| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Leandro de Souza Ferreira | ||
| Date of birth | (1959-03-17)17 March 1959 (age 66) | ||
| Place of birth | Cabo Frio, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft11+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position | Right wing-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1990 | Flamengo | 119 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 1981–1986 | Brazil | 27 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
José Leandro de Souza Ferreira (born 17 March 1959), known asLeandro, is a Brazilian formerfootballer who played as adefender.
He played forFlamengo during his whole professional career, first as aright-sided full-back and, from 1983 on, as acentral defender. He also played for theBrazil national team in the 1980s, including at the1982 FIFA World Cup.
Leandro spent his entire club career Flamengo, where he won four Brazilian national leagues, fiveRio State championships, oneLibertadores da América, and oneIntercontinental Cup againstLiverpool.[1] In total, he played 417 matches and scored 14 goals for Flamengo.
Leandro was capped 27 times for Brazil between September 1981 and May 1986, scoring two goals. He took part at the1982 FIFA World Cup, where he was part of a star-studded Brazilian team, along withZico,Júnior,Falcão,Sócrates, and many others, includingÉder andToninho Cerezo. Despite the plethora of creative midfield talent in the team, and the exciting brand of attacking football that they displayed throughout the tournament, Brazil were eliminated in the second round, after placing second in the so-called "Group of Death" withrivals and defending championsArgentina, as well as the eventual championsItaly.
Leandro also took part at the1983 Copa América, where Brazil finished in second place. A principled man, he refused to go to1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, however, after a disagreement with the coachTelê Santana over the exclusion of his teammateRenato from the squad.[2]
Leandro prematurely retired in 1990 at 31 years of age. He currently owns and manages a restaurant and hotel in his hometownCabo Frio.
Considered one of the greatest Brazilian defenders of all-time, Leandro started his career as an offensive-minded right-sided full-back or wing-back. In this role, he was capable of delivering decisivecrosses to the forwards, or indeed taking a shot at goal himself. He also had an ability todribble past opposing players and get forward. Leandro was also able to cover the flank both offensively and defensively: he could often be found in theoutside right position, yet would get back to defence when needed.
After several knee injuries and some surgeries in 1985, Leandro started to play as a centre-back, also achieving much success in this role, and was still called up to the Brazil national squad to play in this new position.
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