Paul Leeman

Paul Leeman (born 21 January 1978) is a Northern Irish football coach and former footballer who is currently first team coach at Crusaders.

Paul Leeman
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-01-21) 21 January 1978
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Crusaders (coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–2011 Glentoran 597 (45)
2011–2015 Crusaders 110 (2)
Total 707 (47)
Managerial career
2018–2019 Glentoran (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He notably played for Glentoran for 15 years and captained the side to Irish League and cup titles, playing 597 times for the team, before being released in 2011.[1] He moved to Crusaders in 2011, where he spent 4 years, winning another league title, Setanta Cup and Irish League Cup. He began coaching at Glentoran in 2018, becoming assistant manager in January 2019, before returning to his coaching role when Mick McDermott arrived at the club. Leeman left Glentoran in the summer of 2019.[2][3]

Playing career

Glentoran

After playing for Dungoyne Boys, Leeman joined Glentoran as a schoolboy in 1993. Two years later he made his first-team debut. Initially playing in midfield and at right back, he switched to centre-back. He was named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year for the 2004/05 season.[4] Leeman missed almost all of the 2005–06 season.

He brought his children out with him to lift the Irish Premier League trophy after Glentoran had beaten Cliftonville to see off the challenge of Linfield who had beaten Crusaders 5–0 at Seaview. He had his testimonial against Roy Keane's Ipswich Town, a 3–1 defeat. He was the fourth generation of his family to play for Glentoran.[1]

Crusaders

Leeman joined fellow Belfast side Crusaders in June 2011, linking up with former Glens team-mate Michael Halliday.[5] He scored his first Crusaders goal in a 5-1 league victory over Carrick Rangers on 29 October 2011.[6]

Coaching career

Leeman returned to Glentoran as a coach on 24 May 2018 alongside former team-mate Gary Smyth. He became assistant manager on 3 January 2019, in a role he held until 31 March 2019. Following the sale of Glentoran, Leeman left the team in controversial circumstances on 23 May 2019, two days after Smyth.[3][7]

He returned to Crusaders in July 2019, filling the post of first team coach vacated by the long-serving Charlie Murphy.[8]

Honours

Glentoran

Crusaders

References
  1. "Glens release long-serving Leeman". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  2. Gareth Hanna (21 May 2019). "Gary Smyths departure confirmed, Paul Leemans future uncertain". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  3. "Paul Leeman leaves". Glentoran. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. M. Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2009-2010, p. 102. Belfast:Ulster Tatler Publications
  5. "Defender Leeman joins Crusaders". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  6. "Crusaders 5-1 Carrick Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. Steven Beacom (24 May 2019). "Glentoran Hero Number Two sacked by post as Leeman shares fate of Smyth". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  8. "Paul Leeman takes up new coaching role with Crusaders". Belfast Live. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
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