 2–0 away victory over Cardiff City coming in the EFL Cup second round.[8] He was named in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time in a 1–0 home loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 15 December.[9]

On 25 July 2022, Leonard signed for EFL League Two club Northampton Town on loan for the duration of the 2022–23 season.[10] He scored his first professional goal on 25 October, with a precise finish from the edge of the box, scoring the opening goal of the game in an eventual 2–2 draw at home against Sutton United.[11] Leonard helped Northampton to promotion to League One, playing 45 matches in the league, including the 1–0 away win over Tranmere on the last day of the season to seal promotion in third place.[12]

On 29 July 2023, Leonard re-joined Northampton Town for a second season on loan.[13]

Birmingham City

On 25 July 2024, recently relegated League One club Birmingham City signed Leonard on a four-year contract. The fee was undisclosed.[14] He made his debut in the starting eleven for the opening fixture of the season, a 1–1 draw at home to Reading.[15]

International career

After representing Scotland at under-17, 18 and 19 level he made his Scotland U21 debut on 7 October 2021, coming on as a 72nd minute substitute in the 1–0 home loss against Denmark U21 in the 2023 European qualifiers.[16]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brighton & Hove Albion2021–22Premier League00002020
2022–23Premier League00000000
2023–24Premier League00000000
Total0000200020
Brighton & Hove Albion U232021–223030
Northampton Town (loan)2022–23League Two451101010481
2023–24League One465101010495
Total916202020976
Birmingham City2024–25League One2000100030
Career total9362050501056

Honours

Northampton Town

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: Premier League 2020/21 Retained List of Players . Premier League . 4 June 2021. 25 August 2021.
  2. Web site: Marc Leonard: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 8 May 2023.
  3. News: Marc Leonard details initial Brighton struggles as former Hearts kid opens up on life at Premier League club . Daily Record . 16 June 2020. 24 August 2021.
  4. News: Marc Leonard Scottish FA Player Profile . Scottish FA . 2019. 24 August 2021.
  5. News: Marc Leonard Scottish FA Player Profile . Scottish FA . 2019. 24 August 2021.
  6. News: Marc Leonard Scottish FA Player Profile . Scottish FA . 2019. 24 August 2021.
  7. News: Marc Leonard Scottish FA Player Profile . Scottish FA . 2019. 24 August 2021.
  8. News: Cardiff 0–2 Brighton. BBC Sport . 24 August 2021. 24 August 2021.
  9. Web site: Brighton 0-1 Wolves: Romain Saïss goal takes visitors up to eighth in Premier League - BBC Sport. BBC Sport . 15 December 2021 . 26 December 2021.
  10. Web site: MIDFIELDER MARC LEONARD SIGNS ON SEASON LONG LOAN. www.ntfc.co.uk. 25 July 2022. 25 July 2022.
  11. Web site: Northampton Town 2-2 Sutton United - BBC Sport. BBC Sport. 25 October 2022. 28 October 2022.
  12. News: NORTHAMPTON TOWN HAVE BEEN PROMOTED!. Northampton Town. 8 May 2023. 8 May 2023.
  13. News: Brighton midfielder Leonard re-signs for Cobblers . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-07-29.
  14. News: Birmingham sign Brighton midfielder Leonard . BBC Sport . 25 July 2024 . 14 August 2024 . 14 August 2024 . http://archive.today/20240814144914/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ckvgp08558ko . live.
  15. News: Birmingham City player ratings after Alfie May prevents Reading defeat . Alex . Dicken . Birmingham Live . 10 August 2024 . 14 August 2024.
  16. News: Denmark U21 v Scotland U21. BBC Sport . 7 October 2021. 7 October 2021.
  17. News: Marc Leonard named Intown Automotive Player of the Season at sunday's awards dinner . Gareth Willsher . Northampton Town FC . 21 April 2024 . 30 April 2024.