Leo Bertos

Football player infobox
playername = Leo Bertos


fullname = Leonida Christos Bertos
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|12|20
cityofbirth = Wellington
countryofbirth = New Zealand
height = height|m=1.77
position = Right Winger
currentclub = Wellington Phoenix
clubnumber = 7
youthyears =
youthclubs = Wellington Olympic
years = 1999–2001
2001–2003
2003–2005
2005
2005–2006
2006
2006
2006–2008
2008–"present"
clubs = Wellington Olympic
Barnsley
Rochdale
Chester City
York City
Scarborough
Worksop Town
Perth Glory
Wellington Phoenix
caps(goals) = 35 0(4)
12 0(1)
82 (13)
05 0(0)
04 0(0)
01 0(0)
07 0(2)
35 0(1)
02 0(0)
nationalyears =
2002–"present"
nationalteam = New Zealand U-23
New Zealand
nationalcaps(goals) =
21 0(0)
pcupdate = 30 August 2008
ntupdate = 23 June 2008

Leonida Christos "Leo" Bertos (born 20 December 1981 in Wellington) is a New Zealand football player who last played as a winger for Perth Glory. He is now on the roster for Wellington Phoenix FC.

Club career

Leo's father was born in Greece, his mother born in New Zealand and his grandfather is from Romania but he chose to represent his place of birth, New Zealand.Fact|date=July 2008

Bertos started his career in Barnsley's youth team, and made his debut for the reserve team against Rotherham United in October 2000.cite news
title = RESERVES FACE MILLERS
url = http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~69134,00.html
publisher = Barnsley FC
date = 2000-10-31
accessdate = 2008-07-21] He made his first-team debut for Barnsley in a 4–0 defeat to Preston North End on 16 April 2001 and signed a professional contract for the club a day later.cite news
title = Barnsley 0-4 Preston
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1278186.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2001-04-16
accessdate = 2008-07-21] cite news
title = YOUNGSTERS SIGN CONTRACTS
url = http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~71088,00.html
publisher = Barnsley FC
date = 2001-04-17
accessdate = 2008-07-21] He picked up a knee injury whilst playing in Tenerife,cite news
title = BERTOS WAITING FOR SCAN RESULTS
url = http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~80608,00.html
publisher = Barnsley FC
date = 2001-08-06
accessdate = 2008-07-21] the results of which required a second opinion.cite news
title = BERTOS MUST HAVE SECOND OPINION
url = http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~80751,00.html
publisher = Barnsley FC
date = 2001-08-06
accessdate = 2008-07-21] These results were delayed,cite news
title = BERTOS FACES LONGER WAIT
url = http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~80986,00.html
publisher = Barnsley FC
date = 2001-08-07
accessdate = 2008-07-21] but, when received, it was confirmed that no meniscus was present to his tendon.cite news
title = BERTOS RECEIVES GOOD NEWS
url = http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~81563,00.html
publisher = Barnsley FC
date = 2001-08-08
accessdate = 2008-07-21]

He signed for Perth Glory for the 2006/2007 A-League season on a two year deal and attempted to add depth in midfield that lacked consistency and a dominant factor in 2006-07, replacing star midfield player Nick Ward. Leo's pace and crosses on the wing has contributed nine assists this season to be among the top of the A-League in that statistic. Many fans bemoaned the fact he lacked to find the back of the net though despite a number of good scoring opportunities.

Bertos explored opportunities elsewhere during the A-League off season and glory manager Ron Smith had allowed him to trial with Greek club Skoda Xanthi before returning to Perth Glory.

On January 24, 2008, Bertos signed a 2 year deal with his hometown club Wellington Phoenix. [ [http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4370242a6033.html Phoenix snare Bertos] ]

International career

He made his international debut against Iran in 2003 and has represented New Zealand on several occasions and has also represented New Zealand at under 23 level.

Leo is known for his reasonable dribbling and quality skills on the ball. This was shown in the New Zealand vs Brazil game when he dribbled around two defenders to win a corner and then gained a real confidence booster by receiving a pat on the back by a Brazilian defender. In the first game of the New Zealand vs Malaysia series (Which New Zealand won 2-0), Leo received man of the match for his magnificent dribbling performance where he dominated the Malaysian defence.

References

External links

* [http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=wellfc_playerprofile_item&pid=837 Wellington Phoenix profile]
* [http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/leo_bertos.html NZF - All White profile]
*soccerbase|id=24289|name=Leo Bertos
*FIFA player|199704