Leonardo Araújo
Leonardo ( 2013)
Leonardo Nascimento de Araújo, shortly Leonardo, ( born September 5, 1969 in Niterói, Brazil ) is a former Brazilian football player and former sports director ( to 10 July 2013) at Paris Saint -Germain. In 2008 he received the Italian citizenship.
Playing career
In the club
1987 Leonardo began his career as a 17- year-old in Rio de Janeiro at Flamengo. In his first season he won the Brazilian championship. In 1990 he moved to FC São Paulo under the former legend Tele Santana. Again, he could reach the championship. After a two- year stint at the Spanish Valencia in the years 1991/92, he moved in 1993 from Sao Paulo to the Japanese first division club Kashima Antlers, where he remained until 1996. About the Paris Saint- Germain FC, he moved in 1997 for four seasons for AC Milan.
2001 Leonardo returned to Sao Paulo in order to play again a year later, a season in his parent club Flamengo Rio de Janeiro. In 2003, Leonardo ended his football career at AC Milan, where he but only played one game.
In the National Team
Leonardo made his debut in the Brazilian national football team on 17 October 1990 against Chile. He participated in the 1994 World Cup in the United States, but was the title of Brazil less involved because he was locked after a brutal elbow check against Tab Ramos in the second round for the rest of the tournament. Four years later, at the 1998 World Cup in France, he was an integral part of the team and completed all seven tournament games as a regular player.
Together with the national team, he also won the Copa América 1997 and the Confederations Cup in 1997. Leonardo graduated in the years 1990 to 2001 60 caps for the Seleção, scoring eight goals.
Coach at AC and Inter Milan
Leonardo worked after end of his career first as a scout and consultant for AC Milan, from 2008, he was Technical Director there. On 31 May 2009 he was appointed as the new coach of the club, he broke from Carlo Ancelotti. Since club Silvio Berlusconi was not satisfied with the third place in the table at the end of the season 2009/10, Leonardo was dismissed.
24 December 2010 it was announced that Leonardo has signed a contract until the summer of 2012 with Inter Milan. He was the successor to Rafael Benítez. On 1 July 2011, Inter Milan and Leonardo but agreed to terminate the contract. On 13 July 2011, he was presented as the new sporting director at the French first division side Paris Saint- Germain.
He resigned after he received a 13- month ban pronounced by the Association.
Successes as a player
With its clubs
- Brazilian champion: 1987, 1991
- Brazilian Cup winner: 1990
- Campeonato Paulista: 1991
- Recopa Sudamericana: 1993, 1994
- Super Copa Sudamericana: 1993
- World Cup: 1993
- Japanese champion: 1996
- Italian Champion: 1999
- Italian Cup Winners' Cup: 2003
As a national player
- World Champion: 1994
- Copa America: 1997
- Confederations Cup: 1997
- Vice World Champion: 1998
Success as a coach
- Italian Cup Winners' Cup: 2011