Ryan Leonard

Ryan Ian Leonard (born 24 May 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Millwall.

For the ice hockey player, see Ryan Leonard (ice hockey).
Ryan Leonard
Leonard playing for Southend United, 2014
Personal information
Full name Ryan Ian Leonard[1]
Date of birth (1992-05-24) 24 May 1992
Place of birth Plympton, England[2]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Millwall
Number 18
Youth career
2001–2010 Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Plymouth Argyle 1 (0)
2010–2011 → Weston-super-Mare (loan) 5 (0)
2011 → Tiverton Town (loan) 18 (0)
2011–2018 Southend United 228 (20)
2018–2019 Sheffield United 16 (0)
2018–2019 → Millwall (loan) 19 (2)
2019– Millwall 84 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 January 2023 (UTC)

A midfielder, he graduated through the Plymouth Argyle Academy to make his senior debut in March 2010, following which he spent time on loan at Weston-super-Mare of the League South and Tiverton Town of the Southern Football League. In July 2011, he moved to Southend United, and after establishing himself in the first team in the 2013–14 season, he won the club's Player of the Year Award in 2014. He helped the club to secure promotion out of League Two in 2014–15.

Club career

Plymouth Argyle

Born in Plympton, England[2] Leonard was a graduate from Ivybridge Community College, he signed for Plymouth Argyle in June 2001 as a schoolboy.[3] He progressed through the club's Centre of Excellence to be rewarded with a two-year apprenticeship at the end of the 2007–08.[4][5] Regarded as one for the future.[6] His elevation to training regularly with the club's first-team coincided with the return of former player Paul Mariner to Plymouth Argyle and, despite still being an apprentice, he made his first-team debut for the club on 27 March 2010 against Blackpool at Home Park.[7][8]

Loans to Weston-super-Mare and Tiverton Town

He joined Weston-super-Mare on loan in December 2010,[9] where he made five appearances in the Conference South.[10]

In January 2011, he joined Tiverton Town on loan for one month,[11] which was then extended until the end of April.[12]

Return to Plymouth Argyle

He was released by Plymouth Argyle at the end of the 2010–11 season.[13]

Southend United

Leonard signed a one-year deal with Southend United on 27 July 2011, with the option of a further year after impressing on trial.[14] Leonard scored three goals during Southend's pre-season, including one from inside his own half.[15]

On 7 March 2014, Leonard signed a new three-and-a-half year contract extension with Southend.[16] At the end of the 2014–15 season he played for Southend in the League Two play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers. Southend won in a penalty shoot-out and were promoted to League One.

Leonard was voted Player of the Season at the end of the 2015–16 season, the second time he has claimed the award after also winning in 2013–14.

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Leonard became only the second player in Southend history, after Ron Pountney, to win the Player of the Season award three times.[17] Leonard also scooped awards for Players Player and Goal of the Season.[18]

Sheffield United

On 5 January 2018, Southend announced that terms had been agreed with Championship club Sheffield United for Leonard's transfer.[19][20] Leonard agreed terms with the Blades on 6 January, and it was reported he would join them subject to completing a medical.[21] Leonard signed for Sheffield United on 9 January 2018 and was unveiled as a player on the same day.[22]

Millwall

On 31 August 2018, Leonard signed for Millwall initially on loan, but the deal became permanent in January for a club record fee of £1.5million.[23]

Personal life

His father, David, is a former player who played for Tiverton Town. Having worked as a coach at Plymouth Argyle's Centre of Excellence, he has managed numerous clubs in the South West of England, including Liskeard Athletic, Plymouth Parkway and Truro City.[24]

Career statistics
As of match played 5 September 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Plymouth Argyle 2009–10[25] Championship 1000000010
Weston-super-Mare (loan) 2010–11 Conference South 5000—0050
Tiverton Town (loan) 2010–11 Southern Football League 18100—00181
Southend United 2011–12[26] League Two 17120004[lower-alpha 1]0231
2012–13[27] League Two 22220103[lower-alpha 2]1283
2013–14[28] League Two 43532102[lower-alpha 3]1498
2014–15[29] League Two 41310114[lower-alpha 4]1475
2015–16[30] League One 37211102[lower-alpha 2]0413
2016–17[31] League One 43310103[lower-alpha 5]0483
2017–18[32] League One 25410101[lower-alpha 5]0284
Total 228201136119326427
Sheffield United 2017–18[32] Championship 130000000130
2018–19[33] Championship 3010000040
Total 160100000170
Millwall 2018–19[33] Championship 370401000420
2019–20[34] Championship 171001000181
2020–21[35] Championship 0000100010
Total 540403000610
Career total 322221639119336629
  1. Three appearances in the Football League Trophy and one in the League Two play-offs
  2. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  3. Appearances in the League Two play-offs
  4. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and three in the League Two play-offs
  5. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Southend United

Individual

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Millwall" (PDF). English Football League. p. 43. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 532. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. "2009–10 youth profiles" Archived 30 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  4. "The college echo" Ivybridge Community College. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  5. "New recruits" Elite Advanced Development Centre. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  6. "Ryan Leonard" Archived 6 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  7. "Argyle 0–2 Blackpool" Archived 30 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  8. "Luckless" Archived 5 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 27 March 2010 .
  9. "Lenny on loan" Archived 16 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle Football Club. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  10. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2011). Non-League Club Directory 2012. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 336–337. ISBN 978-1-869833-70-1.
  11. "Leonard on loan" Archived 16 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  12. "Lenny extends Tivvy stay" Archived 27 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  13. "Arnason starts trial with Hearts after being 'dismissed' by Argyle". The Herald. 25 June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  14. "Dickinson, Kalala and Leonard join Southend United". BBC Sport. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  15. "Leonard agrees Blues deal". Southend United. 27 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  16. "News: Ryan Leonard signs new contract". Southend United FC. 7 March 2014.
  17. Chris Phillips. "Pountney praises Leonard after midfielder joins him in Blues' record books". Echo-news.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  18. Chris Phillips. "Leonard wins top prizes at Blues' awards night". Echo-news.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  19. "Statement Regarding Ryan Leonard". Southend United Football Club. 5 January 2018.
  20. "Ryan Leonard: Sheffield United agree terms to sign Southend midfielder". BBC Sport. 5 January 2018.
  21. "Ryan Leonard agrees terms on Sheffield United move". Sky Sports. 6 January 2018.
  22. "Ryan Leonard: Sheffield United sign Southend United midfielder". BBC Sport. 9 January 2018.
  23. "Leonard departs". Sheffield United F.C. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  24. "Leonard takes Elite's Plymouth centre" Archived 11 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Herald. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  25. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  26. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  27. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  28. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  29. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  30. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  31. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  32. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  33. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  34. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  35. "Games played by Ryan Leonard in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. Shepka, Phil (23 May 2015). "Southend United 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
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