Leroy Cyril DeLeon
|
Nickname | Dilly |
| Position | Midfielder | |
| Height | 5′ 9″ (1.75 m) | |
| Date of Birth | February 7th, 1948 (age 76) | |
| Place of Birth | Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| Debut | ||
| Caps/Goals | 17 ( 1 goals) | |
| Last Club | Seattle Sounders (1979-1979) | |
| Previous Clubs | San Jose Earthquakes (4/1977-1978), Washington Diplomats (5/1974-4/1977), Miami Toros (1972-1972), Washington Darts (1970-1971), New York Generals (1967-1968) | |
| Schools | St. Benedict's College |
A relentless tormentor of defenders throughout North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Leroy De Leon has been regarded by many as the best from an outstanding group of Trinidad and Tobago players during the 1970s.
During the 1969 CONCACAF Championship in Costa Rica, De Leon's outstanding dribbling skills earned the Point Fortin native a Most Valuable Player award - in spite of the fact that Trinidad and Tobago finished fifth out of six competing teams. By the following year, De Leon had become a fixture in the North American Soccer League (NASL) after helping his team, the Washington Darts to the NASL Championship final against the Rochester Lancers. The Darts did manage a 3-1 second-leg victory, but it was not enough to overcome a 3-0 deficit and it was the Lancers that took home the NASL title.
However, the attacking midfielder did achieve a lot of personal success at the end of that 1970 season: he finished fourth in the scoring charts with 31 points and was named to the NASL All-Star first team. De Leon later finished sixth in scoring in 1971 - when he was given an honourable mention at the end of that season and ninth in 1972.
De Leon's final NASL season with the Seattle Sounders in 1979 was his eleventh in total and is a record shared with South African Patrick "Ace" Ntsoelenge, Canadian international Bobby Lenarduzzi and Jamaican Art Welch. De Leon has also had the privilege of playing against some of the finest players of his generation Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Johann Cruyff and Bobby Moore.
De Leon, who made his national team debut at the age of 16, was also part of one the greatest teams that ever graced the Colleges (now Secondary Schools) Football League - a St. Benedict's College outfit that included future national teammates Warren Archibald, Steve David, Wilfred Cave and Jan Steadman. Their haul of trophies included the National CFL championship/National Intercol double of 1967, along with five, consecutive South Zone Intercol titles from 1964 to 1968.
Following the end of his playing career with the Phoenix Inferno in the Major Indoor Soccer League, De Leon remained in the Arizona city to embark on a coaching career that has landed him at the West Valley United Soccer Club, where he serves as the head trainer and director of coaches.
(T&T Sports Hall of Fame bio)
During the 1969 CONCACAF Championship in Costa Rica, De Leon's outstanding dribbling skills earned the Point Fortin native a Most Valuable Player award - in spite of the fact that Trinidad and Tobago finished fifth out of six competing teams. By the following year, De Leon had become a fixture in the North American Soccer League (NASL) after helping his team, the Washington Darts to the NASL Championship final against the Rochester Lancers. The Darts did manage a 3-1 second-leg victory, but it was not enough to overcome a 3-0 deficit and it was the Lancers that took home the NASL title.
However, the attacking midfielder did achieve a lot of personal success at the end of that 1970 season: he finished fourth in the scoring charts with 31 points and was named to the NASL All-Star first team. De Leon later finished sixth in scoring in 1971 - when he was given an honourable mention at the end of that season and ninth in 1972.
De Leon's final NASL season with the Seattle Sounders in 1979 was his eleventh in total and is a record shared with South African Patrick "Ace" Ntsoelenge, Canadian international Bobby Lenarduzzi and Jamaican Art Welch. De Leon has also had the privilege of playing against some of the finest players of his generation Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Johann Cruyff and Bobby Moore.
De Leon, who made his national team debut at the age of 16, was also part of one the greatest teams that ever graced the Colleges (now Secondary Schools) Football League - a St. Benedict's College outfit that included future national teammates Warren Archibald, Steve David, Wilfred Cave and Jan Steadman. Their haul of trophies included the National CFL championship/National Intercol double of 1967, along with five, consecutive South Zone Intercol titles from 1964 to 1968.
Following the end of his playing career with the Phoenix Inferno in the Major Indoor Soccer League, De Leon remained in the Arizona city to embark on a coaching career that has landed him at the West Valley United Soccer Club, where he serves as the head trainer and director of coaches.
(T&T Sports Hall of Fame bio)
| Honors for Leroy |
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