Sebastián Leto

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Sebastián Leto
Personal information
Full nameSebastián Eduardo Leto
Date of birth (1986-08-30) 30 August 1986
Place of birthAlejandro Korn, Argentina
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current clubCatania
Number11
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2005–2007Lanús52(8)
2007–2008Liverpool0(0)
2008–2009Olympiacos22(3)
2009–2013Panathinaikos64(23)
2013–Catania13(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 January 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Sebastián Eduardo Leto (born 30 August 1986) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Calcio Catania in the Serie A.

Club career

Lanús

Born in Alejandro Korn, Leto began his career with Buenos Aire club Lanús, making his first team debut on 25 June 2005. He spent two seasons at the club, making 52 appearances and scoring 8 goals.[1]

Liverpool

On 10 August 2007, Leto signed for Liverpool for £1,850,000 ($3.6million).[2] His debut was against Toulouse, in a 4–0 victory for UEFA Champions League qualifying round fixture on 28 August 2007.[3]

Following this he featured in another Champions League game and two Football League Cup matches. He never made his Premier League debut due to problems with his passport,[4] forcing him to play in the Liverpool reserve team instead.[5] Leto was granted an Italian passport in mid-2007 but this was later revoked, making the Argentine need to apply for a work permit; a request which was later refused. Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez criticised the decision given the player's track record in the Champions League and national selection for the Olympics.[6]

Olympiacos

Leto joined the Greek team Olympiacos in June 2008 on a one-year loan deal.[7][8]

On 16 September 2008, Leto scored the second goal in the 2–0 UEFA Cup first round, first leg victory away against FC Nordsjælland. He scored his first and only league goal in a 2–1 home win against Thrassyvoulos in December 2008.

Panathinaikos

On 23 June 2009, Liverpool accepted an offer from Panathinaikos believed to be in the region of £3,000,000. On 1 July 2009, the player signed a 5-year contract for about 1.2 million (with bonus fees).[9] On 28 July, Leto made his debut appearance for the greens on the away UEFA Champions League qualifying stages game against Sparta Prague, coming from the bench on the second half. On 8 August in Athens, Panathinaikos needed a two goal margin victory and Leto was one of the starting eleven for the Greek side who dominated the game 3–0 and qualified to the next round. On 19 August, Leto came from the bench to score in Panathinaikos 2–3 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg.[10] On 22 August Leto scored two goals against the Cretan side Ergotelis away in a 3–0 victory.[11] On 13 September, Leto scored the only goal against the Thracians Panthrakikos in an important 1–0 away victory. On 24 April 2010 he scored the victorious goal of Panathinaikos at the Greek Cup final against Aris Thessaloniki. The previous week he also won the Greek championship, thus achieving the double (second consequent double of his career, after the first one with Olympiacos in 2009). After the departure of captain Djibril Cissé and vice-captain Gilberto Silva he was chosen after two seasons serving the club to be the 3rd Captain.

2011–12

Leto started the 2011–12 Superleague Greece in commanding form, netting a brace in a 3–2 victory over Xanthi on 16 October.[12] He followed this up by notching another brace against Ergotelis on 22 October, in which Panathinaikos ran out 4–0 winners.[13] Leto's good performances were enough for Serie B table-toppers Torino to report interest in the Argentine, as they look to regain status in the Italian top flight.[14]

On 30 October, Panathinaikos faced PAOK, Leto grabbed a goal as his side won 3–1 and maintained their lead at the top of the Greek first division.[15] In the following game against Ergotelis, Leto added two more goals as his side won 4–0.[16] Leto's inspired start to the season resulted with ten goals and one assist from the first seven games.[17] His performances were enough to guide Panathinaikos to the top of the table on 19 points, having played fewer games than most of their title challengers.[18] Leto continued in brilliant form scoring 15 goals in 13 matches as well as 5 assists, keeping Panathinaikos still in the fight for the title.

Through the first 17 league fixtures, Leto lead the goal-scorers chart with 15 league goals.[19] On 25 January 2012, Leto suffered a knee injury and flew to Bologna to be checked by a specialist who said that he would be forced out at least until March. It was revealed in March though that he would not be available until at least early April with continued knee problems. After a few days, it was revealed that Leto will not be available for the whole season.[20] On 22 January 2013, Leto terminated his contact with Panathinaikos.

Catania

On 16 April 2013, Catania confirmed that they had signed the Argentine on a deal over a few seasons, the exact details of the length and payment were not released.[21]

Honours

Olympiacos

Panathinaikos

Career statistics

As of 10 October 2013.
Season Club League Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Argentina League - - CONMEBOL Total
2004–05 Lanús Primera División 21----0021
2005–06 214----00214
2006–07 293----00293
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2007–08 Liverpool Premier League 0000202040
Greece League Greek Cup - Europe Total
2008–09 Olympiacos Superleague 22130--81332
2009–10 Panathinaikos 25661--131448
2010–11 22231--30283
2011–12 151500--411916
2012–13 0000--0000
Italy League Coppa Italia - Europe Total
2013-14 Catania Serie A 13200--00132
Total 143331222030318738

References

  1. ↑ Sebastian Eduardo Leto – Estadisticas, footballxii.com. Retrieved on 2008-07-12. (Spanish)
  2. ↑ Leto Completes Anfield Switch, liverpoolfc.tv, 10 August 2007. Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
  3. ↑ Liverpool overpower Toulouse, ESPN, 3 August 2007. Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
  4. ↑ Leto Passport Farce, News of the World. Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
  5. ↑ Hunter, Steve. Leto Voted Reserves' Star Man, liverpoolfc.tv, 5 October 2007. Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
  6. ↑ "Liverpool denied permit for Leto". BBC Sport. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-04. 
  7. ↑ "Leto signs Olympiakos loan deal". BBC Sport. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
  8. ↑ Eaton, Paul (6 August 2008). "Leto signs one year Olympiacos deal". Liverpoolfc.tv. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
  9. ↑ "Leto completes Panathinaikos deal". BBC Sport. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
  10. ↑ "UEFA Champions League –". Uefa.com. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  11. ↑ "The official website for European football –". Uefa.com. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  12. ↑ http://www.101greatgoals.com/panathinaikos-edge-a-5-goal-thriller-at-xanthi/110763/
  13. ↑ Sapa – AFP. "Panathinaikos routs Ergotelis – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  14. ↑ "Torino Target Panathinaikos’ Sebastian Leto". Insidefutbol.com. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  15. ↑ "Olympiakos beats Giannena 2–0 to extend league lead to 4 points". The Republic. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  16. ↑ "ΠΑΝΑΘΗΝΑΪΚΟΣ – ΕΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ Δ.ΕΝ. | Superleague Ελλάδα". Superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  17. ↑ "Στατιστικά παικτών | Superleague Ελλάδα". Superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  18. ↑ "Βαθμολογία | Superleague Ελλάδα". Superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  19. ↑ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables/_/league/gre.1/greek-super-league?cc=5901
  20. ↑ http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/4/53816
  21. ↑ "Transfer news: Catania sign ex-Liverpool striker Sebastian Leto". Sky Sports. 16 April 2013. 

External links

Calcio Catania – current squad
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