Steve Leo Beleck

Steve Leo Beleck A'Beka (born 21 February 1993) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Petrolul Ploiești.

Steve Leo Beleck
Beleck playing for AEK Athens
Personal information
Full name Steve Leo Beleck A'Beka
Date of birth (1993-02-21) 21 February 1993
Place of birth Yaoundé, Cameroon
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Petrolul Ploiești
Number 25
Youth career
0000–2009 Diósgyőri
2009–2010 Panthrakikos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Panthrakikos 13 (5)
2010–2014 Udinese 0 (0)
2011–2012 → AEK Athens (loan) 27 (4)
2012–2013 → Watford (loan) 5 (0)
2013 → Stevenage (loan) 13 (0)
2013 → Mons (loan) 7 (1)
2014–2017 Fiorentina 0 (0)
2014 → Crotone (loan) 12 (1)
2015 → Mantova (loan) 11 (2)
2015–2016 → CFR Cluj (loan) 25 (4)
2016–2017 → Ümraniyespor (loan) 30 (5)
2017–2019 Balıkesirspor 31 (5)
2019–2020 Rieti 18 (2)
2020 Catania 7 (0)
2020– Petrolul Ploiești 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 December 2020

Beleck began his career at Greek team Panthrakikos, breaking into the first team at age 16. Following a successful second half to the 2009–10 season, Beleck joined Udinese of the Italian Serie A for an undisclosed fee, signing a five-year deal in July 2010. A year later, Beleck returned to Greece, this time joining AEK Athens on a season-long loan. He played regularly, and returned to his parent club at the end of the 2011–12 season. A month after returning to his parent club, Beleck was loaned out for a second time, joining English Championship side Watford on a one-year loan agreement. In January 2013, Beleck was re-loaned from Watford to Stevenage for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. In August 2013, Beleck was signed on a season-long loan for RAEC Mons but returned to Udinese in January 2014.

Club career

Early career

Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Beleck joined Greek side Panthrakikos at the age of 15.[1] He played for the club's first team in January 2010, starting in a 3–1 away defeat to Iraklis.[2] He received a red card five minutes into the second half, and consequently missed Panthrakikos' next two matches.[2] Beleck scored four goals in February 2010: once in a 2–1 loss to AEK Athens,[3] twice in a 2–0 away victory against Larissa,[4] and a further goal in a 3–1 home defeat to Kavala.[5] He also scored on the last day of the regular season, netting from the penalty spot to briefly restore parity in an eventual 3–1 defeat to Atromitos.[6] It turned out to be his final appearance for the club.[7] Beleck made 13 league appearances during the season, scoring five goals,[8] although Panthrakikos were relegated at the end of the campaign.[9]

Udinese and loans

Beleck ultimately joined Udinese for an undisclosed fee on 22 July 2010, signing a contract until 2015.[10]

Beleck did not make any first-team appearances during the 2010–11 season, only appearing as an unused substitute in an away game against Fiorentina in May 2011.[11] He was subsequently loaned out to AEK Athens in July 2011, on a season-long loan, ahead of the 2011–12 campaign.[12][13] He made his debut for AEK in the club's 1–0 home win over Dinamo Tbilisi on 18 August 2011, in the play-off round of Europa League qualification, playing the whole match.[14] Beleck's first goal for the club came in a 3–1 away defeat to OFI Crete on 23 October 2011, coming on as a half-time substitute with the team losing by two goals and scoring on the hour mark to briefly reduce the deficit.[15] He also scored in a 3–2 defeat to rivals Panathinaikos at the Olympic Stadium in November 2011.[16] Later that month, Beleck was on hand to score twice in a 2–0 away win against Panetolikos,[17] as well as scoring the only goal of the game a week later in the 1–0 defeat of Kerkyra.[18] He took his goal tally to six for the season when he scored the winning goal as AEK progressed to the Fifth Round of the Greek Cup courtesy of a 1–0 win over Kalamata on 22 December 2011.[19] Despite his strong end to 2011, Beleck did not score during the second half of the season.[15] He made 34 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times, helping AEK Athens secure a fifth-place finish in the Greek Superleague.[7]

Following the completion of his one-year loan agreement at AEK, Beleck briefly returned to Udinese before subsequently joining English Championship side Watford in July 2012, on a season-long loan for the 2012–13 season.[20] Beleck was one of ten players loaned to Watford from Udinese.[20][21] He made his first starting appearance for the club in a home defeat against Bradford City in the second round of the League Cup on 28 August 2012,[22] having also made an injury-time substitute in a league match against Ipswich Town a week earlier.[23]

In January 2013, having only made six first-team appearances for Watford during the first half of the season,[24] Beleck joined League One side Stevenage on loan for the remainder of the 2012–13 season.[25] The move caused a great deal of curiosity, as Beleck was on loan at Watford from Udinese at the time of his move from Watford to Stevenage.[26] It was revealed that international loans are recognised as regular transfers, meaning the player can be re-loaned as long as the deal stretches between two transfer windows.[26] Beleck had scored a hat-trick against Stevenage a month prior to his move, in a behind-closed-doors friendly match.[27] He made his first appearance for Stevenage a day after signing, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute in the club's 2–1 away victory at Crewe Alexandra.[28] Beleck returned to Udinese at the end of the season, having made 13 appearances during his time on loan at Stevenage.[24][29]

In August 2013, Beleck again left Udinese on loan, moving to Belgian side R.A.E.C. Mons.[1]

Rieti

On 2 September 2019, he returned to Italy, signing with Serie C club Rieti.[30] His contract with Rieti was terminated by mutual consent on 31 January 2020.[31]

Catania

On 7 February 2020, Beleck joined Serie C club Catania until the end of the 2019–20 season.[32]

Petrolul Ploiești

On 23 October 2020 he joined Petrolul Ploiești.[33]

International career

Beleck has represented Cameroon at both the U17 and U20 levels.[34]

Honours

Club

CFR Cluj

References
  1. "Jupiler Pro League - Steve Beleck prêté à Mons par l'Udinese". La Dernière Heure (in French). 20 August 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  2. "Iraklis 3–1 Panthrakikos". Soccerway. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  3. "Panthrakikos 1–2 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  4. "Larissa 0–2 Panthrakikos". Soccerway. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  5. "Panthrakikos 1–3 Kavala". Soccerway. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  6. "Atromitos 3–1 Panthrakikos". Soccerway. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  7. "Steve Leo Beleck – Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  8. "Sports Connection – Steve Leo Beleck". Sports Connection. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  9. "Wonderkid of the week – Steve Leo Beleck". Football Wonderkids. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  10. "31/07/2010 Sports Connection – Summer transfers 2010". Sports Connection. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  11. "Fiorentina 5–2 Udinese". Soccerway. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  12. "Steve Leo Beleck – Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  13. "Stevenage sign Beleck on loan". Sky Sports. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  14. "AEK Athens 1–0 Dinamo Tbilisi". Soccerway. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  15. "Games played by Steve Leo Beleck in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  16. "Panathinaikos 3–2 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  17. "Panetolikos 0–2 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  18. "AEK Athens 1–0 Kerkyra". Soccerway. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  19. "Kalamata 0–1 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  20. "Watford: Manuel Almunia and Fitz Hall among seven signings". BBC Sport. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  21. "Watford acquire five more loans from Pozzo's Udinese". BBC Sport. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  22. "Watford 1–2 Bradford". BBC Sport. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  23. "Watford 0–1 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  24. "Games played by Steve Leo Beleck in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  25. "Beleck deal confirmed". Stevenage F.C. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  26. "Watford loanee Steve Leo Beleck re-loaned to Stevenage". BBC Sport. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  27. "On-loan Udinese striker Steve Leo Beleck scored a hat-trick as Watford beat Stevenage in today's friendly". Watford Observer. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  28. "Crewe 1–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  29. "Loan players return to parent clubs". Stevenage F.C. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  30. "F.C. RIETI: UFFICIALE STEVE BELECK" (Press release) (in Italian). Rieti. 2 September 2019.
  31. "FC RIETI: RISOLUZIONE BELECK" (Press release) (in Italian). Rieti. 31 January 2020.
  32. "Leo Steve Beleck A'Beka al Catania: l'attaccante si lega al nostro club fino al 30 giugno 2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Catania. 7 February 2020.
  33. "Întăriri în atac: Steve Leo Beleck a semnat cu FC Petrolul Ploiești!" (Press release) (in Romanian). Petrolul Ploiești. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  34. "Association Des Sportifs Camerounais". ASCamerounais. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
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