Leo Sauer

Last updated

Leo Sauer
SVK vs. SMR 2024 Slovakia Nr. 24 Sauer.jpg
Sauer with Slovakia in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-12-16) 16 December 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Bratislava, Slovakia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Feyenoord
Number 16
Youth career
Rača
2014–2018 Slovan Bratislava
2018–2022 Žilina
2022–2023 Feyenoord
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2021–2022 Žilina B 5 (0)
2022–2023 Žilina 7 (1)
2022–2023Feyenoord (loan) 0 (0)
2023– Feyenoord 13 (2)
2024–2025NAC Breda (loan) 31 (7)
International career
2021–2022 Slovakia U17 13 (2)
2023 Slovakia U19 7 (1)
2023– Slovakia U20 4 (0)
2023– Slovakia U21 1 (0)
2024– Slovakia 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:15, 19 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 May 2025

Leo Sauer (born 16 December 2005) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a winger for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord, and the Slovakia national team. [1]

Contents

Early life

Sauer grew up with his parents in Bratislava. He has an older brother called Mário who is also a footballer, both attended the Secondary Sports School in Žilina. [2]

Club career

Sauer started his football career with Slovan Bratislava. In the summer of 2018 he moved to the youth academy MŠK Žilina. [3] Sauer made his debut in the Slovak 2. Liga for Žilina B on 27 February 2022 against FC Petržalka. [4]

Sauer joined Feyenoord initially on loan from MŠK Žilina in 2022, but in April 2023 signed a three-year professional contract with the Dutch club. [5] [6] On 20 August 2023, Sauer made his debut for the club in an away match against Sparta Rotterdam by coming in at half-time, scoring the 2–2 in the added time to secure a point for the club. [7]

On 12 August 2024, Sauer moved on a season-long loan to NAC Breda. [8]

International career

Sauer played for the Slovakia U-19 side alongside his older brother, Mario Sauer. Both were selected for the Slovakia U-20 side to compete at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. [9]

On 5 October 2023, at the age of only 17, coach Francesco Calzona called him to the Slovak senior national team. [10] On 26 March 2024, Sauer became the youngest ever player to play for the national team after coming on as a substitute in a friendly against Norway. [11]

He was included in the Slovakia squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany in June 2024. [12] He made his tournament debut 21 June, becoming the youngest ever Slovak player at a final tournament. [13]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Žilina B 2021–22 Slovak 2. Liga 5050
Žilina 2022–23 Slovak First Football League 710071
Feyenoord 2023–24 Eredivisie 132002 [a] 000152
Career total253002000273
  1. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Feyenoord

References

  1. "Leo Sauer". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  2. "U18 – Leo Sauer: Feyenoord je bod na ceste k môjmu cieľu". Futbalsfz.sk. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. "'Feyenoord is going to take over Sauer from MŠK Žilina'". fr12.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. "PETRZALKA VS. MSK 0-1". Soccerway. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  5. "Feyenoord light option in lease contract Leo Sauer". fr12.nl. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  6. "FEYENOORD LICHT OPTIE IN HUURCONTRACT LEO SAUER". Onefootball.com. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  7. "Debutant Sauer (17) laat Feyenoord ontsnappen in Rotterdamse derby" [Debutant Sauer (17) makes Feyenoord escape in Rotterdam derby] (in Dutch). 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  8. "NAC huurt Slowaaks international Leo Sauer van Feyenoord" [NAC loans Slovakian international Leo Sauer from Feyenoord] (in Dutch). NAC Breda. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  9. Pančík, Vladimír (6 May 2023). "Namiesto debutu v prvom tíme Feyenoordu môže Leo Sauer zažiť účasť na MS U20 a to po boku brata Mária". Sport.Aktuality.sk. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  10. "Calzonov výber čakajú najdôležitejšie zápasy. Nominácia Slovenska na Portugalsko". 9 September 2023.
  11. "Feyenoorder Sauer schrijft geschiedenis bij debuut voor Slowakije" [Feyenoorder Sauer writes history with debut for Slovakia] (in Dutch). 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  12. Dabbs, Ryan (10 June 2024). "Slovakia Euro 2024 squad: Francesco Calzona's full team". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  13. "Comeback Oekraïne gooit poule Duivels helemaal open, oude bekende Jaremtsjoek scoort winnende treffer tegen Slovakije" [Comeback Ukraine completely throws open Belgian group] (in Dutch). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.