Sergio León
Sergio León Limones (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈseɾxjo leˈon]; born 6 January 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Valladolid as a forward.
| León playing for Elche in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sergio León Limones | ||
| Date of birth | 6 January 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Palma del Río, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Valladolid | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2008 | Betis | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Betis C | 31 | (15) |
| 2008–2009 | → Mairena (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Betis B | 15 | (1) |
| 2010 | Betis | 1 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Reus | 72 | (29) |
| 2013–2015 | Elche B | 26 | (12) |
| 2013 | → Murcia (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | → Llagostera (loan) | 35 | (9) |
| 2015–2016 | Elche | 41 | (22) |
| 2016–2017 | Osasuna | 33 | (10) |
| 2017–2019 | Betis | 47 | (11) |
| 2019–2021 | Levante | 50 | (3) |
| 2021– | Valladolid | 61 | (13) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:10, 18 July 2023 (UTC) | |||
An academy graduate of Betis where he was mainly a reserve, he played more frequently at Reus before being signed by Elche in 2013. After finishing as top scorer in Segunda División three years later, he joined La Liga club Osasuna, where he also appeared for Betis, Levante and Valladolid to total 159 matches and 30 goals over six seasons.
Club career
Betis and Reus
Born in Palma del Río, Córdoba, León joined Real Betis' youth ranks at the age of 15 and made his debut for the first team on 27 March 2010, playing 26 minutes in place of Juanma in a 1–0 Segunda División loss against Girona FC at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.[1] It would be his only appearance of the campaign, as the Verdiblancos failed to regain their La Liga status.
In the 2011 January transfer window, after featuring rarely also for the reserves over the course of 1+1⁄2 seasons,[2] León left Betis and signed for CF Reus Deportiu in the Tercera División.[3] He scored five goals in 14 games until the end of the season, helping the Catalans return to Segunda División B after a five-year absence.[4][5]
León netted 18 times during 2012–13's division three,[6] including a hat-trick on 17 February 2013 in a 3–2 home win over Ontinyent CF.[7]
Elche
In the summer of 2013, León joined Elche CF on a four-year deal, being assigned to their reserves and then loaned to Real Murcia.[8] After only three competitive appearances for the latter he was recalled by his parent club, continuing to feature and score regularly for the B's.
On 12 July 2014, León was again loaned to a second-tier club, UE Llagostera, for the upcoming season.[9] In the second matchday, he scored his first professional goal to open a 2–0 victory over CD Leganés at home for the team's first professional win.[10] He eventually finished as top scorer for the Province of Girona side, who finished ninth.[11]
León subsequently returned to Elche, and was promoted to the first team which had suffered top-flight relegation for financial reasons. He made his competitive debut for the Valencians on 23 August 2015 by playing the full 90 minutes as they opened their campaign with a 2–0 defeat at SD Ponferradina,[12] and a week later scored his first goal to win a match 2–1 against Bilbao Athletic at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.[13] He was the Segunda División Player of the Month in September 2015, having contributed three goals and an assist,[14] and eventually won the Pichichi Trophy for top scorer, netting his 22nd from the penalty spot in the final game against AD Alcorcón to overtake Córdoba CF's Florin Andone.[15]
Osasuna
León signed a four-year contract with CA Osasuna on 24 August 2016, for an undisclosed fee.[16] He made his debut in the top division three days later, replacing Oriol Riera in a 2–0 home loss against Real Sociedad.[17] He scored his first goal in the competition on 22 September, to equalise in a 2–1 loss to RCD Espanyol again at the El Sadar Stadium.[18]
On 17 October 2016, León scored a brace in a 3–2 away defeat of SD Eibar.[19] He repeated the feat the next 9 April, in a 2–1 home victory against CD Leganés.[20] He finished the season with a squad-best ten goals, but his team suffered relegation.[21]
Return to Betis
On 1 June 2017, León returned to Betis after agreeing to a four-year deal,[22] for a rumoured fee of €3.5 million. He was the club's top scorer with 11 goals as they qualified for the UEFA Europa League in his first season, though he played less frequently in the second half of the campaign following the promotion of Loren into the first team.[23]
Levante
León joined Levante UD on a three-year contract on 12 June 2019.[24] Mainly a substitute during his spell, he scored ten competitive goals in 59 matches,[25] including five in the 2020–21 edition of the Copa del Rey.[26]
Valladolid
On 31 August 2021, León signed a one-year contract with Real Valladolid in the second division.[27]
Honours
Individual
- Pichichi Trophy (Segunda División): 2015–16[15]
- Segunda División Player of the Month: September 2015[14]
References
- ^ "El Girona frena en seco la escalada del Betis" [Girona stop Betis climb in its tracks]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 March 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ Ortiz, Vicente (April 2011). "El extraño caso de Sergio León (ex-Betis B)" [The strange case of Sergio León (ex-Betis B)] (in Spanish). Fútbol Mega. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ "Reus: se incorpora Sergio León" [Reus: Sergio León added.] (in Spanish). esFutbol. 19 January 2011. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ "El palmeño Sergio León "Trepa" sube a Segunda B con el Reus C.F." [Palma's own Sergio León "Trepa" promotes to Segunda B with Reus C.F.] (in Spanish). Minuto 90. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ "Sergio León disfruta de su mejor momento" [Sergio León enjoys best moment]. Estadio Deportivo (in Spanish). 24 February 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ Pérez, Mónica (9 July 2014). "El CF Reus busca el relleu per a un crac" [CF Reus looking to replace a star]. Diari Més (in Catalan). p. 16. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "León sentencia el matx contra l'Ontinyent" [León decides the match against Ontinyent]. L'Esportiu (in Catalan). 18 February 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "El Elche cede al delantero Sergio León al Murcia" [Elche loan forward Sergio León to Murcia]. Diario Información (in Spanish). 21 August 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Sergio León se marcha cedido al Llagostera" [Sergio León goes on loan to Llagostera]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Histórico primer triunfo del Llagostera" [Llagostera's historic first triumph]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 August 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ González, Mateo (25 November 2017). "Gerona, el recuerdo imborrable para Sergio León" [Girona, unforgettable memory for Sergio León]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ Pertusa, F. (23 August 2015). "Yuri y Berrocal no perdonan al nuevo Elche" [Yuri and Berrocal do not forgive new Elche]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "El Bilbao Athletic sucumbe tras una remontada del Elche" [Bilbao Athletic succumb after Elche's comeback]. El Correo (in Spanish). 31 August 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Sergio León, mejor jugador de la Liga Adelante en septiembre" [Sergio León, best player in the Liga Adelante in September] (in Spanish). Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Sergio León gana el pichichi de Segunda y está loco por jugar con el Betis en Primera" [Sergio León wins the Segunda pichichi and is mad about playing for Betis in Primera]. El Correo (in Spanish). 4 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "Sergio León, nuevo jugador de Osasuna" [Sergio León, new player of Osasuna] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ Sierra, David (27 August 2016). "La Real bate al coraje de Osasuna" [Real defeat Osasuna's courage]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ Campos, Tomás (22 September 2016). "El Espanyol respira a costa de Osasuna" [Espanyol take a breather at the expense of Osasuna]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2016.
- ^ "Sergio Léon alcanza los cuatro goles con un doblete ante el Eibar" [Sergio Léon reaches four goals with brace against Eibar]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 17 October 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ "Sergio León hace soñar a Osasuna con la salvación" [Sergio León makes Osasuna dream of survival] (in Spanish). Cadena COPE. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ "Pedro León y Sergio León alcanzan los diez goles; Kike García sigue en racha" [Pedro León and Sergio León reach ten goals; Kike García still on a streak] (in Spanish). Terra. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ "Real Betis signs Sergio León for the next four seasons". Real Betis. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ^ Galán, Gabriel (23 June 2018). "La delantera del Betis: sin salidas no hay fichajes" [Betis' forwards section: without exits there are no signings] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ "Levante UD sign Sergio León for the next three seasons". Levante UD. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "El Levante traspasa a Sergio León al Real Valladolid" [Levante transfer Sergio León to Real Valladolid]. La Razón (in Spanish). 31 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ Llinares, Vicente (6 January 2021). "Esta es la Copa de Sergio León (1–2)" [This is Sergio León's Cup (1–2)]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Sergio León, experiencia para la punta" [Sergio León, experience for the forward lines] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
External links
- Sergio León at BDFutbol
- Sergio León at Futbolme (in Spanish)
- Sergio León at Soccerway