Leo Bertos

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Leo Bertos
Personal information
Full nameLeonida Christos Bertos[1]
Date of birth (1981-12-20) 20 December 1981
Place of birthWellington, New Zealand
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionWinger, Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current clubWellington Phoenix
Number7
Youth career
Wellington Olympic
2000Barnsley
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1997–2000Wellington Olympic48(7)
2000–2003Barnsley12(1)
2003–2005Rochdale82(13)
2005Chester City5(0)
2005Barrow1(0)
2005–2006York City4(0)
2006Scarborough1(0)
2006Worksop Town7(2)
2006–2008Perth Glory35(1)
2008–Wellington Phoenix127(8)
National team‡
2003–2004New Zealand U-235(1)
2003–New Zealand56(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 January 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 January 2014

Leonida Christos "Leo" Bertos (born 20 December 1981) is a New Zealand football player who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger for New Zealand-based A-League team Wellington Phoenix and has represented the New Zealand national football team. He is sponsored by the sportwear company Adidas.

Early life

Bertos was born in Wellington, to a Greek father and New Zealand mother. He attended Holy Cross primary school (1987–1994) and Wellington College (1995–1999) where he played for the school's 1st XI.

Bertos played for Wellington Olympic in the New Zealand domestic league between 1997 and 2000.

Club career

Barnsley

Bertos started his career in England, playing in Barnsley's youth system.[2] He made his debut for the Barnsley reserve team against Rotherham United in October 2000.[3] and his first-team debut for Barnsley in a 0–4 defeat to Preston North End on 16 April 2001. Bertos signed a professional contract for the club a day later.[4][5] He picked up a knee injury whilst playing in Tenerife,[6] the results of which required a second opinion.[7] These results were delayed,[8] but, when received, it was confirmed that no meniscus was present to his tendon.[9] He scored once for Barnsley; in a 4–1 defeat to Bristol City.[10]

Rochdale

He had a reasonably successful two-year spell at Rochdale scoring the goal in a 1–0 win at Kidderminster that secured the team's League status in 2003–04, but fell out of favour the following year and was released.

Chester City

After failing to impress in a short spell at Chester City Bertos played non-league football for Barrow, York City, Scarborough and Worksop Town.

Perth Glory

Bertos signed for A-League franchise Perth Glory for the start of the 2006–07 season on a two-year contract. Bertos' signing was an attempt to add depth to a Perth midfield that lacked consistency and strength in 2005–06. Bertos replaced star midfield player Nick Ward. Starting all 21 matches of the regular season, Bertos' pace, ability to beat his man, and dangerous crosses from wide areas, resulted in nine assists in his debut season, making him the highest assisting player in the league. Fans bemoaned the fact he failed to find the back of the net given the number of good scoring opportunities.

Bertos explored new opportunities during the A-League off-season. Glory manager Ron Smith allowed him to trial with Greek club Skoda Xanthi, however the trial was unsuccessful and Bertos returned to Perth in time for the start of the 2007–08 season.

During the 2007–08 season Bertos made fourteen appearances for the club and scored one goal and two assists.

Wellington Phoenix

On 24 January 2008, Bertos was signed on a free transfer by his hometown club Wellington Phoenix on a two-year contract.[11] He made his club debut in the opening game of the 2008–09 season against Brisbane Roar. Bertos scored his first goal for Wellington against Sydney on 7 November 2008. He played in 16 of the 21 regular season matches making 14 starts with 2 goals and 4 assists. Bertos was named Wellington Phoenix Player of the Year for 2008–09.

The 2009–10 season was incredibly successful for Bertos and the Phoenix. Bertos played a central role during the regular season to ensure a first finals appearance for the club. He played every game of the season, starting 23 of the 28 matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 8 assists. He holds the all-time leading assists record for the club with 12. On 1 October 2009 he signed a three-year contract extension.

International career

Bertos made his international debut against Iran on 13 October 2003[12] and has represented New Zealand over 50 times since.[13] He has also represented New Zealand at under-23 level.

Bertos is known for his dribbling and quality skills on the ball. This was shown in the New Zealand vs Brazil game in which he dribbled around two defenders to win a corner. He also played loads if one-twos and did a dragback once in the second half. In the first game of the New Zealand vs Malaysia series (which New Zealand won 1–0), Bertos received the Man of the Match award for his magnificent dribbling performance and domination of the Malaysian defence.

He represented New Zealand at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.[14] He provided the assist for New Zealand's first two goals against World Champions Italy in a 3–4 friendly loss in Pretoria prior to the Confederations Cup.

2010 FIFA World Cup

In Wellington on 14 November 2009, Bertos provided the assist and delivered the corner from which Rory Fallon headed a thumping game winner against Bahrain to give New Zealand the two-legged aggregate win needed to secure a spot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Bertos was on hand to see the World Cup trophy unveiled on New Zealand soil for the first time, when it made an eight-hour stop-over in Auckland on 27 April 2010 on its world wide tour before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

On 10 May 2010 Bertos was named as one of eight midfielders in the final 23-man squad to travel to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in June. The squad played several official warm-up internationals against Australia, Serbia, Slovenia and Chile before the World Cup.[15]

Bertos played in all three games at the World Cup, putting in gritty performances to earn New Zealand a 1–1 draw with Slovakia, a 1–1 draw with reigning world champions Italy, and their final 0–0 draw with Paraguay.

International goals and caps

New Zealand's goal tally first.

International career statistics

[16]

New Zealand national team
YearAppsGoals
200310
200450
200510
200680
200760
200810
200980
201090
201100
2012110
201320
Total520

Career statistics

All-Time Club Performances
Club Season Championship FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Barnsley F.C.
(Football League Championship)		 2000–01 2 0 2 0
2001–02 4 0 1 0 5 0
2002–03 6 1 6 1
Club Total 12 1 1 0 13 1
Club Season League Two FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Rochdale F.C.
(Football League Two)		 2003–04 40 9 1 1 1 0 1 0 43 10
2004–05 42 4 3 0 1 0 46 4
Club Total 82 13 4 1 1 0 1 0 89 14
Club Season League Two FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Chester City F.C.
(Football League Two)		 2005–06 5 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
Club Total 5 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
Club Season Conference FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
York City F.C.
(Conference National)		 2005–06 4 0 6 0
Club Total 6 0 6 0
Club Season Conference FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Scarborough F.C.
(Conference National)		 2005–06 1 0 1 0
Club Total 1 0 1 0
Club Season A-League Finals Series Asia Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Perth Glory
(A-League)		 2006–07 21 0 21 0
2007–08 14 1 14 1
Club Total 35 1 35 1
Club Season A-League Finals Series Asia Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Wellington Phoenix
(A-League)		 2008–09 16 2 16 2
2009–10 27 2 3 0 30 2
2010–11 22 3 22 3
2011–12 26 1 2 0 28 1
2012–13 24 0 24 0
2013–14 7 0 7 0
Club Total 122 8 5 0 127 8
Career totals 243 21 10 1
Last updated 24 January 2014

Honours

Personal honours

  • Wellington Phoenix Player of the Year: 2008–09[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 58. ISBN 1-85291-665-6. 
  2. ↑ "Late shocker for academy". Barnsley F.C. 23 October 2000. Retrieved 13 December 2008. 
  3. ↑ "Reserves face Millers". Barnsley F.C. 31 October 2000. Retrieved 21 July 2008. 
  4. ↑ "Barnsley 0–4 Preston". BBC Sport. 16 April 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008. 
  5. ↑ "Youngsters sign contracts". Barnsley F.C. 17 April 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008. 
  6. ↑ "Bertos waiting for scan results". Barnsley F.C. 6 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008. 
  7. ↑ "Bertos must have second opinion". Barnsley F.C. 6 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008. 
  8. ↑ "Bertos faces longer wait". Barnsley F.C. 7 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008. 
  9. ↑ "Bertos receives good news". Barnsley F.C. 8 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008. 
  10. ↑ "Barnsley 1–4 Bristol City". BBC. 12 October 2002. Retrieved 30 August 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Phoenix snare Bertos". The Dominion Post. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2011. 
  12. ↑ "A-International Lineups". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 4 June 2009. 
  13. ↑ "A-International Appearances – Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 June 2009. 
  14. ↑ "2009 Confederations Cup – New Zealand squad". FIFA.com. Retrieved 9 June 2009. 
  15. ↑ "All Whites World Cup squad named". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 May 2010. 
  16. ↑ Leo Bertos at National-Football-Teams.com
  17. ↑ http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=26606

External links

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Wellington Phoenix FC – current squad
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