Leon Sullivan Taylor

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Leon Sullivan Taylor

| image = Leon Sullivan Taylor.jpg

| caption = Taylor with Kasuka in 2024

| fullname = Leon Sullivan Taylor

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|4|19|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Paynesville, Liberia

| height =

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Indera SC

| clubnumber = 14

| years1 = 2017

| caps1 = 3

| goals1 = 5

| clubs1 = Mawyawadi

| years2 = 2018

| caps2 = 10

| goals2 = 14

| clubs2 = Royal Thanlyin

| years3 = 2019

| caps3 = 12

| goals3 = 17

| clubs3 = Chin United

| years4 = 2020–2022

| caps4 = 14

| goals4 = 16

| clubs4 = Kasuka

| years5 = 2023

| caps5 = 10

| goals5 = 1

| clubs5 = See Khwae City

| years6 = 2023

| caps6 = 14

| goals6 = 31

| clubs6 = Indera

| years7 = 2024

| caps7 = 8

| goals7 = 5

| clubs7 = Maraleina

| years8 = 2024–2025

| caps8 = 10

| goals8 = 15

| clubs8 = Kasuka

| years9 = 2025–

| caps9 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| clubs9 = Indera

| club-update = 24 April 2025

| youthyears1 = 2013–2018

| youthclubs1 = Glow Lamp Academy

}}

Leon Sullivan Taylor (born 19 April 1998) is a Liberian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Brunei Super League club Indera SC.{{cite web |title=Liberian Striker Wins Top Scorer Of the Month Award|url=https://www.facebook.com/508523622924615/posts/liberian-striker-wins-top-scorer-of-the-month-awardliberian-striker-leon-sulliva/1528827747560859/|date=5 September 2022|publisher=Liberian Sports International|accessdate=5 July 2023}} He was the top scorer for two consecutive seasons of the Myanmar National League 2 as well as at the 2022 Brunei FA Cup and the 2023 Brunei Super League.

Career

= Mawyawadi =

Taylor began his professional playing career in with Myanmar second division club Mawyawadi in 2017 after moving from Glow Lamp Academy in Ghana.

= Royal Thanlyin =

In 2018, Taylor joined Royal Thanlyin of the MNL-2. His 14 goals propelled them to the championship and prospective promotion to the 2019 Myanmar National League, nonetheless the club folded due to financial difficulties soon after.{{cite web|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/leon-taylor-wins-2nd-division-title-in-asia/|title=Leon Taylor Wins 2nd Division Title in Asia|publisher=Daily Observer (Liberia)|date=30 July 2018|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301202301/https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/leon-taylor-wins-2nd-division-title-in-asia/|archivedate=1 March 2021|accessdate=5 July 2023}}

= Chin United =

In 2019, Taylor moved to Chin United for the 2019 MNL-2 season, once again topping the goalscoring charts with 17 goals and helping the club from Chin State to winning the league and promotion to the top flight.{{cite web |title=Chin United inks Liberian defender|url=https://www.mdn.gov.mm/en/chin-united-inks-liberian-defender|date=10 January 2019|publisher=Myanmar Digital News|accessdate=5 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Leon Taylor Closes In On Winning Myanmar League II Top Scorer Award|url=https://www.facebook.com/508523622924615/posts/leon-taylor-closes-in-on-winning-myanmar-league-ii-top-scorer-awardliberian-stri/700682507042058/|date=19 July 2019|publisher=Liberian Sports International|accessdate=5 July 2023}}

= Kasuka =

Taylor left Myanmar for Brunei in 2020 and signed for Kasuka at the start of the 2020 Brunei Super League.{{cite web |title=Leon Taylor Joins Brunei Super League Club, Kasuka FC|url=https://www.facebook.com/508523622924615/posts/leon-taylor-joins-brunei-super-league-club-kasuka-fcliberian-sports-internationa/871221469988160/|date=23 February 2020|publisher=Liberian Sports International|accessdate=5 July 2023}} He scored on his debut in a 5–0 win over Kuala Belait on 1 March.{{cite web |title=Kasuka enjoy perfect start in Brunei Super League|url=https://www.facebook.com/BSBBruneiDarussalam/photos/a.998005983664765/1840776686054353|date=5 March 2020|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=5 July 2023}} However, after two rounds into the newly expanded league the COVID-19 pandemic started, forcing the suspension and subsequent cancellation of the league.{{cite web|title=Brunei Super League, U16 & U19 Tournaments cancelled|url=http://www.nfabd.org/press-release/2020091901.htm|date=19 September 2020|publisher=National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam|access-date=5 July 2023|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028113607/http://nfabd.org/press-release/2020091901.htm|url-status=dead}}

Taylor stayed with Kasuka for the next two years, scoring 15 goals in only six league matches in the 2021 Brunei Super League before a second league abandonment,{{cite web |title=Leon Taylor Scores Brace In Kasuka FC League Opener In Brunei Super League|url=https://www.facebook.com/508523622924615/posts/leon-taylor-scores-brace-in-kasuka-fc-league-opener-in-brunei-super-leagueliberi/1226128891164081/|date=22 June 2021|publisher=Liberian Sports International|accessdate=5 July 2023}} then becoming top-scorer at the 2022 Brunei FA Cup in which his team went all the way to the final before losing 2–1 to DPMM. Taylor scored in said match in the 12th minute.{{cite web |title=DPMM FC WIN BRUNEI FA CUP 2022|url=https://www.brusports.com/2022/12/04/dpmm-fc-win-brunei-fa-cup-2022/|date=4 December 2022|publisher=BruSports News|accessdate=5 July 2023}}

= See Khwae City =

At the turn of the year, Taylor transferred to See Khwae City of the Thai League 3 North midway through the 2022–23 season, replacing Hamzeh Sari of Iran who moved to Rasisalai United.{{Cite instagram |user=leont824 |date=4 June 2023|postid=Cm3DRXDymo8 |title=Let’s go!!!!!!!!!!🙏|access-date=5 July 2023}} He made 10 appearances for See Khwae City, scoring once against Nakhon Mae Sot United in a 2–0 win on 28 January.{{cite web |title=Thai League:Results|url=https://thaileague.co.th/results/145|date=|publisher=Thai League|accessdate=5 July 2023}}

= Indera =

File:DPMM-Kasuka 4 December 2022 66.jpg Top Scorer.|294x294px]]Taylor returned to Brunei at the conclusion of the league in March, signing for Indera.{{Cite instagram |user=fa.bruneidarussalam |date=6 May 2023|postid=Cr40ugxhbCH |title=He’s back! Indera SC welcome back last season’s Top Scorer, Leon Sullivan Taylor. Indera SC is welcoming back the FA Cup 2022 top scorer who played for Kasuka FC last season.|access-date=5 July 2023}} He made his debut on 5 May against AKSE Bersatu and scored on the 28th minute, then the game was suspended due to floodlight failure and was adjourned to 24 May.{{Cite instagram |user=fa.bruneidarussalam |date=8 May 2023|postid=Cr-aoUuhE6K |title=Match Results | Week 3 Brunei Super League 2023|access-date=5 July 2023}} He netted again on the 81st minute to win the fragmented game for Indera with a 2–1 score. On 4 June 2023, Taylor scored four goals in a 6–0 victory over BSRC.{{Cite instagram |user=inderasc |date=4 June 2023|postid=CtEpnuVBD55 |title=Tonight's result against BSRC FC.|access-date=5 July 2023}} The next month, he scored five goals in a 6–0 win over BAKES. He finished the truncated season as the top goalscorer with 31 goals.

= Maraleina =

At the start of 2024, Taylor moved back to the Thai League 3, this time with Maraleina. He scored on his debut match against Thap Luang United on 13 January in a 1–0 away victory.{{Cite instagram |user=maraleinafc |date=14 January 2024|postid=C2FVHsfRT4Q |title=🔥FULL-TIME🔥🏆ปุ๋ยรุ่งอรุณลีก ไทยลีค 3 2023 24 นัด 13⚽ทัพหลวง ยูไนเต็ด 0 VS 1 มาราเลน่า เอฟซีScored 76' Leon|access-date=15 January 2024}} On 14 February, Taylor scored a hat-trick over Chainat United.{{cite web |title=Leon Sullivan Taylor On Fire, Scores Hat Trick For Maraleina Fc|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/sports/leon-sullivan-taylor-on-fire-scores-hat-trick-for-maraleina-fc/|date=15 February 2024|publisher=FrontPage Africa|accessdate=18 July 2024}}

= Return to Kasuka =

In June 2024, Taylor returned to Kasuka in preparation for the 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship qualifying play-offs where they faced Shan United of Myanmar.{{Cite instagram |user=kasukafc |date=16 July 2024|postid=C9eLPhVSgde |title=For this Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup 2024, let us support Club Kasuka FC, our local representative from Brunei.|access-date=18 July 2024}} In the first leg on 17 July, he scored the solitary goal for the Bruneian club in a 1–1 draw at Bandar Seri Begawan.{{cite web |title=REPORT: KASUKA FC 1-1 SHAN UNITED FC (QUALIFYING ROUND-PLAY-OFF 1ST LEG)|url=https://aseanutdfc.com/asean-shopee-cup/2024/news/kasuka-shanutd-playoff-1st-leg|date=17 July 2024|publisher=ASEAN Football Federation|accessdate=18 July 2024}} He was a second half substitute in the second leg at Thuwunna Stadium a week later, winning a penalty which was converted by Willian dos Santos for their consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat.{{cite web |title=REPORT: SHAN UNITED FC 3-1 KASUKA FC (QUALIFYING ROUND PLAY-OFF 2ND LEG)|url=https://aseanutdfc.com/asean-shopee-cup/2024/news/shan-united-vs-kasuka-playoff-2nd-leg|date=24 July 2024|publisher=ASEAN Football Federation|accessdate=25 July 2024}}

In the first league fixture for Kasuka in the 2024–25 Brunei Super League against Lun Bawang FC on 1 September 2024, Taylor scored a hat-trick against the Temburong District outfit in a 9–0 win.{{Cite instagram |user=ligabrunei |date=30 August 2024|postid=C_X1LTpSNdj |title=The Brunei Super League 2024/25 kicked off in spectacular fashion on Sunday as Kasuka FC delivered a commanding 9-0 victory against Lun Bawang FC. |access-date=3 September 2024}} He followed this with two goals against both Jerudong FC and MS ABDB later that month.{{Cite web|title=22/09/2024 Brunei Super League 2024/2025|url=https://www.rtbnews.rtb.gov.bn/Lists/News%202018/NewDispForm.aspx?ID=43855|publisher=Radio Television Brunei|date=22 September 2023|access-date=23 September 2024}}{{Cite instagram |user=bulakitani |date=27 September 2024|postid=DAbOnFqS5VF |title=Brunei Super League 2024 Keputusan penuh Kasuka FC 3-1 MS ABDB|access-date=10 October 2024}} Fazed with a slight injury at the second half of the season, Taylor relinquished goalscoring duties to Brazilian playmaker Willian dos Santos but not before scoring four times against KB FC in a 9–0 trashing on 10 January.{{Cite instagram |user=ligabrunei |date=13 January 2025|postid=DEwcnRhSmED |title=FULL-TIME: Kasuka FC 9-0 KB FC|access-date=4 February 2025}} The two scored a combined total of 50 goals to win the league for Kasuka in dramatic fashion after beating league leaders DPMM FC II in their final fixture on 2 February.{{cite web |title=Kasuka FC down DPMM FC II for BSL title|url=https://www.brusports.com/2025/02/03/kasuka-fc-down-dpmm-fc-ii-for-bsl-title/|date=3 February 2025|publisher=BruSports News|accessdate=4 February 2025}}

= Return to Indera =

In April 2025, Taylor returned to Indera SC after the knockout stage of the 2025 Brunei FA Cup began.{{Cite instagram |user=inderasc |date=19 April 2025|postid=DInh05byG8s |title=He’s back and it’s his birthday! 🎉⚽️ We’re thrilled to welcome our lethal forward, Leon Sullivan, back to the squad, and what better day to celebrate than his birthday!|access-date=24 April 2025}} He scored the opening goal for Indera against MS PPDB in the second leg of the quarter-final on 2 May.{{Cite web|title=03/05/2025 Brunei FA Cup|url=https://www.rtbnews.rtb.gov.bn/Lists/News%202018/NewDispForm.aspx?ID=47411|publisher=Radio Television Brunei|date=3 May 2025|access-date=5 May 2025}}