Leo Sauer

Not to be confused with Leo Sayer.

Leo Sauer
Sauer with Slovakia in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-12-16) 16 December 2005 (age 18)
Place of birth Bratislava, Slovakia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 NAC Breda
(on loan from Feyenoord)
Number 77
Youth career
Rača
2014–2018 Slovan Bratislava
2018–2022 Žilina
2022–2023 Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Žilina B 5 (0)
2022–2023 Žilina 7 (1)
2022–2023 → Feyenoord (loan) 0 (0)
2023– Feyenoord 13 (2)
2024– → NAC Breda (loan) 10 (2)
International career‡
2021–2022 Slovakia U17 13 (2)
2023 Slovakia U19 7 (1)
2023– Slovakia U20 4 (0)
2023– Slovakia U21 1 (0)
2024– Slovakia 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:15, 26 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 June 2024

Leo Sauer (born 16 December 2005) is a Slovakian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Dutch Eredivisie club NAC Breda on loan from Feyenoord, and the Slovakia national team.[1]

Early life

Sauer grew up with his parents in Bratislava. He has an older brother called Mário who is also a footballer, both attended the Secondary Sports School in Žilina.[2]

Club career

Sauer started his football career with Slovan Bratislava. In the summer of 2018 he moved to the youth academy MŠK Žilina.[3] Sauer made his debut in the Slovakian 2. Liga for Žilina B on 27 February 2022 against FC Petržalka.[4]

Sauer joined Feyenoord initially on loan from MŠK Žilina in 2022, but in April 2023 signed a three-year professional contract with the Dutch club.[5][6] On 20 August 2023, Sauer made his debut for the club in an away match against Sparta Rotterdam by coming in at half-time, scoring the 2–2 in the added time to secure a point for the club.[7]

On 12 August 2024, Sauer moved on a season-long loan to NAC Breda.[8]

International career

Sauer played for the Slovakia U-19 side alongside his older brother, Mario Sauer. Both were selected for the Slovakia U-20 side to compete at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.[9]

On 5 October 2023, at the age of only 17, coach Francesco Calzona called him to the Slovak senior national team.[10] On 26 March 2024, Sauer became the youngest ever player to play for the national team after coming on as a substitute in a friendly against Norway.[11]

He was included in the Slovakia squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany in June 2024.[12] He made his tournament debut 21 June, becoming the youngest ever Slovakian player at a final tournament.[13]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Žilina B 2021–22 Slovak 2. Liga 5 0 — — — 5 0
Žilina 2022–23 Slovak First Football League 7 1 0 0 — — 7 1
Feyenoord 2023–24 Eredivisie 13 2 0 0 2[a] 0 0 0 15 2
Career total 25 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 27 3
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Feyenoord

References

  1. ^ "Leo Sauer". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  2. ^ "U18 – Leo Sauer: Feyenoord je bod na ceste k môjmu cieľu". Futbalsfz.sk. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. ^ "'Feyenoord is going to take over Sauer from MŠK Žilina'". fr12.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. ^ "PETRZALKA VS. MSK 0-1". Soccerway. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Feyenoord light option in lease contract Leo Sauer". fr12.nl. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  6. ^ "FEYENOORD LICHT OPTIE IN HUURCONTRACT LEO SAUER". Onefootball.com. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Debutant Sauer (17) laat Feyenoord ontsnappen in Rotterdamse derby" [Debutant Sauer (17) makes Feyenoord escape in Rotterdam derby] (in Dutch). 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  8. ^ "NAC huurt Slowaaks international Leo Sauer van Feyenoord" [NAC loans Slovakian international Leo Sauer from Feyenoord] (in Dutch). NAC Breda. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  9. ^ Pančík, Vladimír (6 May 2023). "Namiesto debutu v prvom tíme Feyenoordu môže Leo Sauer zažiť účasť na MS U20 a to po boku brata Mária". Sport.Aktuality.sk. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  10. ^ https://sport.noviny.sk/futbal/842249-calzonov-vyber-cakaju-najdolezitejsie-zapasy-nominacia-slovenska-na-portugalsko
  11. ^ "Feyenoorder Sauer schrijft geschiedenis bij debuut voor Slowakije" [Feyenoorder Sauer writes history with debut for Slovakia] (in Dutch). 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  12. ^ Dabbs, Ryan (10 June 2024). "Slovakia Euro 2024 squad: Francesco Calzona's full team". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Comeback Oekraïne gooit poule Duivels helemaal open, oude bekende Jaremtsjoek scoort winnende treffer tegen Slovakije" [Comeback Ukraine completely throws open Belgian group] (in Dutch). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.