Leonel Bucca

Leonel Bucca

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-03-20) 20 March 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Esperanza, Argentina[1]
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder[2]
Team information
Current team	Estrela da Amadora
Number	26
Youth career
	San Lorenzo Esperanza
2016–2020	Unión Santa Fe
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Unión Santa Fe	7	(0)
2021	→ Deportivo Riestra (loan)	29	(1)
2023	San Martín Tucumán	29	(3)
2024–	Estrela da Amadora	15	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 June 2024

Leonel Bucca (born 20 March 1999) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora.[3]

Career

Bucca initially came through the ranks at the local side San Lorenzo Esperanza, before moving into the Unión Santa Fe youth system in 2016.[2][4] In January 2020, Bucca was linked with a move to the United States with second tier team Loudoun United.[5][6][7] The move never materialised, with the midfielder later describing it as "nothing concrete".[8] He signed his first professional contract on 28 October 2020, which was followed by his senior debut in a draw at home to Arsenal de Sarandí on 1 November; he featured for seventy-five minutes.[3][9][10] He was sent off in his second appearance on 20 November against the same opponents.[3]

After five total matches for Unión, Bucca was loaned to Primera Nacional with Deportivo Riestra on 10 February 2021.[3][11]

In December 2022, after his contract with Unión Santa Fe expired, Bucca dropped down to the Primera Nacional, joining San Martín de Tucumán.[12] At the end of the 2023 season, his contract expired and he left the club.[13]

On 9 January 2024, Bucca moved to Portugal, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora.[14]

Personal life

On 22 November 2020, it was confirmed that Bucca had tested positive for COVID-19 amid the pandemic.[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 October 2023[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Unión Santa Fe	2020–21[nb 1]	Primera División	0	0	0	0	5	0	—		5	0
	2022	Primera División	7	0	1	0	7	1	1[a]	0	16	1
	Total		7	0	1	0	12	1	1	0	21	1
Deportivo Riestra (loan)	2021	Primera Nacional	29	1	0	0	—		—		29	1
San Martín Tucumán	2023	Primera Nacional	29	3	2	0	—		—		31	3
Career total			65	4	3	0	12	1	1	0	81	5

1. Appearance in Copa Sudamericana

Notes

1. Soccerway counts Copa de la Liga Profesional appearances as league appearances.

References

1. "Leonel Bucca". World Football. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
2. "Leonel Bucca, el pibe que va por el mismo camino de Mauricio Martínez". El Litoral. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
3. "Argentina - L. Bucca". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
4. "El esperancino Leonel Bucca fue titular en Unión de Santa Fe, que empató con Arsenal". Esperancino. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
5. "Leonel Bucca deja la reserva de Unión para jugar en Estados Unidos". TyC Sports. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
6. "Unión pierde a una de sus figuras de la Reserva, que jugará en Estados Unidos". SuperDeportivo. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
7. "Leonel Bucca deja la reserva de Unión para jugar en Estados Unidos". Aire de Santa Fe. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
8. "Bucca: Tengo ganas de llegar a Primera y triunfar en Unión". Uno Santa Fe. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
9. "Lionel Bucca firmó su primer contrato con Unión de Santa Fe". Esperanza día x día. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
10. "Con Leonel Bucca en cancha Unión igualó con Arsenal en el inicio de la LPF". Esperanza día x día. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
11. "Peano y Bucca, afuera de Unión". Radio SOL 91.5. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
12. "Leonel Bucca continuará su carrera en San Martín de Tucumán" [Leonel Bucca will continue his career at San Martín de Tucumán]. Sol Play 91.5 (in Spanish). 11 December 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
13. "San Martín: Leonel Bucca se despidió de los hinchas" [San Martín: Leonel Bucca said goodbye to the fans]. LV12 (in Spanish). 9 December 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
14. "Estrela da Amadora oficializa médio Leonel Bucca como reforço" [Estrela da Amadora announces midfielder Leonel Bucca as reinforcement]. O Jogo (in European Portuguese). 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
15. "Bucca, un nuevo positivo por coronavirus en Unión". TyC Sports. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
16. Leonel Bucca at Soccerway

External links

• Leonel Bucca at Soccerway