Leo Fernandes

Leo Fernandes
Personal information
Full name	Leonardo Fernandes
Date of birth	23 December 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Tampa Bay Rowdies
Number	10
Youth career
	Istria Met Oval
2003–2009	BW Gottschee
College career
Years	Team
2009–2012	Stony Brook Seawolves
Senior career*
Years	Team
2010–2011	Brooklyn Knights
2012	Reading United
2013–2016	Philadelphia Union
2013	→ Harrisburg City Islanders (loan)
2014	→ Harrisburg City Islanders (loan)
2015	→ New York Cosmos (loan)
2016	→ Bethlehem Steel (loan)
2017–	Tampa Bay Rowdies
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:13, 8 November 2024 (UTC)

Leonardo Fernandes (born 23 December 1991) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship.

Early life

Fernandes was born in São Paulo but raised in North Babylon, New York, and played at Stony Brook University from 2009 to 2012. In his senior season at Stony Brook, the left-footed Fernandes started all 18 matches and led his team in goals (9) and assists (7). He was selected to the 2012 All-America East first team and named America East Midfielder of the Year for the third consecutive season. Fernandes left Stony Brook as the team's all-time leader in points scored.

Career

Philadelphia Union

On 22 January 2013, Fernandes was selected as the 62nd overall pick in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft by Philadelphia Union. He signed with the club on 1 March 2013.^[1] Serving mostly as a reserve role for the Union for his first season, Fernandes began to break into the starting line-up during the 2014 season, scoring twice.

Harrisburg City Islanders

For the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Fernandes spent temporary stints being loaned to Philadelphia's former USL affiliate, Harrisburg City Islanders, making five appearances for the club and scoring once.

New York Cosmos

For the 2015 season, the Union sent Fernandes out on loan to experience regular minutes throughout the season. In January 2015, he signed a year long loan deal with the New York Cosmos.^[2] The loan move proved successful as Fernandes became a regular starter for the Cosmos, who would go on to win the 2015 NASL Championship. Through the season he scored a career high ten goals across all competitions. His efforts were recognized, winning the 2015 NASL Young Player of the Year Award.^[3]

Bethlehem Steel FC

The formation of Bethlehem Steel FC prompted the Union to have Fernandes return to the Philadelphia organization. He would become a regular starter for Steel FC with intermittent appearances for the first team. Fernandes finished the season with fourteen appearances and scoring once.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Fernandes signed with USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2017.^[4] On 14 July 2022, Fernandes was named USL Championship Player of the Month for June 2022 after scoring five goals throughout the month.^[5]

In February 2023, Fernandes ruptured his Achilles tendon during a preseason game. The Rowdies announced on 3 March 2023 that he would miss the 2023 USL Championship season.^[6]

Career statistics

Club

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
US			League		Open Cup		North America		Total
2013	Philadelphia Union	MLS	7	0	2	0	0	0	8	0
2013	Harrisburg City Islanders (loan)	USL Pro	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1
2014	Philadelphia Union	MLS	13	2	2	0	0	0	15	2
2014	Harrisburg City Islanders (loan)	USL	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
2015	New York Cosmos (loan)	NASL	28	8	3	2	0	0	31	10
2016	Philadelphia Union	MLS	12	0	3	0	0	0	15	0
2016	Bethlehem Steel FC (loan)	USL	14	1	0	0	0	0	14	1
Total	US		79	12	10	2	0	0	88	14
Career total			79	12	10	2	0	0	88	14

Updated 26 October 2016

Honors

New York Cosmos

North American Soccer League Supporters' Trophy: 2015
North American Soccer League Soccer Bowl: 2015

Individual

North American Soccer League Young Player of the Year: 2015

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Individual

USL Championship Most Valuable Player: 2022^[7]

References

^ "Stony Brook's Leonardo Fernandes signs pro contract with Philadelphia Union | Soccer Long Island Magazine". Soccerlimagazine.com. 2013-03-01. Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
^ "Cosmos sign LI's Leo Fernandes on loan from Philadelphia Union". Newsday. January 16, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
^ "Cosmos Midfielder Leo Fernandes Wins NASL Young Player of the Year". Empire of Soccer. November 11, 2015. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
^ "LEO FERNANDES". stonybrookathletics.com. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
^ "Tampa Bay Rowdies' Leo Fernandes Voted Championship Player of the Month". uslchampionship.com. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
^ "Achilles Injury Sidelines Fernandes for 2023". RowdiesSoccer.com. Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^ "Tampa Bay's Leo Fernandes Voted 2022 USL Championship Most Valuable Player". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.

External links

[1] "Stony Brook's Leonardo Fernandes signs pro contract with Philadelphia Union | Soccer Long Island Magazine". Soccerlimagazine.com. 2013-03-01. Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-09-29.

[2] "Cosmos sign LI's Leo Fernandes on loan from Philadelphia Union". Newsday. January 16, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2016.

[3] "Cosmos Midfielder Leo Fernandes Wins NASL Young Player of the Year". Empire of Soccer. November 11, 2015. Retrieved 2016-10-29.

[4] "LEO FERNANDES". stonybrookathletics.com. Retrieved 15 July 2022.

[5] "Tampa Bay Rowdies' Leo Fernandes Voted Championship Player of the Month". uslchampionship.com. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.

[6] "Achilles Injury Sidelines Fernandes for 2023". RowdiesSoccer.com. Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 3 March 2023.

[MVP-7] "Tampa Bay's Leo Fernandes Voted 2022 USL Championship Most Valuable Player". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.

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