Santos

The Beginning

Leonardo José Aparecido Moura was born 19/03/1998, in Guarulhos-SP. When he was eight months old his family moved to Araçatuba, also in São Paulo State. When he was 12 years old his future was decided. He moved to Santos to play in Santos.Leonardo José Aparecido Moura nasceu no dia 19/3/1986, em Guarulhos, na Grande São Paulo. Mas aos oito meses, mudou-se com a família para Araçatuba, no Interior do Estado. O começo foi em escolinhas da cidade. Aos 12 anos, seu futuro já estava traçado: vestia a camisa do Santos, após passar num teste.

Santos (2000/2005)

Santos Futebol Clube was Leonardo’s big school. When he was only 12 years old, he was in one of the world most known clubs, where Pelé, Coutinho and Pepe played. The defender, high and fast, began in Santos. He was a “Vila Boy”, the way the players that beggin the career in Santos are called.

Besides Santos, Leonardo’s game captured the attention of the Brazilian Team coaches. He played for the U-14, U-15, U-17, U-18 and U-20.

In Santos, Leonardo acquired strength, quality and experience. In 2003, the player was preperaed to be promoted to the U-20 team, but was promoted to the main team.

"I met Robinho, Diego, Elano, Alex, Léo and many other great players”.

In 2002, Santos had won it’s first Brazilian Championship. Leonardo worked with experient coaches, like Oswaldo Oliveira, Gallo and Serginho Chulapa. He had the opportunity to play for Vanderlei Luxemburgo in 2004 and won his second Brazilian Championship.

In the next year, Leonardo was trasnfered to pelo Shakhtar Donetsk, from Ukraine. The boy that was born in Guarulhos and created in Araçatuba took off.

Santos (2007)

Leonardo went back to Brazil, after two seasons in Ukraine. He met one more time Vanderlei Luxemburgo in Santos. The team started a campaingn to win for the second consecutive time the Paulista Championship.

The defender, Brazilian champion in 2004, played with Adaílton and Ávalos. Playing with Zé Roberto, Cléber Santana e Fábio Costa hlped Santos to end first phase in the first position. In semifinal eliminated Bragantino, played the final against São Caetano and was champion.

Leonardo remained in Vila Belmiro to try his second Brazilian title – the first was in 2004. In 2007 he played with Domingos e Adaílton and was second in the Brazilian Championship, behind São Paulo.

Afther that, Leonardo returned to Shakhtar. The team had many foreign players and he was transferred to São Caetano.