Leonardo Rocha (footballer)
{{short description|Portuguese footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Leonardo Rocha
| image =
| full_name = Leonardo Miramar Rocha
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|5|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Almada, Portugal
| height = 2.00 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Raków Częstochowa
| clubnumber = 17
| youthyears1 = 2006–2007
| youthclubs1 = Amora
| youthyears2 = 2007–2008
| youthclubs2 = Colégio Guadalupe
| youthyears3 = 2008–2010
| youthclubs3 = Belenenses
| youthyears4 = 2010
| youthclubs4 = Vitória Setúbal
| youthyears5 = 2011
| youthclubs5 = Boavista
| youthyears6 = 2011–2012
| youthclubs6 = Pescara
| youthyears7 = 2012
| youthclubs7 = Ituano
| youthyears8 = 2013–2014
| youthclubs8 = Barra
| youthyears9 = 2014
| youthclubs9 = Amora
| youthyears10 = 2015–2017
| youthclubs10 = Monaco
| years1 = 2016
| clubs1 = Monaco B
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017
| clubs2 = Vicenza
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–2018
| clubs3 = Leganés B
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2018
| clubs4 = → Ontinyent (loan)
| caps4 = 9
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2018–2019
| clubs5 = Lommel
| caps5 = 26
| goals5 = 16
| years6 = 2019–2022
| clubs6 = Eupen
| caps6 = 19
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2020–2021
| clubs7 = → RWDM47 (loan)
| caps7 = 13
| goals7 = 7
| years8 = 2022–2023
| clubs8 = Lierse
| caps8 = 17
| goals8 = 12
| years9 = 2023–2025
| clubs9 = Radomiak Radom
| caps9 = 56
| goals9 = 21
| years10 = 2025–
| clubs10 = Raków Częstochowa
| caps10 = 9
| goals10 = 1
| club-update = 13 April 2025
}}
Leonardo Miramar Rocha (born 23 May 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Polish club Raków Częstochowa as a forward.{{Cite web |last=Chlebicki |first=Przemysław |date=2025-01-10 |title=Hit stał się faktem! Raków pozyskał gwiazdę Ekstraklasy! |url=https://sport.tvp.pl/84458717/leonardo-rocha-podpisal-kontrakt-z-rakowem-czestochowa |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=sport.tvp.pl |language=pl}}
Football career
Born in Almada to a Brazilian father,{{cite web|url=https://sportmagazine.knack.be/sport/voetbal-nationaal/1b-topschutter-leandro-rocha-21-jaar-12-clubs-in-7-verschillende-landen/article-normal-1439783.html|title=1B-topschutter Leandro Rocha: 21 jaar, 12 clubs in 7 verschillende landen|trans-title=1B top scorer {{sic|nolink=y|Leandro}} Rocha: 21 years, 12 clubs in 7 different countries|publisher=Knack.be|language=nl|date=12 March 2019|accessdate=25 June 2019}} Rocha represented nine different clubs during his youth career, and finished his formation with AS Monaco FC. He made his senior debut with the B-team on 26 November 2016, playing the last 11 minutes in a 2–1 loss against US Colomiers for the CFA championship.
Rocha terminated his contract with Monaco on 30 January 2017, and joined Serie B side Vicenza Calcio on 1 February.{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/fotonotizia-vicenza-ecco-il-colpo-leonardo-miramar-933204|title=Vicenza, ecco il colpo Leonardo Miramar|trans-title=Vicenza, here is the hot shot Leonardo Miramar|publisher=Tutto Mercato Web|language=it|date=2 February 2017|accessdate=25 June 2019}} He did not play for the club during his six-month spell, and subsequently moved to Spain with CD Leganés, being assigned to the reserves in Tercera División.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdleganes.com/noticia/el-leganes-b-ya-se-prepara-de-cara-a-una-temporada-ilusionante|title=El Leganés B ya se prepara de cara a una temporada ilusionante|trans-title=Leganés B get ready for a hopeful season|publisher=CD Leganés|language=es|date=3 August 2017|accessdate=25 June 2019}}
Rocha scored his first senior goal on 1 October 2017, scoring his team's third in a 3–1 home defeat of CDF Tres Cantos. The following 31 January, after three goals in ten matches, he was loaned to Segunda División B side Ontinyent CF until June.{{cite web|url=http://www.ontinyentcf.es/index.php/component/content/article?id=2521:leonardo-rocha-altura-i-futur-per-a-la-davantera|title=Leonardo Rocha, altura i futur per a la davantera|trans-title=Leonardo Rocha, height and future for the forward lines|publisher=Ontinyent CF|language=ca|date=31 January 2018|accessdate=25 June 2019}}
On 19 July 2018, Rocha switched teams and countries again after signing for Lommel SK in the Belgian First Division B.{{cite web|url=http://www.lommelsk.be/index-article.php?id=443|title=Leonardo Rocha versterkt de aanval|trans-title=Leonardo Rocha bolsters the attack|publisher=Lommel SK|language=nl|date=19 July 2018|accessdate=25 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906153643/http://lommelsk.be/index-article.php?id=443|archive-date=6 September 2018|url-status=dead}} He made his professional debut on 3 August, starting in a 1–0 home win against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.{{cite news | date=2018-08-03 | title=Lommel vs Union Saint-Gilloise 1-0|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/08/03/belgium/second-division/kvsk-united-overpelt-lommel/royal-union-st-gilloise/2799654/?ICID=PL_MS_01 | publisher=Soccerway| accessdate=2018-08-08}}
Rocha scored his first professional goal on 17 August 2018, netting a last-minute winner in a 2–1 away success over KV Mechelen. On 6 October, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 home win against K.S.V. Roeselare.{{cite news |last1=Ver Elst |first1=Bart |title=Leonardo Miramar Rocha bezorgt Lommel met een hattrick de zege tegen Roeselare|trans-title=Leonardo Mirarmar Rocha gives Lommel the win with hat-trick against Roeselare|url=https://www.voetbalkrant.com/nieuws/2018-10-06/leonardo-miramar-rocha-bezorgt-lommel-met-een-hattrick-de-zege-tegen-roeselare |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=Voetbal Krant |date=6 October 2018 |language=Dutch}} He finished the campaign with 16 goals, being the division's top goalscorer as his side narrowly avoided relegation.
Remaining in Belgium, Rocha signed a three-year contract with First Division A side KAS Eupen on 23 July 2019. The fee was €500,000.{{cite news |last1=Walckiers |first1=Johan |title=Dan toch 1A-oplossing voor vlotscorende spits? Eupen durft het risico wel nemen|trans-title=Then 1A solution for a fast-scoring striker? Eupen dares to take the risk|url=https://www.voetbalkrant.com/nieuws/2019-07-23/leonardo-rocha-is-op-weg-naar-eupen |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=Voetbal Krant |date=23 July 2019 |language=Dutch}} In 2020–21, he was loaned back to the second tier at RWDM47 where he was the club's top scorer.{{cite news |last1=Sterpigny |first1=Sébastien |title=Leonardo Rocha ne prolongera pas au RWDM|trans-title=Leonardo Rocha will not extend deal at RWDM|url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division-1b/rwdm/leonardo-rocha-ne-prolongera-pas-au-rwdm-60ca0a5d9978e26ce1a35c40 |access-date=28 December 2021 |work=La Dernière Heure |date=15 June 2021 |language=French}} On 10 October 2020, he scored a hat-trick for the Molenbeek-based club in an 8–1 victory at Union Rochefortoise in the fifth round of the national cup.{{cite news |title=Le RWDM déroule contre l’Union Rochefortoise (1-8) et poursuit son aventure en Coupe |trans-title=RWDM relax against Union Rochefortoise (1-8) and pursue their adventure in the Cup|url=https://bx1.be/categories/sport/suivez-le-match-de-coupe-de-belgique-entre-lunion-rochefortoise-et-le-rwdm-en-direct-video/ |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=BX1 |date=10 October 2020 |language=French}}
On 16 August 2022, Rocha signed a two-year contract with Lierse.{{cite web|publisher=Lierse|url=https://www.lierse.com/nieuws/leonardo-rocha-naar-het-lisp|title=LEONARDO ROCHA NAAR HET LISP!!!|trans-title=Leonardo Roach to Het Lisp|date=16 August 2022|access-date=22 August 2022|language=nl}}
On 13 January 2023, Rocha joined Polish Ekstraklasa side Radomiak Radom until June 2026, becoming their record signing for a reported fee of approx. €150,000.{{cite web |title=Radomiak pobił swój rekord transferowy |url=https://www.goal.pl/transfery/leonardo-rocha-najdrozszym-nabytkiem-radomiaka/ |website=goal.pl |language=pl |date=13 January 2023}}
On 10 January 2025, he was transferred to Ekstraklasa side Raków Częstochowa on a three-and-a-half-year deal with an option for another year, for a reported fee of approx. €750,000.{{Cite web |title=Najlepszy strzelec Ekstraklasy w Rakowie, umowa z Leonardo Rochą podpisana {{!}} Flashscore.pl |url=https://www.flashscore.pl/wiadomosci/pi-ka-nozna-pko-bp-ekstraklasa-najlepszy-strzelec-ekstraklasy-w-rakowie-umowa-z-leonardo-rocha-podpisana/p2yO9SX2/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.flashscore.pl |language=pl}}{{Cite web |last=Kułaga |first=Dorota |date=2025-01-10 |title=Napastnik Radomiaka Radom Leonardo Rocha podpisał kontrakt z Rakowem Częstochowa do 30 czerwca 2028 roku. Kwota 750 tysięcy euro! |url=https://echodnia.eu/radomskie/napastnik-radomiaka-radom-leonardo-rocha-podpisal-kontrakt-z-rakowem-czestochowa-do-30-czerwca-2028-roku-kwota-750-tysiecy-euro/ar/c2-19031984 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Echo Dnia Radomskie |language=pl-PL}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 9 December 2024}}{{Soccerway|469901}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Belgian Cup, Polish Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Monaco B
|CFA |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| Vicenza
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| Leganés B
|2017–18{{LaPreferente|236763|Leonardo Rocha|accessdate=25 June 2019}} |10 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 3 | |||
| Ontinyent (loan)
|9 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 3 | |||
| Lommel
|26 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 6{{efn|Appearances in Belgian First Division B relegation play-offs}} | 3 | 33 | 21 | |
| rowspan="3"|Eupen
|6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|Belgian First Division A |13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 0 | ||
| RWDM47 (loan)
|Belgian First Division B |13 | 7 | 2 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 10 | ||
| Lierse
|Belgian First Division B |17 | 12 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 12 | ||
| rowspan=4"|Radomiak Radom
|13 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 6 | |||
| 2023–24
|Ekstraklasa |26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 4 | ||
| 2024–25
|Ekstraklasa |17 | 11 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 11 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!56 | 21 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 59 | 21 | ||
| Raków Częstochowa
|Ekstraklasa |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!151 | 61 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 168 | 70 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- Belgian First Division B top goalscorer: 2018–19 (16 goals)
- Ekstraklasa Player of the Month: July 2024{{cite web |title=Piłkarz Lipca 2024: Leonardo Rocha (Radomiak Radom) |url=https://www.ekstraklasa.org/aktualnosci/19031/pilkarz-lipca-2024-leonardo-rocha-radomiak-radom |publisher=Ekstraklasa |access-date=22 August 2024 |language=pl |date=7 August 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{90minut|46708|Leonardo Rocha}}
- {{BDFutbol|20253|Leonardo Rocha}}
- {{ForaDeJogo|199705230001|Leonardo Rocha}}
{{Raków Częstochowa squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rocha, Leonardo}}
Category:Footballers from Almada
Category:Portuguese people of Brazilian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Brazilian descent
Category:Portuguese men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:R.W.D. Molenbeek (2015) players
Category:Lierse S.K. (2018) players
Category:Radomiak Radom players
Category:Raków Częstochowa players
Category:Championnat National 2 players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Tercera División players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Challenger Pro League players
Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Brazil
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Monaco
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland