Leo Sauer (born 16 December 2005) is a Slovakian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Dutch Eredivisie club NAC Breda on loan from Feyenoord, and the Slovakia national team.[1]
 Sauer with Slovakia in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 December 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Bratislava, Slovakia | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
NAC Breda (on loan from Feyenoord) | ||
| Number | 77 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rača | |||
| 2014–2018 | Slovan Bratislava | ||
| 2018–2022 | Žilina | ||
| 2022–2023 | Feyenoord | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Žilina B | 5 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Žilina | 7 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | → Feyenoord (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2023– | Feyenoord | 13 | (2) |
| 2024– | → NAC Breda (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | Slovakia U17 | 13 | (2) |
| 2023 | Slovakia U19 | 7 | (1) |
| 2023– | Slovakia U20 | 4 | (0) |
| 2023– | Slovakia U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Slovakia | 3 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:15, 20 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 June 2024 | |||
Early life
editSauer grew up with his parents in Bratislava. He has an older brother called Mário who is also a footballer, both attended the Secondary Sports School in Žilina.[2]
Club career
editSauer started his football career with Slovan Bratislava. In the summer of 2018 he moved to the youth academy MŠK Žilina.[3] Sauer made his debut in the Slovakian 2. Liga for Žilina B on 27 February 2022 against FC Petržalka.[4]
Sauer joined Feyenoord initially on loan from MŠK Žilina in 2022, but in April 2023 signed a three-year professional contract with the Dutch club.[5][6] On 20 August 2023, Sauer made his debut for the club in an away match against Sparta Rotterdam by coming in at half-time, scoring the 2–2 in the added time to secure a point for the club.[7]
On 12 August 2024, Sauer moved on a season-long loan to NAC Breda.[8]
International career
editSauer played for the Slovakia U-19 side alongside his older brother, Mario Sauer. Both were selected for the Slovakia U-20 side to compete at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[9]
On 5 October 2023, at the age of only 17, coach Francesco Calzona called him to the Slovak senior national team.[10] On 26 March 2024, Sauer became the youngest ever player to play for the national team after coming on as a substitute in a friendly against Norway.[11]
He was included in the Slovakia squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany in June 2024.[12] He made his tournament debut 21 June, becoming the youngest ever Slovakian player at a final tournament.[13]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 19 May 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Žilina B | 2021–22 | Slovak 2. Liga | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Žilina | 2022–23 | Slovak First Football League | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 | ||
| Feyenoord | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Career total | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | ||
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
Honours
editFeyenoord
References
edit- ^ "Leo Sauer". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "U18 – Leo Sauer: Feyenoord je bod na ceste k môjmu cieľu". Futbalsfz.sk. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "'Feyenoord is going to take over Sauer from MŠK Žilina'". fr12.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "PETRZALKA VS. MSK 0-1". Soccerway. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Feyenoord light option in lease contract Leo Sauer". fr12.nl. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "FEYENOORD LICHT OPTIE IN HUURCONTRACT LEO SAUER". Onefootball.com. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Debutant Sauer (17) laat Feyenoord ontsnappen in Rotterdamse derby" [Debutant Sauer (17) makes Feyenoord escape in Rotterdam derby] (in Dutch). 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "NAC huurt Slowaaks international Leo Sauer van Feyenoord" [NAC loans Slovakian international Leo Sauer from Feyenoord] (in Dutch). NAC Breda. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Pančík, Vladimír (6 May 2023). "Namiesto debutu v prvom tíme Feyenoordu môže Leo Sauer zažiť účasť na MS U20 a to po boku brata Mária". Sport.Aktuality.sk. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ https://sport.noviny.sk/futbal/842249-calzonov-vyber-cakaju-najdolezitejsie-zapasy-nominacia-slovenska-na-portugalsko
- ^ "Feyenoorder Sauer schrijft geschiedenis bij debuut voor Slowakije" [Feyenoorder Sauer writes history with debut for Slovakia] (in Dutch). 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Dabbs, Ryan (10 June 2024). "Slovakia Euro 2024 squad: Francesco Calzona's full team". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Comeback Oekraïne gooit poule Duivels helemaal open, oude bekende Jaremtsjoek scoort winnende treffer tegen Slovakije" [Comeback Ukraine completely throws open Belgian group] (in Dutch). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
