Leonidas Stergiou

Leonidas Stergiou (Greek: Λεωνίδας Στεργίου; born 3 March 2002) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for German Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart and the Switzerland national team.[2]

Leonidas Stergiou
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-03-03) 3 March 2002
Place of birth Wattwil, Switzerland[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 VfB Stuttgart
Number 20
Youth career
Wil
2015–2019 St. Gallen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 St. Gallen II 5 (0)
2019–2024 St. Gallen 139 (1)
2023–2024 → VfB Stuttgart (loan) 15 (1)
2024– VfB Stuttgart 0 (0)
International career‡
2016–2017 Switzerland U15 6 (0)
2017–2018 Switzerland U16 8 (0)
2018–2019 Switzerland U17 9 (1)
2019–2020 Switzerland U19 4 (0)
2020– Switzerland U21 18 (1)
2022– Switzerland 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:36, 10 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 June 2024

Club career

Stergiou initially made his competitive debut for the senior St. Gallen side on 6 February 2019, participating in a 3–1 victory against FC Zürich.[3]

On 22 August 2023, Stergiou joined VfB Stuttgart in Germany on loan.[4] Stergiou played just 39 minutes in the first half of the season, but made his first start in February and then became a regular starter.[5] On 4 May 2024, he scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 3–1 win over Bayern Munich.[6]

On 15 May 2024, the loan deal was made permanent and Stergiou signed a contract until June 2028 with VfB Stuttgart.[7]

International career

Stergiou played four games for Switzerland U15[8] and five for Switzerland U16.[9] He was the captain of Switzerland U21 at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where they reached quarter-finals.[10]

Stergiou made his debut for the senior Switzerland national football team on 12 June 2022 in a Nations League game against Spain. He replaced Ricardo Rodriguez in the 79th minute as Switzerland won 1–0.[11]

In June 2024, he was named in the Swiss squad for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. He replaced Silvan Widmer as a substitute in the 68th minute of the team's opening Group A match against Hungary.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 10 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St. Gallen II 2018–19 Swiss 1. Liga 50———50
St. Gallen 2018–19 Swiss Super League 11000——110
2019–20 Swiss Super League 34120——361
2020–21 Swiss Super League 320401[lower-alpha 2]0—370
2021–22 Swiss Super League 27030——300
2022–23 Swiss Super League 35040——390
Total 139113010—1531
VfB Stuttgart (loan) 2023–24 Bundesliga 15130——181
Career total 159216010001761
  1. Includes Swiss Cup and DFB-Pokal
  2. Appearance in UEFA Europa League

International
As of match played 19 June 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Switzerland 202210
202440
Total50

Honours

Individual

Personal life

Stergiou was born in Wattwil in the Toggenburg area of Switzerland, to a Serbian mother and a Greek father. After joining the FC St. Gallen academy at a young age he progressed through the ranks to the first team.[13][1]

References
  1. St. Gallens Juwel im Interview - Leonidas Stergiou: «Irgendwann zum Fuchs werden», srf.ch, 16 December 2019
  2. Leonidas Stergiou at Soccerway
  3. "Portrait Leonidas Stergiou: Der stille Schaffer in der Innenverteidigung" (in German). FC St. Gallen. 16 December 2020.
  4. "VfB sign Leonidas Stergiou". VfB Stuttgart. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry. "Euro 2024: complete guide to all 622 players". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. "Stuttgart 1–3 Bayern München". BBC Sport. 4 May 2024.
  7. "Leonidas Stergiou signs long-term VfB deal". VfB Stuttgart. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  8. Schweizerischer Fussballverband - U-15, football.ch
  9. Schweizerischer Fussballverband - U-16, football.ch
  10. "Spain U21 v Switzerland U21 game report". UEFA. 1 July 2023.
  11. "Switzerland v Spain game report". UEFA. 12 June 2022.
  12. "Hungary 1-3 Switzerland LIVE: UEFA Euro 2024 - score, updates & reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  13. Leonidas Stergiou, die Perle aus dem Toggenburg, nzz.ch, 6 February 2019


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