Leonardo Santiago
Encyclopedia
Leonardo Vitor Santiago (born 9 March 1983), commonly known as Leonardo, is a Brazil
ian footballer who plays as a winger for Austrian side FC Red Bull Salzburg on loan from NAC Breda
.
He started his professional career by playing for Feyenoord in the 2000–01 season and was said to be a hot prospect for the future. Due to several long term injuries his career was set on hold. Leonardo can play as a left winger or as a striker.
and was raised in the Jacarezinho
neighbourhood, which is also the area where Romário
spent his early years. At the age of 11 his football talent was discovered by Jos de Putter
who dedicated the documentary "Solo, de wet van de favela" to him and another young player. Following the attention it brought him he moved to Rotterdam
to play in Feyenoord's youth squads at Varkenoord. He made his debut for Feyenoord on August 19, 2000 in a 2–0 victory over AZ at the age of 17, which brought him and Feyenoord into trouble as non European Union
players were not able to play for a professional team under the age of 18. Leonardo had to wait until he turned 18 to play in Feyenoord's first team again. He scored his first goal in the match versus SC Heerenveen, which ended in 2–0. His second goal he scored in the away win against arch rivals Ajax and his popularity among Feyenoord fans grew.
In his first two seasons at Feyenoord he played 44 matches and scored four goals, but mainly produced assists for his team mates to score. He was part of the Feyenoord squad that won the 2001–02 UEFA Cup. From that moment on he suffered several long term injuries and in the period from August 2002 to December 2005 he only played 11 matches due to these injuries and some arguments with his managers at the club. Every time Leonardo recovered from his injury he fell right back into another one.
He felt his final breakthrough in Rotterdam
would never happen and he decided to leave the club and join NAC Breda
in January 2006 on a 1.5 year deal. An argument with manager Cees Lok
aside, he helped NAC Breda to stay in the Eredivisie
by scoring 8 goals in 14 matches in the regular season, which made him top goal scorer at the club. NAC still had to play relegation play-offs and during the first match of these play-offs Leonardo suffered another injury and was not able to play any more matches until the end of the season.
Just two days before the start of the Eredivisie 2006/2007
season Leonardo had another conflict with a manager, this time with newly appointed Ernie Brandts
. Brandts wanted Leonardo to play as a left winger, while Leonardo rather played as a right winger. Leonardo was suspended after he suddenly left a training, but was later allowed back into the team again.
In December 2006 Leonardo agreed with Ajax on a new 2.5 year contract. Ajax paid a transfer fee of € 750,000. Leonardo got half of the fee, while NAC Breda
received the other half. On January 21, 2007 he played his first Ajax Eredivisie
game against FC Utrecht Six weeks later in the game against SC Heerenveen he suffered a heavy injury tearing the anterior cruciate ligament
in his right knee, which sidelined him for at least another six months.
Leonardo was mainly used as a backup player by Ajax coaches Ten Cate as well as Koster.
2011 he went from NAC Breda to FC Red Bull Salzburg on loan.
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 footballer who plays as a winger for Austrian side FC Red Bull Salzburg on loan from NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
.
He started his professional career by playing for Feyenoord in the 2000–01 season and was said to be a hot prospect for the future. Due to several long term injuries his career was set on hold. Leonardo can play as a left winger or as a striker.
Biography
Leonardo started at the Nova Safra football school in Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and was raised in the Jacarezinho
Jacarezinho, Rio de Janeiro
Jacarezinho is a Brazilian favela with more than 60,300 residents living in an area of 40 ha. The place is located in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro city, and it borders the neighborhoods of Jacaré, Méier, Engenho Novo and Triagem. It is the third largest favela in Rio de Janeiro, only behind...
neighbourhood, which is also the area where Romário
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
spent his early years. At the age of 11 his football talent was discovered by Jos de Putter
Jos de Putter
Jos de Putter is a Dutch film director, film critic and screenwriter who primarily makes documentaries. He studied political science and literature at the University of Leiden, and was a member of the editorial staff of the film magazine Skrien...
who dedicated the documentary "Solo, de wet van de favela" to him and another young player. Following the attention it brought him he moved to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
to play in Feyenoord's youth squads at Varkenoord. He made his debut for Feyenoord on August 19, 2000 in a 2–0 victory over AZ at the age of 17, which brought him and Feyenoord into trouble as non European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
players were not able to play for a professional team under the age of 18. Leonardo had to wait until he turned 18 to play in Feyenoord's first team again. He scored his first goal in the match versus SC Heerenveen, which ended in 2–0. His second goal he scored in the away win against arch rivals Ajax and his popularity among Feyenoord fans grew.
In his first two seasons at Feyenoord he played 44 matches and scored four goals, but mainly produced assists for his team mates to score. He was part of the Feyenoord squad that won the 2001–02 UEFA Cup. From that moment on he suffered several long term injuries and in the period from August 2002 to December 2005 he only played 11 matches due to these injuries and some arguments with his managers at the club. Every time Leonardo recovered from his injury he fell right back into another one.
He felt his final breakthrough in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
would never happen and he decided to leave the club and join NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
in January 2006 on a 1.5 year deal. An argument with manager Cees Lok
Cees Lok
Cees Lok is a retired football defender and forward from the Netherlands, who mainly played for NEC Nijmegen during his professional career. He retired in 2000, and afterwards became a football manager, working for NEC Nijmegen, NAC Breda and IJsselmeervogels. Currently he is reserves team...
aside, he helped NAC Breda to stay in the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
by scoring 8 goals in 14 matches in the regular season, which made him top goal scorer at the club. NAC still had to play relegation play-offs and during the first match of these play-offs Leonardo suffered another injury and was not able to play any more matches until the end of the season.
Just two days before the start of the Eredivisie 2006/2007
Eredivisie 2006/2007
The 2006/2007 season of the Eredivisie began on August 18, 2006. The season saw PSV Eindhoven quickly building a gap with the other teams. After 20 matches, the club was 11 points ahead of AZ and 12 points ahead of Ajax. The lead quickly dissipated in the 13 matches that followed. A draw of PSV at...
season Leonardo had another conflict with a manager, this time with newly appointed Ernie Brandts
Ernie Brandts
Ernstus "Ernie" Wilhelmus Johannes Brandts is a former Dutch football defender, who played for PSV Eindhoven, Roda JC Kerkrade, MVV Maastricht and De Graafschap....
. Brandts wanted Leonardo to play as a left winger, while Leonardo rather played as a right winger. Leonardo was suspended after he suddenly left a training, but was later allowed back into the team again.
In December 2006 Leonardo agreed with Ajax on a new 2.5 year contract. Ajax paid a transfer fee of € 750,000. Leonardo got half of the fee, while NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
received the other half. On January 21, 2007 he played his first Ajax Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
game against FC Utrecht Six weeks later in the game against SC Heerenveen he suffered a heavy injury tearing the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his right knee, which sidelined him for at least another six months.
Leonardo was mainly used as a backup player by Ajax coaches Ten Cate as well as Koster.
2011 he went from NAC Breda to FC Red Bull Salzburg on loan.
Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000/01 | Feyenoord Feyenoord Rotterdam Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division... |
 EredivisieEredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
23 | 2 | |
| 2001/02 | Feyenoord Feyenoord Rotterdam Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
21 | 2 | |
| 2002/03 | Feyenoord Feyenoord Rotterdam Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
3 | 0 | |
| 2003/04 | Feyenoord Feyenoord Rotterdam Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
3 | 0 | |
| 2004/05 | Feyenoord Feyenoord Rotterdam Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
4 | 0 | |
| 2005/06 | Feyenoord Feyenoord Rotterdam Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
1 | 0 | |
| 2005/06 | NAC Breda NAC Breda NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
14 | 8 | |
| 2006/07 | NAC Breda NAC Breda NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
17 | 2 | |
| 2006/07 | Ajax | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
7 | 1 | |
| 2007/08 | Ajax | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
9 | 2 | |
| 2008/09 | Ajax | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
24 | 2 | |
| 2009/10 | NAC Breda NAC Breda NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
17 | 4 | |
| 2010/11 | NAC Breda NAC Breda NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
25 | 2 | |
| 2011/12 | FC Red Bull Salzburg |  Bundesliga |
0 | 0 | |
| | Total | 168 | 25 | |||
Club
- Feyenoord
- UEFA Cup 2002
- Ajax
- Dutch Cup 2007
- Dutch Super Cup 2007Johan Cruijff-schaal XIIThe match for the Johan Cruijff-schaal XII was held on 11 August 2007 between Eredivisie 2006-07 champions PSV and KNVB Cup 2006-07 winners AFC Ajax. Ajax won the match 1–0.-Match details:...