André Leão

André Filipe Ribeiro Leão (born 20 May 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Varzim as a defensive midfielder.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Ribeiro and the second or paternal family name is Leão.
André Leão
Leão being presented by Valladolid
Personal information
Full name André Filipe Ribeiro Leão[1]
Date of birth (1985-05-20) 20 May 1985[1]
Place of birth Freamunde, Portugal[1]
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Varzim
Number 29
Youth career
1993–2003 Freamunde
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Freamunde 30 (1)
2005–2006 Porto B 23 (0)
2006–2007 Beira-Mar 20 (2)
2007–2010 CFR Cluj 25 (0)
2010–2014 Paços Ferreira 108 (3)
2014–2017 Valladolid 103 (0)
2017–2019 Paços Ferreira 30 (0)
2020–2021 Trofense 10 (0)
2021– Varzim 1 (0)
National team
2005–2006 Portugal U20 9 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:44, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Early years

Leão was born in Freamunde. After a brief spell with FC Porto's reserves, he made his professional debut at Aveiro's S.C. Beira-Mar, his Primeira Liga debut coming on 17 September 2006 in a 2–0 home win against C.F. Estrela da Amadora where he came on as a 76th-minute substitute.[2]

Leão was used regularly during that season, but only won one of the matches in which he appeared and his club was relegated.

CFR Cluj / Paços Ferreira

Leão then moved to Romania with CFR Cluj, joining a host of compatriots and winning the Liga I championship in his debut campaign, appearing in 15 games. However, he would be rarely used during his two-and-a-half-year spell, and returned to his country in the late hours of the January 2010 transfer window, joining F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[3]

In the 2010 off-season, Swansea City of the Football League Championship made an offer to sign Leão,[4] but nothing came of it. He started in all his 29 league appearances in 2012–13 (two goals),[5][6] as Paços finished a best-ever third and qualified to the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever.[7]

Valladolid

On 12 June 2014, aged 29, Leão signed a three-year contract with Spanish club Real Valladolid.[8] He made his competitive debut on 23 August, playing the 90 minutes in a 2–1 Segunda División home defeat of RCD Mallorca.[9]

Leão was an undisputed starter during his three-year spell at the Estadio José Zorrilla,[10][11] taking part in 107 matches across all competitions.

Paços return

On 13 July 2017, after alleging personal problems, Leão was transferred back to his previous club Paços Ferreira.[12]

Honours

CFR Cluj

Paços Ferreira

References
  1. "André Leão" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  2. "Beira-Mar vence Estrela por 2–0" [Beira-Mar defeat Estrela 2–0]. Público (in Portuguese). 17 September 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  3. "André Leão reforça meio-campo" [André Leão bolsters midfield]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  4. "Swansea set to sign Leao". Planet Swans. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  5. "Nas mãos de Ricardo" [In the hands of Ricardo]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 20 August 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  6. "Paços vence Rio Ave e garante pelo menos o quarto lugar" [Paços beat Rio Ave and confirm fourth place at least]. Público (in Portuguese). 20 April 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  7. "Paços defende sonho frente ao Zenit" [Paços defend dream against Zenit] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  8. "André Leao, primer fichaje del Pucela 14/15" [André Leao, first Pucela 14/15 signing] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  9. Mongil, E. (23 August 2014). "El Valladolid se impone al Mallorca y se lleva los primeros tres puntos de la temporada" [Valladolid impose Mallorca and get first three points of the season]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  10. Gangoso Rosón, José María (4 September 2014). "Álvaro Rubio, de indiscutible a suplente" [Álvaro Rubio, from undisputed to backup] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  11. Bailador, Ignacio (5 May 2017). "André Leao vuelve a la lista ante el Almería de la que sale Anuar" [André Leao returns to squad against Almería and Anuar is left out]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  12. "André Leao, traspasado al Paços de Ferreira" [André Leao, transferred to Paços de Ferreira] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  13. "Cupa României ramâne la Cluj-Napoca!" [Cluj-Napoca renew Cup title!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  14. "CFR Cluj câştigat Supercupa României" [CFR Cluj win Romanian Supercup]. Gândul (in Romanian). 27 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
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