Leonardo González (Venezuelan footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Leonardo González

| fullname = Leonardo Alberto González Antequera

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|7|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Valera, Venezuela

| height = 1.69m

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Anzoátegui (manager)

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Trujillanos

| years1 = 1992–1995 | clubs1 = Trujillanos | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1996–2005 | clubs2 = Caracas | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 2005–2009 | clubs3 = Trujillanos | caps3 = 79 | goals3 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 1993–2008 | nationalteam1 = Venezuela | nationalcaps1 = 37 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2011–2014 | managerclubs1 = Trujillanos (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2014–2016 | managerclubs2 = Deportivo La Guaira

| manageryears3 = 2016–2020 | managerclubs3 = Deportivo Lara

| manageryears4 = 2021 | managerclubs4 = Deportivo Lara

| manageryears5 = 2021 | managerclubs5 = Venezuela (interim)

| manageryears6 = 2022 | managerclubs6 = Estudiantes de Mérida

| manageryears7 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs7 = Caracas

| manageryears8 = 2025– | managerclubs8 = Anzoátegui

}}

Leonardo Alberto González Antequera (born 14 July 1972) is a Venezuelan football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is the current manager of Anzoátegui.

Playing career

=Club=

Born in Valera, González made his senior debut with Trujillanos in 1992. In 1995 he moved to Caracas, and won four Primera División titles with the club beforer leaving in 2005.

After leaving Caracas, González returned to Trujillanos and was a regular starter until his retirement in 2009.

=International=

González made his international debut for the Venezuela national team on 23 January 1993, in a 0–0 draw against Peru. He represented the nation in three Copa América editions (1993, 1995 and 1997), and spent eleven years without playing for the side until his last cap in 2008.

Managerial career

After retiring, González worked as an assistant at Trujillanos before being appointed manager of Deportivo La Guaira on 3 June 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.balonazos.com/confirmado-leo-gonzalez-como-nuevo-dt-del-deportivo-la-guaira/|title=Confirmado Leo González como nuevo DT del Deportivo La Guaira|trans-title=Leo González confirmed as new manager of Deportivo La Guaira|publisher=Balonazos|language=es|date=3 June 2014|accessdate=11 August 2021}} On 31 July 2016, he was named in charge of Deportivo Lara.{{cite web|url=https://www.el-carabobeno.com/Leonardo-Gonzalez-fue-presentado-como-nuevo-DT-del-Deportivo-Lara/|title=Leonardo González fue presentado como nuevo DT del Deportivo Lara|trans-title=Leonardo González was presented as new manager of Deportivo Lara|publisher=El Carabobeño|language=es|date=31 July 2016|accessdate=11 August 2021}}

González left Lara on 20 December 2020, after qualifying the club to the Copa Libertadores three times.{{cite web|url=https://www.balonazos.com/leo-gonzalez-y-deportivo-lara-ponen-a-un-exitoso-proceso/|title=Leo González y Deportivo Lara ponen fin a un exitoso proceso de cuatro años|trans-title=Leo González and Deportivo Lara end a successful process of four years|publisher=Balonazos|language=es|date=20 December 2020|accessdate=11 August 2021}} The following 1 August, he returned to the club in the place of sacked Martín Brignani.{{cite web|url=https://www.noticiasbarquisimeto.com/leo-gonzalez-vuelve-como-dt-del-deportivo-lara-venimos-a-enfrentar-este-reto-en-un-momento-dificil-para-la-institucion/|title=Leo González vuelve como DT del Deportivo Lara: «Venimos a enfrentar este reto en un momento difícil para la institución»|trans-title=Leo González returns as manager of Deportivo Lara: "We have come to face this hard time for the club"|publisher=Noticias Barquisimeto|language=es|date=1 August 2021|accessdate=11 August 2021}}

On 23 August 2021, González was named interim manager of the Venezuela national team, replacing José Peseiro.{{cite web|url=https://www.liderendeportes.com/noticias/football/leo-gonzalez-es-nuevo-dt-interino-de-la-vinotinto/|title=Leo González es nuevo DT interino de La Vinotinto|trans-title=Leo González is the new interim manager of La Vinotinto|publisher=Líder en Deportes|language=es|date=23 August 2021|accessdate=4 October 2021}} He resigned from Lara on 9 December,{{cite news|url=https://meridiano.net/futbol/futbol-venezolano/235986/leo-gonzalez-no-continua-al-frente-del-deportivo-lara.html|title=Leo González no continúa al frente del Deportivo Lara|trans-title=Leo González does not continue at the helm of Deportivo Lara|language=es|work=Meridiano|date=9 December 2021|access-date=27 December 2021}} and took over Estudiantes de Mérida the following 21 March.{{cite news|url=https://meridiano.net/futbol/futbol-venezolano/235986/leo-gonzalez-no-continua-al-frente-del-deportivo-lara.html|title=Leo González no continúa al frente del Deportivo Lara|trans-title=Leo González does not continue at the helm of Deportivo Lara|language=es|work=Meridiano|date=9 December 2021|access-date=27 December 2021}}

On 1 November 2022, González was named manager of Caracas for the upcoming season.{{cite web|url=https://www.balonazos.com/leonardo-gonzalez-nuevo-entrenador-del-caracas-fc-para-la-temporada-2023-de-la-liga-futve/|title=Leonardo González nuevo entrenador del Caracas FC para la temporada 2023 de la Liga FutVe|trans-title=Leonardo González new manager of Caracas FC for the 2023 season of the Liga FutVe|publisher=Balonazos|language=es|date=1 November 2022|accessdate=17 November 2022}} On 31 March 2024, he left the club on a mutual agreement, after a poor start of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.liderendeportes.com/noticias/futbol/futve/leo-gonzalez-es-destituido-del-caracas-fc/|title=Leo González es destituido del Caracas FC|trans-title=Leo González is dismissed from Caracas FC|publisher=Líder en Deportes|language=es|date=31 March 2024|access-date=1 April 2024}}