{{short description|American soccer player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Eric Leonard | fullname = | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|10|05}} | birth_place = Palatine, Illinois, United States | height = {{convert|1.75|m|order=flip}} | position = Defender | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2014 | youthclubs1 = Chicago Sockers | collegeyears1 = 2014–2017 | college1 = Butler Bulldogs | collegecaps1 = 73 | collegegoals1 = 6 | years1 = 2017 | clubs1 = OKC Energy U23 | caps1 = 13 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2018 | clubs2 = Nerang Eagles | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 2019–2022 | clubs3 = Forward Madison | caps3 = 100 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2023 | clubs4 = Chicago Fire II | caps4 = 15 | goals4 = 1 | pcupdate = November 5, 2023 }}

'''Eric Leonard''' (born October 5, 1995) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender.

==Career== ===Youth and college career=== In addition to playing for William Fremd High School, Leonard also served as the captain for the Sockers FC Chicago development academy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140304/sports/140309358/ |title=Leonard loves opportunity to join Butler soccer program |date=April 3, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, he joined Butler University, making 73 appearances and scoring 6 goals for the Bulldogs during his four seasons. He was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team in his freshman year, and twice was included in the division's All-Tournament Team in 2016 and 2017. He also served as the team's captain in his senior year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://butlersports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4113 |title=Eric Leonard - 2016 - Butler University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-player-profile/eric-leonard/cpid-10026238 |title=Eric Leonard &#124; Club Soccer &#124; College Soccer &#124; College Soccer Recruiting &#124; Elite Soccer Shop}}</ref>

===OKC Energy U23=== Leonard joined the OKC Energy U23 team of the PDL in 2017. He made 13 regular season appearances, scoring one goal, along with one appearance in the play-offs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/18033849 |title=OKC Energy U23 - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - #13 - Eric Leonard - M}}</ref>

===Nerang Eagles=== In 2018, Leonard joined Australian club Nerang Eagles in the Gold Coast Premier League. At the end of the season, he won the Gold Coast Premier League Players' Player of the Year award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nerangsoccer.com/gala-awards-night-seniors-celebrate-superb-2018-season/ |title=Gala Awards Night &#124; Senior Eagles Celebrate Superb 2018 Season |date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406215556/http://www.nerangsoccer.com/gala-awards-night-seniors-celebrate-superb-2018-season/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Forward Madison FC=== In December 2018, Forward Madison FC announced the signing of Leonard for the team's inaugural season in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news_article/show/978443 |title=Forward Madison FC signs Midwest natives Leonard and Bement |date=December 18, 2018 |access-date=April 5, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421133202/https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news_article/show/978443 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.prosoccerusa.com/usl/usl-transactions-signings-hartford-athletic-leagueone-championship/ |title=USL signings: Hartford Athletic adds three players |date=December 20, 2018 |access-date=April 5, 2019 |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413223840/https://www.prosoccerusa.com/usl/usl-transactions-signings-hartford-athletic-leagueone-championship/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2018/12/18/mens-soccer-brian-bement-signs-with-usl1s-forward-madison-fc.aspx |title=Brian Bement Signs with USL Division One's Forward Madison FC}}</ref> He made his league debut for the club on April 13, 2019, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute for Josiel Núñez in a 1–0 away defeat to North Texas SC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/04/14/united-states/usl-league-one/north-texas/forward-madison/2946789/ |title=North Texas vs. Forward Madison – 13 April 2019 – Soccerway |website=int.soccerway.com |accessdate=20 April 2019}}</ref>

Leonard is Forward Madison's all-time appearance leader, with 99 appearances across all competitive competitions.

===Chicago Fire FC II=== On December 13, 2022, Leonard was transferred from Forward Madison FC to the Chicago Fire FC organization. Details of the transfer were not disclosed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news/2022/12/13/eric-leonard-signs-with-chicago-fire-fc-organization/ |title=Eric Leonard Signs With Chicago Fire FC Organization |last=Warwick |first=Evan |date=December 13, 2022 |website=ForwardMadisonFC.com |publisher=Forward Madison FC |access-date=December 13, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213175645/https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news/2022/12/13/eric-leonard-signs-with-chicago-fire-fc-organization/ |archive-date=December 13, 2022}}</ref> It was later reported that Leonard would start with Chicago Fire FC II of MLS Next Pro.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.channel3000.com/fmfc-veteran-eric-leonard-joins-chicago-fire-fc-organization/ |title=FMFC veteran Eric Leonard joins Chicago Fire FC organization |last=Jones |first=Kyle |date=December 13, 2022 |website=Channel3000.com |publisher=WISC-TV |access-date=December 14, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214134226/https://www.channel3000.com/fmfc-veteran-eric-leonard-joins-chicago-fire-fc-organization/ |archive-date=December 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago Fire FC II Signs Defender Eric Leonard |url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-ii-signs-defender-eric-leonard |website=ChicagoFireFC.com |publisher=Chicago Fire |access-date=18 January 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life== Leonard was born in Palatine, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{USL League One player|eric-leonard}} * {{Soccerway|eric-leonard/484118}}

{{Chicago Fire FC II squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Eric}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Palatine, Illinois Category:Soccer players from Cook County, Illinois Category:American men's soccer players Category:American expatriate men's soccer players Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Australia Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Butler Bulldogs men's soccer players Category:OKC Energy FC players Category:Forward Madison FC players Category:Chicago Fire FC II players Category:USL League One players Category:USL League Two players Category:MLS Next Pro players Category:21st-century American sportsmen