{{Short description|Dutch footballer (1953–2016)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Leo Ehlen | image = Roda JC tegen Ajax 1-1 Soren Lerby wordt ten val gebracht door v.l.n.r. Ehlen, Bestanddeelnr 932-1499.jpg | caption = Ehlen (left) tripping Ajax' Søren Lerby in May 1982 | fullname = Petrus Leonardus Ehlen | birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|05|20|df=yes}} | birth_place = Broeksittard, Netherlands | death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|02|10|1953|05|20|df=yes}} | death_place = Sittard, Netherlands | height = | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Defender | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Almania | years1 = 1974–1975 | clubs1 = Fortuna SC | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1975–1984 | clubs2 = Roda JC | caps2 = 233 | goals2 = 6 | years3 = 1984–1985 | clubs3 = Waterschei | caps3 = | goals3 = | totalcaps = | totalgoals = | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | manageryears1 = | managerclubs1 = | pcupdate = | ntupdate = }}
'''Leo Ehlen''' (20 May 1953 – 10 February 2016) was a Dutch football player.
==Club career== A tough-tackling defender or defensive midfielder, Ehlen started his professional career with Fortuna SC and joined Roda JC in 1975,<ref>[http://www.1limburg.nl/oud-speler-van-roda-en-fortuna-leo-ehlen-62-overleden Oud-speler van Roda en Fortuna Leo Ehlen (62) overleden] - 1Limburg {{in lang|nl}}</ref> where he played alongside Dick Nanninga, Pierre Vermeulen and Theo de Jong. Nicknamed the ''Neeskens of Roda'' after Holland hard man Johan Neeskens, Ehlen scored 6 goals in 233 official matches for the club<ref>[http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/oudroda-jc-speler-leo-ehlen-62-overleden.htm Oud-Roda JC speler Leo Ehlen (62) overleden] - Voetbal International {{in lang|nl}}</ref> and left them after nine years for a spell with Belgian side Waterschei.
He later played for amateur team EHC.<ref>[http://ehc-hoensbroek.nl/CMS/WEBSITE/oud-ehc-speler-leo-ehlen-overleden/ Oud EHC-speler Leo Ehlen overleden]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - EHC {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== After retiring, Ehlen owned a bar in Broeksittard.<ref>[http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1450/Roda-JC/article/detail/4242680/2016/02/11/Oud-speler-Roda-JC-Leo-Ehlen-62-overleden.dhtml Oud-speler Roda JC Leo Ehlen (62) overleden] - Algemeen Dagblad {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
He died in February 2016, aged 62. He had suffered from a kidney disease.<ref>[http://sittard-geleen.nieuws.nl/sport/20160212/leo-ehlen-op-62-jarige-leeftijd-overleden/ Leo Ehlen op 62-jarige leeftijd overleden] - Sittard-Geleen Nieuws {{in lang|nl}}</ref> He was survived by his wife and son.<ref>[http://www.mensenlinq.nl/overlijdensberichten/leo-ehlen-6651276?aid=6651262 Obituary] - Mensenlinq {{in lang|nl}}</ref> A minute silence was observed in his memory before kick-off of Roda's home game against FC Twente three days later.<ref>[http://www.twenteinsite.nl/voorafgaand-aan-roda-jc-fc-twente-een-minuut-stilte.html Voorafgaand aan Roda JC-FC Twente een minuut stilte] - Twente Insite {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080520184434/http://www.rodajcspelers.nl/oudspelers/ehlenl.htm Roda JC career stats] - Roda JC Spelers * [http://www.elfvoetbal.cn/speler/08595_leo-ehlen Career stats]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - Elf Voetbal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ehlen, Leo}} Category:1953 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Footballers from Sittard Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Dutch men's footballers Category:Fortuna Sittard players Category:Roda JC Kerkrade players Category:Waterschei SV Thor players Category:Eredivisie players Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:EHC Hoensbroek players Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen