Marc Henry Leonard (born 19 December 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Birmingham City. He began his career in youth football with Rangers and Heart of Midlothian before joining English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018. He spent two seasons on loan at Northampton Town, helping them gain promotion to EFL League One in 2022–23 and winning their Player of the Season award the following season, before joining Birmingham City in 2024. Internationally, he has represented Scotland at youth levels up to under-21.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marc Henry Leonard[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 December 2001[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland[2] | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Birmingham City | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rangers | |||
| 2014–2018 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| 2018–2022 | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 45 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 46 | (5) |
| 2024– | Birmingham City | 10 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Scotland U17 | 8 | (0) |
| 2018 | Scotland U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2019 | Scotland U19 | 5 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Scotland U21 | 7 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:23, 26 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editBrighton & Hove Albion
editIn 2018, Leonard, a former Rangers youth player, joined the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion from Heart of Midlothian.[3]
Leonard made his professional debut on 24 August 2021, starting in the 2–0 away victory over Cardiff City in the EFL Cup second round.[4] He was named in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time in a 1–0 home loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 15 December.[5]
Northampton Town (loan)
editOn 25 July 2022, Leonard signed for EFL League Two club Northampton Town on loan for the duration of the 2022–23 season.[6] His first professional goal, a precise finish from the edge of the box, opened the scoring in a 2–2 draw at home to Sutton United on 25 October.[7] Leonard played 45 matches in the league, including the 1–0 away win over Tranmere Rovers on the last day of the season that sealed third place and promotion to League One.[8][9]
On 29 July 2023, Leonard re-joined Northampton Town for a second season on loan.[10] He was named in the starting eleven for all 46 league games, was pivotal in securing a successful first season back in League One for the club, and won both the fans' Player of the Season and players' Player of the Season awards.[11][12]
Birmingham City
editOn 25 July 2024, recently relegated League One club Birmingham City signed Leonard on a four-year contract. The fee was undisclosed.[13] He made his debut in the starting eleven for the opening fixture of the season, a 1–1 draw at home to Reading.[14]
International career
editAfter representing Scotland at under-17,[15] under-18[16] and under-19 level,[17] he made his Scotland U21 debut on 7 October 2021, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute in the 1–0 home loss against Denmark U21 in the 2023 European qualifiers.[18][19]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 29 October 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2021–22[20] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[8] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24[11] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion U23 | 2021–22[20] | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Northampton Town (loan) | 2022–23[8] | League Two | 45 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 48 | 1 |
| 2023–24[11] | League One | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 49 | 5 | |
| Total | 91 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 6 | ||
| Birmingham City | 2024–25[21] | League One | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Career total | 101 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 117 | 6 | ||
- ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
editNorthampton Town
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2022–23[9]
Individual
- Northampton Town Player of the Year: 2023–24[22]
References
edit- ^ "Premier League 2020/21 Retained List of Players" (PDF). Premier League. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Marc Leonard: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ McDougall, Mark (16 June 2020). "Marc Leonard details initial Brighton struggles as former Hearts kid opens up on life at Premier League club". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Cardiff 0–2 Brighton". BBC Sport. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Brighton 0-1 Wolves: Romain Saïss goal takes visitors up to eighth in Premier League". BBC Sport. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ Duncan, Jamie (25 July 2022). "Midfielder Marc Leonard signs on season long loan". Northampton Town F.C. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Northampton Town 2–2 Sutton United". BBC Sport. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Marc Leonard in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ a b Willsher, Gareth (8 May 2023). "Northampton Town have been promoted". Northampton Town F.C. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Brighton midfielder Leonard re-signs for Cobblers". BBC Sport. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Marc Leonard in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Heneghan, James (21 April 2024). "Sensational Leonard crowned top Cobbler for 2023/24 by Chron readers". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Birmingham sign Brighton midfielder Leonard". BBC Sport. 25 July 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Dicken, Alex (10 August 2024). "Birmingham City player ratings after Alfie May prevents Reading defeat". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Marc Leonard: Under 17 Squad". Scottish FA. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Marc Leonard: Under 18 Squad". Scottish FA. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Marc Leonard: Under 19 Squad". Scottish FA. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Denmark U21 v Scotland U21". BBC Sport. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Marc Leonard: Under 21 Squad". Scottish FA. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Games played by Marc Leonard in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Marc Leonard in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ Willsher, Gareth (21 April 2024). "Marc Leonard named Intown Automotive Player of the Season at Sunday's awards dinner". Northampton Town F.C. Retrieved 30 April 2024.