Pedro León

Pedro León Sánchez Gil (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpeðɾo leˈon ˈsantʃeθ]; born 24 November 1986), known as León, is a Spanish footballer who plays for SD Eibar as a right winger.

Club career

Murcia

Born in Mula, Region of Murcia, León began his career playing for local Muleño CF and Nueva Vanguardia's youth teams, eventually moving in early 2004 to Real Murcia to finish his formation.

After a spell with the B-team, he made his official debut with the main squad on 15 January 2005, in a Segunda División 1–5 loss at UE Lleida, going on to play a further six matches during the season and scoring in a 3–1 win at neighbouring Ciudad de Murcia.

The following two seasons, León became an integral player for Murcia, netting seven goals in the 2006–07 campaign, several from free kicks, as the side returned to La Liga after a three-year absence. In January 2007, he was rumoured to be moving to Real Madrid or Chelsea, being speculated that the latter would buy him for £3.4 million.^[1] Instead, he joined modest Levante UD in the summer for £2.5 million after rejecting an offer from to renew his contract for €1 million, in a move the club found quite offensive.^[2]

During 2007–08, León often underachieved, starting only 11 times from 24 appearances as Levante returned to the second level.^[3] He also ended up training alone, due to problems with management and teammates alike.^[2][4][5]

Valladolid / Getafe

On 13 September 2008, Real Valladolid bought León for €300,000 after a quick negotiation.^[6] Soon becoming a first-choice, he provided his first assist for Fabián Canobbio on 15 November in a 1–0 home win against Real Madrid,^[7] netting his first for the club a week later in a 3–0 away success over Villarreal CF.^[8]

After lengthy negotiations with Getafe CF, with the player appearing very rarely for Valladolid in pre-season, a five-year contract worth around €4 million was finally arranged in August 2009.^[9] León scored nine goals in official matches during the season (eight in the league, with nine assists), as the Madrilenians finished sixth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League for the second time in its history.

Real Madrid

On 15 July 2010, Real Madrid confirmed the transfer of León for €10 million.^[10][11] The player passed the pertinent medical test and was presented the following day.^[12] He made his debut on 4 August in a friendly match with Club América, playing the full match in a 3–2 win;^[13] in his second appearance, four days later, he scored against the LA Galaxy as the match ended with the same score.^[14]

On 3 November 2010, León scored his first competitive goal for Real Madrid, combining with Karim Benzema – both players had come from the bench during the second half – for a last-minute goal at A.C. Milan for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, a 2–2 draw that sent the Spaniards through to the knockout stage.^[15] During the course of the league season, however, he appeared rarely: after assuming he would start against AJ Auxerre in the Champions League in late September, he was immediately dropped from the list of 18 by coach José Mourinho.^[16] Later, he was ridiculed in the press by his own manager when the latter justified his absence.^[17] In early February 2011, both he and teammate Fernando Gago were dropped from the squad that would face Sevilla FC in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, for fighting in training;^[18] Gago was however picked for the next match, whereas León was not.

Chelsea renewed their interest in taking León on loan in the winter transfer window,^[19] but no move took place – he reportedly blamed Mourinho for blocking the move.^[20] In March 2011, after the market had closed, Hércules CF tried to acquire the player on loan following Tote's severe knee injury, but Real Madrid refused again.^[21]

Getafe return

At the end of the 2011 summer transfer window, León returned to former club Getafe on a season-long loan.^[22] He scored the first goal of his second spell on 1 October, with a spectacular long-range strike at Málaga CF in a 2–3 loss;^[23] the move was extended for the following campaign.^[24]

Subsequently, León signed for Getafe on a permanent basis. On 6 October, he scored twice in a 3–1 home win over Real Betis, netting his first through a 40-meter free kick.^[25]

León was not allowed to be registered for the start of 2014–15, as the club had exceeded the €17 million salary cap.^[26] The situation was finally resolved on 24 November, the day of the player's 28th birthday.^[27]

Eibar

On 5 July 2016, after Getafe's relegation, León signed a two-year deal with SD Eibar also in the top tier.^[28]

International career

León made his debut for the Spanish national under-21 football team on 31 January 2007. On 6 February, Iñaki Sáez played him again in a friendly against England, in which he was replaced by Juan Mata in a 2–2 away draw.^[29] He also featured in the 2009 Under-21 Euro qualifier against Georgia, replacing Alejandro Alfaro in a 1–0 away win.^[30]

Picked in the 23-man squad for the final stages in Sweden, León scored in the final game against Finland, but the national team did not progress from the group stage.^[31]

Personal life

León's older brother, Luis León Sánchez, is a road bicycle racer.^[32] His other brother, Antonio, also plays football, but the indoor variety.

León is not his surname, but he carries it as a second name in memory of his grandfather and eldest brother, both died in 2006 (the latter in a motorbike accident), and tends to just go by the name León rather than León Sánchez (as his two brothers), also celebrating his goals by pointing to the sky.^[32]

Club statistics

As of 18 May 2016^[33]

Honours

Club

Real Madrid

• Copa del Rey: 2010–11

References

External links

• Pedro León at BDFutbol
• Pedro León at Futbolme (in Spanish)