Léo (footballer, born 1988)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Simões and the second or paternal family name is de Lacerda.
Léo
Léo with Palmeiras in 2010
Personal information
Full name Leonardo Renan Simões de Lacerda
Date of birth (1988-01-30) 30 January 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
2000–2007 Grêmio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Grêmio 81 (6)
2010 Palmeiras 19 (2)
2010–2021 Cruzeiro 300 (15)
2022 Chapecoense 29 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 October 2022

Leonardo Renan Simões de Lacerda (born 30 January 1988), commonly known as Léo, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a central defender.

Club career

Grêmio

Born in Contagem, Minas Gerais, Léo joined Grêmio's youth setup at the age of 12.[1] He made his first team – and Série A – debut on 25 July 2007, coming on as a first-half substitute for Itaqui in a 2–0 away win over Náutico.[2]

Léo scored his first professional goal for Grêmio on 16 September 2007, netting the winner in a 1–0 home success over rivals Internacional.[3] He then became a regular starter for the side, and helped the club finish second in the 2008 Série A.

Palmeiras

On 18 December 2009, Léo moved to fellow top tier side Palmeiras on a five-year contract, with Maurício moving in the opposite direction on loan; Grêmio also saw R$ 6.5 million of a R$8 million debt being discounted on the move.[4] He made his club debut the following 16 January, starting and scoring his team's second in a 5–1 Campeonato Paulista home routing of Mogi Mirim.[5]

Léo began the season as a starter, but was subsequently overtaken by Maurício Ramos and Edinho.

Cruzeiro

On 13 August 2010, Léo moved to Cruzeiro for a fee of R$1 million plus Leandro Amaro.[6] Initially a backup to Edcarlos and Gil, he subsequently became a regular starter in the 2011 season onwards, when both left the club.

Léo was also a part of the Cruzeiro squad which won two consecutive Série A titles in 2013 and 2014, aside from winning four Campeonato Mineiro titles. He struggled with injuries during the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, with his side suffering a first-ever relegation in the former.

On 20 May 2021, after nearly eleven years and 401 matches with Cruzeiro, Léo left the club after rescinding his contract.[7]

Club Statistics

As of 14 December 2021[8]
Club Season League State League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grêmio 2007 Série A 20 1 — — — — 20 1
2008 25 3 1 0 — 2[a] 0 — 28 4
2009 26 2 9 0 — 11[b] 2 — 20 1
Total 71 6 10 0 — 13 2 — 94 8
Palmeiras 2010 Série A 8 0 11 2 6 1 — — 25 3
Cruzeiro 2010 Série A 16 1 — — — — 16 1
2011 27 0 3 0 — — — 30 0
2012 26 1 10 0 4 1 — — 40 2
2013 13 1 8 3 4 1 — — 25 4
2014 29 2 5 2 7 1 2[b] 0 — 43 5
2015 5 0 11 0 — 7[b] 0 — 23 1
2016 15 0 3 0 7 0 — 0 0 25 0
2017 26 1 13 1 13 0 2[a] 0 1[c] 0 55 2
2018 31 0 9 0 8 0 9[b] 1 — 57 1
2019 18 0 14 2 5 0 8[b] 0 — 45 2
2020 Série B 10 1 8 0 3 0 — — 21 1
2021 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 216 7 84 8 51 3 28 1 1 0 380 19
Career total 295 13 105 10 57 4 41 3 1 0 499 30
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  2. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga

Honours

Grêmio
Cruzeiro

References

  1. ^ "Léo volta às origens e visita quadra onde deu primeiros chutes da vida" [Léo returns to his origins and visits sports court that he gave his first shots of his life] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  2. ^ "No retorno aos Aflitos, Grêmio vence de novo o Náutico" [In the return of the Aflitos, Grêmio beat Náutico again] (in Brazilian Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Leo espera reviver Gre-Nal de estréia" [Leo hopes to revive debut Gre-Nal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Palmeiras acerta troca de Maurício por Léo, do Grêmio" [Palmeiras agree exchange of Maurício for Léo, of Grêmio] (in Brazilian Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  5. ^ "ÁUDIO E VÍDEO: Com grande atuação de Diego Souza, Palmeiras massacra o Mogi Mirim na estreia" [AUDIO AND VIDEO: With a great performance from Diego Souza, Palmeiras thrash Mogi Mirim on the debut] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Cruzeiro oficializa a contratação do zagueiro Léo junto ao Palmeiras" [Cruzeiro turn official the signing of stopper Léo from Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Após 11 anos de clube, zagueiro Léo deixa o Cruzeiro" [After 11 years at the club, stopper Léo leaves Cruzeiro] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  8. ^ Léo at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 December 2021.