Jorge Leitão
Encyclopedia
Jorge Manuel Vasconcelos Leitão (born 14 January 1974 in Nespereira, Cinfães) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for F.C. Arouca
as a striker.
in his first season, and netting 14 goals in his second. In July 2000, he moved to England
with Walsall
, who paid £
150,000 for his services after three impressive trial games.
Leitão scored a career-best 18 goals in 44 games in his first season with Walsall, with the Saddlers promoting to the second level
after disposing of Reading
in the play-offs final. He was also named in the Division Two Player's Team of the Year.
In 2001–02, after a difficult start, Leitão's season was transformed following the sacking of Ray Graydon
. In the first game under new manager Colin Lee
, he scored a brace at Charlton Athletic
in the season's FA Cup
fourth round. The team also managed to finally stay clear of the relegation zone, and he scored the goal that saved Walsall from the drop, the only one in an away win against Sheffield United
on 13 April 2002; two weeks later, he extended his contract for a further two years.
The 2002–03 season was Walsall's most successful in the league since the 1950s, with Leitão pairing with Brazil
ian José Junior
for a Portuguese-speaking front line which scored 30 goals during the course of the campaign. Highlights included a brace against Stoke City
(4–2 home win), one against Grimsby Town
(3–1, home) and the game's only against Brighton Albion
(also at home); however, after the loss of Júnior to Derby County
in the summer - his replacement being former Arsenal
and England
star Paul Merson
- the team suffered relegation, with Leitão netting seven goals (his lowest figure in one full season) in 39 games.
In late December 2005, Leitão signed a pre-contract deal with S.C. Beira-Mar in his country, citing homesickness as a factor in his sudden departure from English football. Though the contract did not come in to effect until June 2006, both Merson (now the team's manager) and chairman Jeff Bonser offered to release the player earlier, in recognition of the dedication he had given to the club in his five 1/2 years of service. The penultimate of his 258 official games for Walsall (71 goals) was a 0–3 away defeat against Bristol City
, in which he also suffered a groin
injury. In his last, at Bescot Stadium
against Blackpool
, he was treated to a near half-hour rendition of his name by the home fans, eventually being reduced to tears before leaving the field through a guard of honour composed of some of his teammates.
After helping Beira-Mar promote to the Portuguese top division at the end of 2005–06, Leitão had his first - and only - experience in the competition, scoring twice in 11 games as the Aveiro club was immediately relegated back. He subsequently played two 1/2 seasons with his first professional club, Feirense (in level two), and, aged 35, moved to modest F.C. Arouca
, which he helped promote to the second division for the first time ever.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who plays for F.C. Arouca
F.C. Arouca
Futebol Clube de Arouca is a Portuguese football club based in Arouca, Aveiro District. Founded on 25 December 1951, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estádio Municipal de Arouca, with a 2,500-seat capacity.-History:...
as a striker.
Football career
Leitão started playing in amateur football. At already 24, he signed with C.D. Feirense, being relegated from the second divisionLiga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
in his first season, and netting 14 goals in his second. In July 2000, he moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, who paid £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
150,000 for his services after three impressive trial games.
Leitão scored a career-best 18 goals in 44 games in his first season with Walsall, with the Saddlers promoting to the second level
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
after disposing of Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in the play-offs final. He was also named in the Division Two Player's Team of the Year.
In 2001–02, after a difficult start, Leitão's season was transformed following the sacking of Ray Graydon
Ray Graydon
Ray Graydon is an English football manager and retired football player. He was recently employed as First Team Coach of Championship team, Leicester City while Rob Kelly was manager during the 2005-06 season.-Playing career:...
. In the first game under new manager Colin Lee
Colin Lee
Colin Lee is an English football manager and former footballer. He is currently Chief Executive of League Two side Torquay United and President of Buckfastleigh Rangers Football & Social Club.-Playing career:...
, he scored a brace at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in the season's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
fourth round. The team also managed to finally stay clear of the relegation zone, and he scored the goal that saved Walsall from the drop, the only one in an away win against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on 13 April 2002; two weeks later, he extended his contract for a further two years.
The 2002–03 season was Walsall's most successful in the league since the 1950s, with Leitão pairing with Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian José Junior
José Júnior
José Luiz Guimarães Sanabio Júnior, or simply Júnior, is a Brazilian football striker playing for Esporte Clube Bahia of the Brazilian Série A.-Biography:...
for a Portuguese-speaking front line which scored 30 goals during the course of the campaign. Highlights included a brace against Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
(4–2 home win), one against Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
(3–1, home) and the game's only against Brighton Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
(also at home); however, after the loss of Júnior to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the summer - his replacement being former Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
star Paul Merson
Paul Merson
Paul Charles Merson is a retired English football player, and former player-manager of Walsall. His playing career has included spells at Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and finishing his playing career at Tamworth. He also played for England 21 times...
- the team suffered relegation, with Leitão netting seven goals (his lowest figure in one full season) in 39 games.
In late December 2005, Leitão signed a pre-contract deal with S.C. Beira-Mar in his country, citing homesickness as a factor in his sudden departure from English football. Though the contract did not come in to effect until June 2006, both Merson (now the team's manager) and chairman Jeff Bonser offered to release the player earlier, in recognition of the dedication he had given to the club in his five 1/2 years of service. The penultimate of his 258 official games for Walsall (71 goals) was a 0–3 away defeat against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, in which he also suffered a groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury. In his last, at Bescot Stadium
Bescot Stadium
Bescot Stadium, also known as the Banks's Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is the home ground of Walsall Football Club. It was built in 1989-90 by GMI Construction with a reported build cost of £4.5m...
against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, he was treated to a near half-hour rendition of his name by the home fans, eventually being reduced to tears before leaving the field through a guard of honour composed of some of his teammates.
After helping Beira-Mar promote to the Portuguese top division at the end of 2005–06, Leitão had his first - and only - experience in the competition, scoring twice in 11 games as the Aveiro club was immediately relegated back. He subsequently played two 1/2 seasons with his first professional club, Feirense (in level two), and, aged 35, moved to modest F.C. Arouca
F.C. Arouca
Futebol Clube de Arouca is a Portuguese football club based in Arouca, Aveiro District. Founded on 25 December 1951, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estádio Municipal de Arouca, with a 2,500-seat capacity.-History:...
, which he helped promote to the second division for the first time ever.