He was known for his six-year spell with Walsall in England, but he also scored 28 goals in 169 games in the Portuguese Segunda Liga over seven seasons.
Born in Nespereira, Cinfães, Viseu District, Leitão started playing in amateur football. At already 24 he signed with C.D. Feirense, being relegated from the Segunda Liga 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 an impressive trial spell.
Leitão scored a career-best 18 goals in 44 matches in his first season with Walsall, with the Saddlers promoting to the Championship after disposing of Reading in the play-offs final. He was also named in the Division Two Player's Team of the Year.[1]
In 2001–02, after a difficult start, Leitão's fate 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 campaign's FA Cup fourth round.[2] The team also managed to finally stay clear of the relegation zone, and he netted the goal that saved them from the drop, the only one in an away win over Sheffield United on 13 April 2002;[3] two weeks later, he extended his contract for a further two years.[4]
2002–03 was Walsall's most successful season in the league since the 1950s, with Leitão pairing with Brazilian José Junior for a Portuguese-speaking front line which scored 30 goals. Highlights included a brace against Stoke City (4–2 home win),[5] one against Grimsby Town (3–1, home)[6] and the game's only against Brighton & Hove Albion (also at home);[7] 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.[8] Though the contract did not come into 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 and a half years of service. The penultimate of his 262 competitive matches 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.[9]
Late careeredit
After helping Beira-Mar promote to the Primeira Liga in 2006, Leitão had his first – and only – experience in the competition, scoring twice in 11 appearances as the Aveiro side was immediately relegated back. He subsequently spent two and a half seasons with Feirense (in the second level) and, aged 35, moved to modest F.C. Arouca, which he helped reach the top flight for the first time ever.
Immediately after retiring, Leitão was named his last club's assistant coach. On 21 March 2017 he became the third first-team manager of the season after Lito Vidigal and Manuel Machado.[10] He was not able to prevent top-tier relegation, after winning only once in his five games in charge.[11]
^Walsall 1–0 Brighton; BBC Sport, 11 February 2003
^Homesick Leitao to leave Saddlers; BBC Sport, 23 December 2005
^Memory Lane – Jorge Leitão 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Walsall Web Fans, 21 May 2010
^"Oficial: Manuel Machado rescinde com o Arouca" [Official: Manuel Machado terminated at Arouca]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 21 March 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
^"O desalinhamento do cosmos, a Lei de Murphy, Lito Vidigal e o vapor do fumo (ou a queda do Arouca explicada)" [Cosmos unaligned, Murphy's law, Lito Vidigal and the fumes (or reasoning Arouca's fall)]. Expresso (in Portuguese). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
External linksedit
at ForaDeJogo (archived)
Jorge Leitão at Soccerbase
January 01, 1970
jorge, leitão, this, portuguese, name, first, maternal, family, name, vasconcelos, second, paternal, family, name, leitão, jorge, manuel, vasconcelos, leitão, born, january, 1974, portuguese, retired, footballer, played, striker, manager, personal, information. In this Portuguese name the first or maternal family name is Vasconcelos and the second or paternal family name is Leitao Jorge Manuel Vasconcelos Leitao born 14 January 1974 is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a striker and is a manager Jorge LeitaoPersonal informationFull nameJorge Manuel Vasconcelos LeitaoDate of birth 1974 01 14 14 January 1974 age 50 Place of birthNespereira PortugalHeight1 80 m 5 ft 11 in Position s StrikerYouth career1991 1992CoimbroesSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1992 1997Coimbroes1997 1998Avintes1998 2000Feirense67 21 2000 2005Walsall233 57 2006 2007Beira Mar27 8 2007 2009Feirense69 11 2009 2012Arouca83 10 Total479 107 Managerial career2012 2018Arouca assistant 2017Arouca Club domestic league appearances and goals He was known for his six year spell with Walsall in England but he also scored 28 goals in 169 games in the Portuguese Segunda Liga over seven seasons Contents 1 Club career 1 1 Early years Walsall 1 2 Late career 2 Honours 3 References 4 External linksClub career editEarly years Walsall edit Born in Nespereira Cinfaes Viseu District Leitao started playing in amateur football At already 24 he signed with C D Feirense being relegated from the Segunda Liga 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 an impressive trial spell Leitao scored a career best 18 goals in 44 matches in his first season with Walsall with the Saddlers promoting to the Championship after disposing of Reading in the play offs final He was also named in the Division Two Player s Team of the Year 1 In 2001 02 after a difficult start Leitao s fate 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 campaign s FA Cup fourth round 2 The team also managed to finally stay clear of the relegation zone and he netted the goal that saved them from the drop the only one in an away win over Sheffield United on 13 April 2002 3 two weeks later he extended his contract for a further two years 4 2002 03 was Walsall s most successful season in the league since the 1950s with Leitao pairing with Brazilian Jose Junior for a Portuguese speaking front line which scored 30 goals Highlights included a brace against Stoke City 4 2 home win 5 one against Grimsby Town 3 1 home 6 and the game s only against Brighton amp Hove Albion also at home 7 however after the loss of Junior to Derby County in the summer his replacement being former Arsenal and England star Paul Merson the team suffered relegation with Leitao netting seven goals his lowest figure in one full season in 39 games In late December 2005 Leitao 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 8 Though the contract did not come into 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 and a half years of service The penultimate of his 262 competitive matches 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 9 Late career edit After helping Beira Mar promote to the Primeira Liga in 2006 Leitao had his first and only experience in the competition scoring twice in 11 appearances as the Aveiro side was immediately relegated back He subsequently spent two and a half seasons with Feirense in the second level and aged 35 moved to modest F C Arouca which he helped reach the top flight for the first time ever Immediately after retiring Leitao was named his last club s assistant coach On 21 March 2017 he became the third first team manager of the season after Lito Vidigal and Manuel Machado 10 He was not able to prevent top tier relegation after winning only once in his five games in charge 11 Honours editWalsall Football League Second Division Play off winner 2001 Beira Mar Segunda Liga 2005 06 Arouca Segunda Divisao 2009 10References edit Walsall break Reading hearts BBC Sport 27 May 2001 Walsall sink Addicks BBC Sport 26 January 2002 Sheff Utd 0 1 Walsall BBC Sport 13 April 2002 Duo earn new deals BBC Sport 30 April 2002 Walsall 4 2 Stoke BBC Sport 2 November 2002 Walsall 3 1 Grimsby BBC Sport 7 December 2002 Walsall 1 0 Brighton BBC Sport 11 February 2003 Homesick Leitao to leave Saddlers BBC Sport 23 December 2005 Memory Lane Jorge Leitao Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Walsall Web Fans 21 May 2010 Oficial Manuel Machado rescinde com o Arouca Official Manuel Machado terminated at Arouca O Jogo in Portuguese 21 March 2017 Retrieved 27 May 2017 O desalinhamento do cosmos a Lei de Murphy Lito Vidigal e o vapor do fumo ou a queda do Arouca explicada Cosmos unaligned Murphy s law Lito Vidigal and the fumes or reasoning Arouca s fall Expresso in Portuguese 22 May 2017 Retrieved 27 May 2017 External links editJorge Leitao at ForaDeJogo archived nbsp Jorge Leitao at Soccerbase nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jorge Leitao amp oldid 1185288466, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
