Leroy DeLeon

Leroy DeLeon

Personal information
Date of birth	(1948-02-07)7 February 1948
Place of birth	Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Date of death	28 January 2025(2025-01-28) (aged 76)
Place of death	San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1967–1968	New York Generals	15	(3)
1969–1971	Washington Darts	44	(23)
1971	Washington Darts (indoor)	2	(0)
1972	Miami Gatos	14	(5)
1974–1977	Washington Diplomats	50	(18)
1977–1978	San Jose Earthquakes	30	(6)
1979	Seattle Sounders	1	(0)
1979	Detroit Lightning (indoor)	1	(0)
1979–1983	Phoenix Inferno (indoor)	122	(73)
International career
	Trinidad and Tobago
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leroy DeLeon (7 February 1948 – 28 January 2025) was a Trinidad and Tobago footballer who played as a striker in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.

Biography

DeLeon graduated from Saint Benedict's College. In 1967, he signed with the New York Generals of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. DeLeon and the Generals spent the 1968 season in the NASL. In 1969, DeLeon moved to the Washington Darts, then in the American Soccer League. He was a 1970 First Team All Star in the NASL.[1] Following the 1971 season, the Darts moved to Miami, Florida and became the Miami Gatos. DeLeon did not play in the NASL in 1972. In May 1974, Miami (now renamed the Toros) traded DeLeon to the Washington Diplomats for cash and the Diplomats 1974 first round draft choice.[2] In April 1977, the Diplomats traded DeLeon to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for Mark Liveric.[3] He finished his NASL career in 1979 with the Seattle Sounders. In the fall of 1979, DeLeon moved to the Detroit Lightning of the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Lightning traded him to the Phoenix Inferno where he retired after three seasons.

He also played at international level for Trinidad and Tobago. His son is fellow player Nick DeLeon.

In 2008, he was inducted into the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Hall of Fame. DeLeon died from complications of a stroke on 28 January 2025, at the age of 76.[4]

References

1. NASL All Star Teams Archived 11 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
2. Diplomats Gets Toros DeLeon
3. Dips Must Grit and Bear It on Road The Washington Post(DC) - Sunday, 1 May 1977
4. "Football 'legend' De Leon dies". Trinidad Daily Express. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.

External links

• NASL career stats