Jerko Leko

Jerko Leko

File:Jerko Leko.a21.jpg Jerko Leko (2013)
Personal information
Full name	Jerko Leko
Date of birth	(1980-04-09) 9 April 1980
Place of birth	Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Lokomotiva
Number	27
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2003	Dinamo Zagreb	45	(5)
2003–2006	Dynamo Kyiv	61	(7)
2006–2010	Monaco	85	(4)
2010–2011	Bucaspor	30	(2)
2011–2015	Dinamo Zagreb	64	(5)
2014–2015	Lokomotiva (loan)	1	(0)
2015–	Lokomotiva	37	(4)
International career‡
1999	Croatia U19	2	(0)
2000	Croatia U20	3	(0)
2001	Croatia U21	1	(0)
2002–	Croatia	59	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 October 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 November 2011

Jerko Leko (born 9 April 1980) is a Croatian footballer who currently plays for NK Lokomotiva. He primary plays as central midfielder, but can also operate as a right one, or more defensively, as a right-back.

Club career

Leko's career began with GNK Dinamo Zagreb in 2000 in his native Croatia, although he was not an immediate success. After spending some time on loan at NK Croatia Sesvete, he became a regular starter in 2001/2002, helping Dinamo Zagreb win the Croatian Cup, scoring in the final against NK Varteks and being named Man of the Match. Leko eventually moved to Dynamo Kyiv in 2002 for €4m (a then club record). In his first season in Ukraine, Dynamo won the double, with Leko playing 18 times.

In February 2006, it was announced that Leko would be leaving Dynamo Kyiv, having turned down a new contract offer. He subsequently signed for AS Monaco on a free transfer on 4 June 2006.

In July 2009, The Times reported that he had turned down a move to English Premiership club Wolverhampton Wanderers as they would not meet his wage demands of 30,000 UK pounds per week (approx 49,000 US dollars) net. On 18 June 2010 Bucaspor signed the Croatian midfielder to a two-year deal on a free transfer from AS Monaco. On 25 May, it was confirmed that Leko signed a two-year deal with GNK Dinamo Zagreb.

In August 2014 he moved to NK Lokomotiva on loan. In 2015, he permanently joined Lokomotiva.

International career

Leko made his Croatia debut in 2002 against Hungary, but was not included in the 2002 World Cup squad. He scored a goal in a 4–0 victory against Belgium in a Euro 2004 qualifier, and was included in the final stage's squad, but only played 22 minutes during the tournament.

Selected to represent the nation in the 2006 World Cup, Leko made two substitute appearances, against Brazil and Australia. He was also part of the final squad for Euro 2008.

At the tournament quarter final clash between Croatia and Turkey, Leko was supposed to make his first appearance in the competition as a late substitute as Slaven Bilić wanted to put him on to hold on for a Croatian victory. However, officiating referee Roberto Rosetti disallowed the substitution from occurring as he also allowed Turkey an extra 2 minutes to find a late equalizer to send the game to a penalty shootout which Turkey eventually won.

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	29 March 2003	Maksimir, Zagreb	Belgium	4 – 0	4 – 0	Euro 2004 Qualifying
2	1 February 2006	Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong	Hong Kong	2 – 0	4 – 0	Carlsberg Cup 2006

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

• Croatian First League (3) : 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
• Croatian Cup (3): 2000–01, 2001–02, 2011–12
• Croatian Super Cup (2): 2002, 2013

Dynamo Kyiv

• Ukrainian Premier League (2): 2002–03, 2003–04
• Ukrainian Cup (3): 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06

External links

• Jerko Leko – FIFA competition record
• Jerko Leko at National-Football-Teams.com