Leonardo Santiago

Brazilian association footballer

Leonardo Vitor Santiago (born 9 March 1983) is a Brazilian footballer. He plays as a striker for FC Red Bull Salzburg on loan from NAC Breda. He is known as Leonardo.

Leonardo
Personal information
Full name Leonardo Vitor Santiago
Date of birth (1983-03-09) 9 March 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
Red Bull Salzburg
Number 30
Youth career
Nova Safra
1995–2000 Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2005 Feyenoord 55 (4)
2006 NAC Breda 31 (10)
2007–2009 Ajax 40 (5)
2009– NAC Breda 42 (6)
2011–Red Bull Salzburg (loan) 17 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 June 2010 (UTC)

Career change

He started at the Nova Safra football school in Rio de Janeiro. His talent was discovered when he was 11 years old and he went to Europe and played in Feyenoord Rotterdams youth squads at Varkenoord[1] He made his debut on August 19, 2000 in a 2–0 victory over AZ Almaar at the age of 17. This was a problem for Feyenoord and Leonardo because a non EU player is not allowed to play under 18 years. So he had to wait until he was 18. He scored his first goal for the first team versus SC Heerenveen. In his first two seasons at Feyenoord he played 44 matches and scored four goals, but mainly he gave assists for his team mates to score. He was part of the Feyenoord team that won the 2001–02 UEFA Cup.

After this he suffered sever injuries, so he had only 11 matches in three seasons. After problems with the coaches he decided to left Feyenoord. 2006 he joined NAC Breda. After arguments with the coach he left Breda, after nine goals in 14 matches, to go to Ajax Amsterdam. 2009 he went back to Breda. 2011 he was transferred to Red Bull Salzburg on loan.

Club statistics change

Season Club Competition Apps Goals
2000/01 Feyenoord   Eredivisie 23 2
2001/02 Feyenoord   Eredivisie 21 2
2002/03 Feyenoord   Eredivisie 3 0
2003/04 Feyenoord   Eredivisie 3 0
2004/05 Feyenoord   Eredivisie 4 0
2005/06 Feyenoord   Eredivisie 1 0
2005/06 NAC Breda   Eredivisie 14 8
2006/07 NAC Breda   Eredivisie 17 2
2006/07 Ajax   Eredivisie 7 1
2007/08 Ajax   Eredivisie 9 2
2008/09 Ajax   Eredivisie 24 2
2009/10 NAC Breda   Eredivisie 17 4
2010/11 NAC Breda   Eredivisie 25 2
2011/12 FC Red Bull Salzburg   Bundesliga 17 2
Total 185 27

Honours change

Club change


References change

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-01-08. Retrieved 2011-07-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)