| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Leandro de Souza Ferreira | ||
| Date of birth | March 17, 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | Cabo Frio, Brazil | ||
| Playing position | Right back (retired) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1978–1990 | Flamengo | 115 | (5) |
| National team | |||
| 1981–1986 | Brazil | 27 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Leandro, full name José Leandro de Souza Ferreira, (born March 17, 1959 in Cabo Frio, Brazil) is a former football defender at Flamengo, winning four Brazilian national titles, five Rio State championships, one Libertadores da América, and one Intercontinental Cup against Liverpool. He also played in the Brazilian national team in the 1980s, including the 1982 FIFA World Cup, along with Zico, Júnior, Falcão, Sócrates, and others. Leandro was capped 27 times for Brazil between September 1981 and May 1986. He was considered one of the best fullbacks of Brazilian soccer.
In 1982, he was the star-studded Brazilian team's unsung hero, a secret weapon capable of delivering decisive crosses to the forwards, or indeed taking a pop himself. He also had an ability to dribble past players and probably covered more ground than any other player in the team – he could often be found in the outside right position, yet would get back to defence when needed.
After several knee injuries in 1985, Leandro started to play as a centre back, also achieving much success and being called to the Brazilian national squad to play in this new position.
A principled man, he refused to go to 1986 FIFA World Cup at Mexico after a disagreement with the coach Telê Santana over the exclusion of his teammate Renato from the squad.[1]
Nowadays he owns and manage a restaurant and hotel in his hometown Cabo Frio.
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