Sebastián Leto
Full nameSebastián Eduardo Leto
Birth date30 August 1986 (age 39)[1]
Birth placeAlejandro Korn, Argentina
Height1.88 m[1]
PositionLeft winger
CurrentclubA.E. Kifisia (manager)
Youthclubs 1Lanús
Years 12005–2007
Clubs 1Lanús
Caps 152
Goals 18
Years 22007–2009
Clubs 2Liverpool
Caps 20
Goals 20
Years 32008–2009
Clubs 3Olympiacos (loan)
Caps 324
Goals 31
Years 42009–2013
Clubs 4Panathinaikos
Caps 464
Goals 423
Years 52013–2016
Clubs 5Catania
Caps 541
Goals 55
Years 62015–2016
Clubs 6Lanús (loan)
Caps 64
Goals 60
Years 72016–2017
Clubs 7Panathinaikos
Caps 734
Goals 712
Years 82017
Clubs 8Emirates Club
Caps 89
Goals 82
Totalcaps228
Totalgoals51
Manageryears 12019
Managerclubs 1Esteghlal (assistant)
Manageryears 22021–2022
Managerclubs 2Al-Gharafa (assistant)
Manageryears 32023–2024
Managerclubs 3A.E. Kifisia (assistant)
Manageryears 42024–
Managerclubs 4A.E. Kifisia
Pcupdate17 December 2017

Sebastián Eduardo Leto (born 30 August 1986) is an Argentine professional football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Greek Super League club A.E. Kifisia.

Club career

Lanús

Born in Alejandro Korn, Leto began his career with Buenos Aires 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.[2]

Liverpool

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

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,[5] forcing him to play in the Liverpool reserve team instead.[6] 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.[7]

Olympiacos

Leto joined the Greek team Olympiacos in June 2008 on a one-year loan deal.[8][9]

On 16 September 2008, Leto scored the second goal in the 2–0 UEFA Cup first round, first leg victory away against 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 five-year contract for about 1.2 million (with bonus fees).[10] 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.[11] On 22 August, Leto scored two goals against the Cretan side Ergotelis away in a 3–0 victory.[12] 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 third Captain.

Leto started the 2011–12 Super League Greece in commanding form, netting a brace in a 3–2 victory over Xanthi on 16 October.[13] He followed this up by notching another brace against Ergotelis on 22 October, in which Panathinaikos ran out 4–0 winners.[14] 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.[15]

On 30 October, Panathinaikos faced PAOK, Leto scored a goal as his side won 3–1 and maintained their lead at the top of the Greek first division.[16] In the following game against Ergotelis, Leto added two more goals as his side won 4–0.[17] Leto's inspired start to the season resulted with ten goals and one assist from the first seven games.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20] 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 would not be available for the whole season.[21] On 22 January 2013, Leto terminated his contract 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.[22] Sebastian Leto was brought in during the summer 2013, on a free transfer as a replacement for the departed Alejandro Gomez. The former Panathinaikos winger had a history of knee problems, which ultimately led to his release from the Greek club. Catania took a gamble, but he failed to live up to expectations. Leto suffered another knee injury and was being unfairly compared to Gomez, who was arguably the Rossazzuri's best player, but the Argentinean did not succeed in making an impact at the club, and in January 2015 signed a year-long loan with his former Argentinian club Lanús.[23] On 11 February 2015, Leto was taken to hospital for emergency treatment after a barbell fell on his head during training. The then 28-year-old, who had been on loan at Argentinian club Lanus since 3 February for a loan fee of €500,000, was initially sent home by the medical staff with a deep wound in his head. But he later went to the hospital after suffering headaches and was placed in intensive care. Doctors feared Leto may have had internal hemorrhaging.[24][25]

At the end of the loan, Cypriot club Anorthosis have made an offer for Sebastian Leto, but the Argentine left winger asked for a 48 hour deadline because he preferred to join Greek side Panathinaikos. The 29-year-old player was recently released by Lanús and wanted to return to the Greens after three years, asking for a low-salary contract.[26]

Second spell at Panathinaikos

In early February 2015, there were rumours of a return to Panathinaikos, after Leto was released from Catania. The manager of Palermo, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, spoke about his compatriot and former player at Lanús, Sebastian Leto, and his desire to return in Greece for Panathinaikos. "Leto was enjoying being in an Argentine club and having his family along, but he always wanted to return in Greece for Panathinaikos. He had a serious accident, but he is strong and despite not playing match in Lanus, in a good fitness condition. Sebastian is a talented and clever player, with quality and still a future ahead of him, he will help Panathinaikos very much and maybe the next season decrease the difference from champions Olympiakos", said the 43-year-old Argentine at SDNA.[27]

On 5 February 2016, Panathinaikos officially announced the signing of Sebastian Leto until the end of the following season and the Argentinian left winger returned to the club after three years. On 3 April 2016, he helped his club by scoring a brace to win a game against Veria for the Greek Super League.[28] At the beginning of the 2016–17 Super League Greece, he eventually picked up his favorite number, no.11. On 11 September 2016, he scored his first goal for the 2016–17 season in a 3–0 away win against Levadiakos. On 24 May 2017, thanks to a spot kick by the experienced Argentine attacking midfielder, Panathinaikos won a crucial game rivals AEK Athens at the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium, for the 2016-17 Play-offs.[29]

On 1 June 2017, Panathinaikos announced that the club will not renew Leto's contract, so their relationship ended.[30]

On 8 October 2017, Leto, (after Michael Essien, Rasmus Thelander, Jens Wemmer, Stathis Tavlaridis and Niklas Hult) became the latest player to file an appeal against Panathinaikos for late payment. The Argentinian claimed had not been paid his wages by the club since January 2017, estimated to amount to €181,315.[31]

Emirates Club

On 20 August 2017, he signed a long season contract, with the possible extension for a year, with UAE Arabian Gulf League club Emirates Club.[32] On 17 September in his debut with the club, he scored his first goal against Al Dhafra, sealing a 3–3 home draw.[33]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lanús2004–05Argentine Primera División210021
2005–06Argentine Primera División21400214
2006–07Argentine Primera División29300293
Total528000000528
Liverpool2007–08Premier League0000202040
Olympiacos2008–09Super League Greece2413081352
Panathinaikos2009–10Super League Greece25661131448
2010–11Super League Greece2223130283
2011–12Super League Greece171500412116
Total642392002029327
Catania2013–14Serie A27311284
2014–15Serie B14200142
Total415110000426
Lanús2015Argentine Primera División403070
Panathinaikos2015–16Super League Greece1250000125
2016–17Super League Greece22754803411
Total34125400804616
Emirates Club2017–18UAE Pro-League923000122
Career total227512172041329161

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecord
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
A.E. Kifisia1 July 2024Present
Career total

Honours

Player

Olympiacos

Panathinaikos

Manager

A.E. Kifisia

References

  1. ^ "Sebastián Leto". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  2. ^ Sebastian Eduardo Leto – Estadisticas, footballxii.com. Retrieved on 2008-07-12. (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Leto Completes Anfield Switch, liverpoolfc.tv, 10 August 2007. Retrieved on 12 July 2008
  4. ^ "Liverpool overpower Toulouse". ESPN. 28 August 2007. Archived 24 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  5. ^ "Leto Passport Farce". News of the World. Archived 28 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  6. ^ Hunter, Steve. Leto Voted Reserves' Star Man, liverpoolfc.com, 5 October 2007. Retrieved on 2014-08-21.
  7. ^ "Liverpool denied permit for Leto". BBC Sport. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  8. ^ "Leto signs Olympiakos loan deal". BBC Sport. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  9. ^ Eaton, Paul (6 August 2008). "Leto signs one year Olympiacos deal". Liverpoolfc.com. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  10. ^ "Leto completes Panathinaikos deal". BBC Sport. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  11. ^ "UEFA Champions League –". UEFA. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  12. ^ "Ergotelis and Panathinaikos at Super League soccer league". Soccervista.com. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  13. ^ "Panathinaikos edge a 5-goal thriller at Xanthi - 101 Great Goals". 16 October 2011.
  14. ^ Sapa – AFP. "Panathinaikos routs Ergotelis – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  15. ^ "Torino Target Panathinaikos' Sebastian Leto". Insidefutbol.com. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  16. ^ "Olympiakos beats Giannena 2–0 to extend league lead to 4 points". The Republic. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  17. ^ "ΠΑΝΑΘΗΝΑΪΚΟΣ – ΕΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ Δ.ΕΝ. | Superleague Ελλάδα". superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  18. ^ "Στατιστικά παικτών | Superleague Ελλάδα". Superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  19. ^ "Βαθμολογία | Superleague Ελλάδα". superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  20. ^ "Greek Super League Table - ESPN FC". Archived from the original on 30 November 2010.
  21. ^ "Sebastian Leto leaves Panathinaikos | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  22. ^ "Transfer news: Catania sign ex-Liverpool striker Sebastian Leto". Sky Sports. 16 April 2013.
  23. ^ "Επιστροφή του Λέτο στη Λανούς". sport24.gr. 30 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Σοκαριστικός τραυματισμός για Λέτο". iefimerida.gr. 11 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Υγιής, αλλά χωρίς μαλλιά ο Λέτο". novasports.gr.
  26. ^ "Anorthosi want Leto, but he prefers to join Panathinaikos". sdna.gr. 30 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Schelotto at SDNA: "Leto always wanted to return"". sdna.gr. 2 February 2016.
  28. ^ "Δυο γκολ ενάμιση χρόνο μετά ο Λέτο". sport24.gr. 3 April 2016.
  29. ^ "Παναθηναϊκός-ΑΕΚ 1-0: Μάγκας με Λέτο!". onsports.gr. 24 May 2017.
  30. ^ ""Σ' ευχαριστούμε Σέμπα"". pao.gr. 1 June 2017.
  31. ^ "ΠΡΟΣΦΥΓΗ ΚΑΙ Ο ΛΕΤΟ ΓΙΑ 180.000 ΕΥΡΩ". leoforos.gr. 8 October 2017.
  32. ^ "Επίσημο: Ανακοινώθηκε από την Emirates Club ο Λέτο". sport24.gr. 20 August 2017.
  33. ^ "Το πρώτο γκολ του Λέτο με την Emirates". sport24.gr. 18 September 2017.