Leslie Santos

Leslie George Santos (Chinese: 山度士, born 20 July 1967) is a former Hong Kong professional footballer who was widely regarded as one of the best attacking midfielder players in Hong Kong football history. He is of Portuguese and British heritage.

Leslie Santos
Personal information
Full name Leslie George Santos
Date of birth (1967-07-20) 20 July 1967
Place of birth Hong Kong
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1982 HKSI
1983 South China
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1997 South China
1997–2002 Golden / Sun Hei
2009 Advance Tai Chung
National team
1987–2000 Hong Kong
Teams managed
2002–2009 Sun Hei (assistant coach)
2009 Sun Hei
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

During his peak (1983–1997), Santos played for South China Athletic Association. His career was disrupted by two cruciate ligament injuries to his left knee after tearing it in the final match of the 1992-1993 season against British Forces which sidelined him for eight months,[1] and then tearing it again during a league match against Sing Tao in 1993–1994 after a heavy tackle by Ian Docker[1] which took 3 years for rehabilitation. He was twice awarded Footballer of the year and he rounded off his career with Sun Hei.[2]

Santos took over as coach for Sun Hei in the 2008-09 Hong Kong League Cup and took them to victory in the final over TSW Pegasus FC where they won 6:4 on penalties after the match finished 2:2, thus ending his coaching career in glory.[3] Santos was award Best Coach of the Year for this victory. Santos was surprised by the award because he only coached for a short time.[4]

Retirement

He is now a columnist for the Oriental Daily newspaper and runs his own soccer academy named after himself, known as Santos Soccer Training Limited Hong Kong. In December 2009, the school reached a long term agreement with ChelseaFC in 2009 to develop its first ever Soccer School in Asia to provide football and charity opportunities to children. The school is now known as ChelseaFC Soccer School (HK).[5][6] It is based in Lam Tin, Kowloon with its own Blue Pitch training ground. They also have a new campus in Kwun Tong. In 2020, Leslie Santos was interviewed by the South China Morning Post to speak about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on his Soccer School.

Personal life

Santos is married and on 29 August 2010, his wife gave birth to a daughter. This was his second daughter.[7]

References
  1. Hui, Jessie (27 July 1994). "Santos pins hopes on brace and top doctor". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  2. Santos coaches new blood despite bleak outlook for football
  3. (in Chinese)"晨曦復仇山度士榮休] Mingpao". Sina.com.hk. 5 April 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  4. (in Chinese)http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/template/apple/art_main.php?iss_id=20090613&sec_id=25391&art_id=12872476 08/09香港足球明星選舉 最佳 11人南華佔 4　威廉王子登基] Apple Daily. 13 June 2009.
  5. Chelsea FC Soccer School (HK)
  6. FIRST SOCCER SCHOOL IN ASIA www.chelseafc.com Posted on: Mon 7 December 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  7. (in Chinese) 足球 山度士又做老竇 Apple Daily. 30 August 2011.
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