Keith Leonard

Keith Leonard
Personal information
Full name Keith Andrew Leonard
Date of birth 10 November 1950 (1950-11-10) (age 61)
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Playing position Striker
Youth career
Kidderminster Harriers
Darlaston
Highgate United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1972–1976 Aston Villa[1] 38 (11)
1973–1974 → Port Vale (loan) 13 (1)
Total 51+ (12+)
Teams managed
1986 Birmingham City (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Keith Andrew Leonard (born 10 November 1950) is an English former footballer who played for Aston Villa as a striker. He also played on loan at Port Vale, and previously played non-league football for Kidderminster Harriers, Darlaston, and Highgate United. He later became a coach, and led the Aston Villa youth players to FA Youth Cup victory in 1980; he later served Birmingham City as caretaker manager in 1986.

Contents

Playing career

Born in Birmingham, after playing non-league football with Highgate United, Leonard joined Aston Villa in April 1972.[2] He made a few appearances before breaking his right leg in two places in a road accident. After recovering from his injuries he spent a few months on loan to Port Vale to regain fitness. Arriving at Vale Park in November 1973, he scored once in 13 appearances, his performances persuaded the club to offer Villa £5,000 for his services on a permanent basis. The bid failed and he returned to Villa Park in February 1974.[3]

On his return he played alongside Brian Little in their Second Division promotion campaign and League Cup victory in 1975, but a knee injury forced his retirement in 1976 and prompted manager Ron Saunders to sign Andy Gray from Dundee United as his replacement.[4]

Coaching career

Leonard took up coaching under Saunders at Aston Villa, and led the youth team to victory in the FA Youth Cup in 1980. When Saunders joined Birmingham City in 1982, he appointed Leonard as first-team coach.[5]

After Saunders' resignation in 1986 Leonard acted as Birmingham's caretaker manager for one game before being dismissed.[6] He went on to coach at West Bromwich Albion before leaving football to work at the Solihull Land Rover plant.[7]

Honours

References

  1. ^ "ASTON VILLA : 1946/47 - 2007/08". Neil Brown stat site. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/villa/villa.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09. 
  2. ^ "Leonard, Keith Andrew". Aston Villa Player Database. http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/789.html. Retrieved 2009-06-09. 
  3. ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 172. ISBN 0952915200. http://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200. 
  4. ^ "On This Day: November 10". Aston Villa F.C.. http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/OnThisDay/0,,10265~924081,00.html. Retrieved 2007-11-27. 
  5. ^ "Roeber returns to Germany" (Times Digital Archive 1785-1985). The Times: p. 20. 1982-07-09. 
  6. ^ "Bond favourite for Birmingham job". The Times. 1986-01-23. http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F90AA4DA61DD9B9&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815. Retrieved 2007-11-27. 
  7. ^ Struthers, Greg (2004-10-17). "Caught in Time: Aston Villa win the League Cup, 1975". The Sunday Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article495213.ece. Retrieved 2007-11-27.