Angelo Lekkas
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Angelo Lekkas (born June 29, 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League who became a soccer player for South Melbourne FC in the Victorian Premier League.
Lekkas, of Greek heritage, played soccer until he was a teenager, when he switched to playing Aussie Rules and played with the Northern Knights Under 18s.
[edit] AFL Career
He was drafted by the AFL club Hawthorn at the end of 1993 in a trade for Tony Hall (when Hall left the Hawks for Adelaide). After 3 solid seasons in the reserves, Lekkas finally made his senior debut in 1996.
Lekkas forged a strong career with the Hawks, playing across half forward and half back. His defensive strengths were matched by an uncanny goal sense and ability to find space.
In 2002, he represented Australia in the International Rules series.
During a practice match in February 2005, Lekkas suffered a stroke and was told he may never play again. After a remarkable recovery, he made his return to AFL football in Round 15, 2005 against Adelaide.
On October 26, 2005, Lekkas announced his early retirement from AFL football, his last game being played at the MCG against Sydney on August 27, 2005.
Lekkas finished his AFL career with 180 games and 120 goals to his credit and a career total of 14 Brownlow votes.
After Lekkas retired, he took up a lawsuit against the Hawthorn Football Club, claiming that the club caused his early retirement by pressuring to continue playing after a stroke [1]. The issue was later settled out of court.
Angelo currently works part-time as a multicultural officer for the AFL.
[edit] Soccer Career
Through his family, Lekkas had a long history with the South Melbourne soccer club, and a passionate supporter even after the introduction of the national A-League competition, even donating to help save the club from folding. Disgruntled with Aussie Rules, Lekkas began training with his former club in late 2005.
During South Melbourne's 2005 season Lekkas was elevated into the senior list [2] and became the first professional Aussie Rules player to successfully switch to soccer.
