Marc Leonard Explained

Marc Leonard should not be confused with Mark Leonard (footballer).

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
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
Caps4:12
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2017–2018
Nationalteam1:Scotland U17
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:Scotland U18
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019
Nationalteam3:Scotland U19
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–2022
Nationalteam4:Scotland U21
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:14:58, 1 December 2024 (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 began his career in youth football with Rangers and Heart of Midlothian before joining English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018. He spent two seasons on loan at Northampton Town, helping them gain promotion to EFL League One in 2022–23 and winning their Player of the Season award the following season, before joining Birmingham City in 2024. Internationally, he has represented Scotland at youth levels up to under-21.

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 in the EFL Cup second round.[4] 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.[5]

Northampton Town (loan)

On 25 July 2022, Leonard signed for EFL League Two club Northampton Town on loan for the duration of the 2022–23 season.[6] His first professional goal, a precise finish from the edge of the box, opened the scoring in a 2–2 draw at home to Sutton United on 25 October.[7] Leonard played 45 matches in the league, including the 1–0 away win over Tranmere Rovers on the last day of the season that sealed third place and promotion to League One.[8]

On 29 July 2023, Leonard re-joined Northampton Town for a second season on loan.[9] He was named in the starting eleven for all 46 league games, was pivotal in securing a successful first season back in League One for the club, and won both the fans' Player of the Season and players' Player of the Season awards.[10]

Birmingham City

On 25 July 2024, recently relegated League One club Birmingham City signed Leonard on a four-year contract. The fee was undisclosed.[11] He made his debut in the starting eleven for the opening fixture of the season, a 1–1 draw at home to Reading.[12]

International career

After representing Scotland at under-17,[13] under-18[14] and under-19 level,[15] 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] [17]

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 One120102030180
Career total10363060801206

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 . Mark . McDougall . Daily Record . 16 June 2020 . 2 September 2024.
  4. News: Cardiff 0–2 Brighton . BBC Sport . 24 August 2021 . 24 August 2021.
  5. News: Brighton 0-1 Wolves: Romain Saïss goal takes visitors up to eighth in Premier League . BBC Sport . 15 December 2021 . 26 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Midfielder Marc Leonard signs on season long loan . Jamie . Duncan . Northampton Town F.C. . 25 July 2022 . 2 September 2024.
  7. News: Northampton Town 2–2 Sutton United . BBC Sport . 25 October 2022 . 2 September 2024.
  8. Web site: Northampton Town have been promoted . Gareth . Willsher . Northampton Town F.C. . 8 May 2023 . 2 September 2024.
  9. News: Brighton midfielder Leonard re-signs for Cobblers . BBC Sport . 29 July 2023 . 2 September 2024.
  10. News: Sensational Leonard crowned top Cobbler for 2023/24 by Chron readers . James . Heneghan . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 21 April 2024 . 2 September 2024.
  11. News: Birmingham sign Brighton midfielder Leonard . BBC Sport . 25 July 2024 . 14 August 2024 . 14 August 2024 . https://archive.today/20240814144914/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ckvgp08558ko . live.
  12. News: Birmingham City player ratings after Alfie May prevents Reading defeat . Alex . Dicken . Birmingham Live . 10 August 2024 . 14 August 2024.
  13. Web site: Marc Leonard: Under 17 Squad . Scottish FA . 2 September 2024.
  14. Web site: Marc Leonard: Under 18 Squad . Scottish FA . 2 September 2024.
  15. Web site: Marc Leonard: Under 19 Squad . Scottish FA . 2 September 2024.
  16. News: Denmark U21 v Scotland U21 . BBC Sport . 7 October 2021. 7 October 2021.
  17. Web site: Marc Leonard: Under 21 Squad . Scottish FA . 2 September 2024.
  18. Web site: Marc Leonard named Intown Automotive Player of the Season at Sunday's awards dinner . Gareth . Willsher . Northampton Town F.C. . 21 April 2024 . 30 April 2024.