Leroy DeLeon

{{Short description|Trinidad and Tobago footballer (1948–2025)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Leroy DeLeon

|image =

|upright =

|caption =

|full_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1948|2|7|df=y}}

|birth_place = Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

|death_date = {{death date and age|2025|1|28|1948|2|7|df=y}}

|death_place = San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

|height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/D/DeLeon.Leroy.htm|title=NASL-Leroy DeLeon|website=www.nasljerseys.com}}

|position = Striker

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 1967–1968

|clubs1 = New York Generals

|caps1 = 15

|goals1 = 3

|years2 = 1969

|clubs2 = Washington Darts (ASL)

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 1970–1971

|clubs3 = Washington Darts

|caps3 = 44

|goals3 = 23

|years4 = 1970

|clubs4 = Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals

|caps4 =

|goals4 =

|years5 = 1971

|clubs5 = Washington Darts (indoor)

|caps5 = 2

|goals5 = 0

|years6 = 1972–1973

|clubs6 = Miami Gatos

|caps6 =

|goals6 =

|years7 = 1974–1977

|clubs7 = Washington Diplomats

|caps7 = 50

|goals7 = 18

|years8 = 1975–1976

|clubs8 = Washington Diplomats (indoor)

|caps8 = 4

|goals8 = 2

|years9 = 1977–1978

|clubs9 = San Jose Earthquakes

|caps9 = 30

|goals9 = 6

|years10 = 1979

|clubs10 = Seattle Sounders

|caps10 = 1

|goals10 = 0

|years11 = 1979–1980

|clubs11 = Detroit Lightning (indoor)

|caps11 = 1

|goals11 = 0

|years12 = 1980–1983

|clubs12 = Phoenix Inferno (indoor)

|caps12 = 122

|goals12 = 73

|totalcaps =

|totalgoals =

|nationalyears1 =

|nationalteam1 = Trinidad and Tobago

|nationalcaps1 = 17

|nationalgoals1 =

}}

Leroy DeLeon (7 February 1948 – 28 January 2025) was a Trinidad and Tobago professional footballer who played as a striker in several leagues in he United States.

Club career

Born in Port of Spain, DeLeon graduated from Saint Benedict's College. He played for their college team alongside Warren Archibald and Jan Steadman.{{Cite web|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/sports/football-legend-de-leon-dies/article_3042f3c4-dd97-11ef-9498-97374c14f610.html|title=Football ‘legend’ De Leon dies|date=28 January 2025|website=Trinidad Express Newspapers}}

He played for the New York Generals, the Washington Darts, the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals, the Miami Gatos, the Washington Diplomats, the Washington Diplomats, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Seattle Sounders, the Detroit Lightning, and the Phoenix Inferno.

He did not feature for the Miami Gatos in the 1973 season, and in May 1974 he was traded to the Washington Diplomats, for cash and the Diplomats' 1974 first round draft choice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.socawarriors.net/foreign-based/4481-diplomats-get-toros-de-leon.html|title=Diplomats get toros' De Leon|date=15 January 2025|website=Soca Warriors Online - Trinidad and Tobago Football}}

In April 1977, the Diplomats traded DeLeon to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for Mark Liveric.{{cite news|title=Dips Must Grit and Bear It on Road|publisher=The Washington Post|date=1 May 1977}}

International career

He also played at international level for Trinidad and Tobago, making his debut aged 16 and earning 17 caps.

Later life and death

In 2008 he was inducted into the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Hall of Fame. After suffering strokes in December 2024, DeLeon died in San Fernando on 28 January 2025, at the age of 76.

References