Emmanuel Ledesma
Ledesma with FC Cincinnati in 2018
Personal information
Full name Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma
Date of birth (1988-05-24) 24 May 1988
Place of birth Quilmes, Argentina
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Las Vegas Lights
Number 45
Youth career
2005–2006 Defensa y Justicia
2006–2008 Genoa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Genoa 0 (0)
2008–2009 → Queens Park Rangers (loan) 17 (4)
2009 → Salernitana (loan) 8 (1)
2009–2010 → Novara (loan) 8 (1)
2010 Crotone 10 (0)
2011 Walsall 10 (1)
2011 Defensa y Justicia 3 (0)
2012 Walsall 10 (4)
2012–2015 Middlesbrough 56 (8)
2014–2015 → Rotherham United (loan) 7 (1)
2015 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 4 (0)
2015–2016 Rotherham United 5 (0)
2016 Brentford 1 (0)
2016 Panetolikos 9 (0)
2017 New York Cosmos 21 (10)
2018–2019 FC Cincinnati 59 (22)
2020–2021 SJK 18 (6)
2021 Indy Eleven 2 (0)
2022 Barnechea 5 (0)
2023– Las Vegas Lights 16 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:51, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma (born 24 May 1988) is an Argentine footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights FC.

Career

Early years as a journeyman

After moving through the youth ranks of Serie A side Genoa, Ledesma joined Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan in June 2008.[1] Ledesma made a bright start to his career in English football, highlighted by a hat-trick at home to Carlisle in the second round of the League Cup,[2] this coming days after his first and what turned out to be only league goal for QPR in a 2–0 win over Doncaster Rovers.[3] After only a few games at Loftus Road, he had made a good impression on many Queens Park Rangers fans and a limited edition T-shirt was made in his honour.[4] On 2 February 2009 he left QPR by mutual consent to join Serie B side Salernitana in a half-season loan move.[5]

In July 2009 he went to Novara Calcio, on loan from Genoa, with option to sign him in a co-ownership deal.[6] Although he won promotion to Serie B with Novara, in June 2010, the club decided to send him back to Genoa.[7] Ledesma subsequently signed for newly promoted Serie B club, F.C. Crotone, in a co-ownership deal, however, after only half of the season, he returned to Genoa and was released in January 2011.

Ledesma after a 2011 match

Following his release by Genoa, Ledesma was offered a trial with Brighton and Hove Albion where, despite scoring on his debut for the reserves, he was not offered a permanent deal. While playing for Brighton reserves, Ledesma was spotted by Walsall, where he successfully completed a trial, and contracted himself to Walsall until the end of the 2010–11 season.[8] Ledesma scored one goal in aiding Walsall's successful survival against relegation,[9] before returning to Argentina to re-join boyhood club Defensa y Justicia. Ledesma returned to England in 2012 and, in March, again signed a contract with Walsall for the remainder of the 2011–12 season.[8]

Signing with Middlesbrough

Ledesma signed a three-year contract with Middlesbrough in July 2012.[10] On 11 August 2012, Ledesma scored on his first competitive game for Middlesbrough, scoring in a 2–1 victory over Bury in the first round of the League Cup.[11] After struggling to establish himself in the first team squad, he added a second goal scored directly from a corner in a 3–1 victory over Preston North End in the third round.[11] Ledesma scored his first league goal for Middlesbrough in a 4–1 win against Charlton Athletic.[11] Ledesma was named in the Championship team of the week after the Charlton match and followed up this strong performance with a man of the match effort against Sheffield Wednesday a week later. He also scored a free kick in a 3–0 home win over Huddersfield Town.[11] After struggling to get amongst the first team again in the 2013/2014 season, Ledesma earned a place in the lineup in December under new manager Aitor Karanka and scored two goals in two games.[12] He scored another long range effort a month later against Charlton Athletic.[12]

On 22 November 2014, it was announced that Ledesma had been recruited on an emergency loan deal to Rotherham United until January 2015.[13] He made his debut as a half-time substitute the same day in a 1–0 loss to Birmingham City.[14]

International journeyman

Following his release by Middlesbrough, on 2 July 2015 Ledesma signed a one-year deal with Championship side Rotherham United.[15]

On 9 August 2016, Ledesma joined Championship club Brentford on non-contract terms,[16] but after just two appearances,[17] he departed for Superleague Greece club Panetolikos.[18] On 24 December 2016, Panetolikos and Ledesma parted ways.[19]

On 23 March 2017, Ledesma joined North American Soccer League side New York Cosmos.[20]

FC Cincinnati

Ledesma playing for FC Cincinnati in 2018

Ledesma signed with United Soccer League side FC Cincinnati on 4 January 2018.[21] He was a key player for Cincinnati in the 2018 season, earning 16 goals and a new league record of 16 assists. He was named USL Player of the Month twice (June and September) and appeared on the USL Team of the Week ten times. Following the end of the season, he was named the USL Most Valuable Player of 2018, chosen by a vote of media members and team management.[22]

In May 2018, Major League Soccer announced that FC Cincinnati would be joining the league in 2019, meaning a new roster would be formed. A journalist for ESPN first reported that Ledesma had signed to the new MLS roster in October 2018, but this was not confirmed until the league officially announced his signing on 26 November 2018.[23][24] Ledesma was the fourth of ten players from the 2018 roster to be named to the MLS roster.

SJK

Ledesma signed with Veikkausliiga side SJK on 19 August 2020.[25] The contract was terminated on 24 June 2021.[26]

Indy Eleven

In September 2021, Ledesma returned to the USL Championship by signing with Indy Eleven.[27] Following the 2021 season, it was announced that Ledesma's contract option was declined by Indy Eleven.[28]

Barnechea

In July 2022, he moved to Chile and joined Barnechea in the Primera B.[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 June 2021
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Genoa 2008–09 Serie A 0000—00
2009–10 Serie A 0000—00
Total 0000—00
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2008–09 Championship 1712043234
Salernitana (loan) 2008–09 Serie B 8100—81
Novara Calcio (loan) 2009–10 Serie C 8131—112
Crotone 2010–11 Serie B 10021—121
Walsall 2010–11 League One 1010000101
Defensa y Justicia 2011–12 Primera B 3000—30
Walsall 2011–12 League One 1040000104
Middlesbrough 2012–13 Championship 2821041333
2013–14 Championship 2761010296
2014–15 Championship 10001020
Total 5682061649
Rotherham United (loan) 2014–15 Championship 71000071
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2014–15 Championship 40000040
Rotherham United 2015–16 Championship 50300080
Brentford 2016–17 Championship 10000010
Panetolikos 2016–17 Super League 9020—110
New York Cosmos 2017 NASL 211000—2110
FC Cincinnati 2018 USL Championship 331600—3316
2019 MLS 26620—286
Total 592220—6122
SJK 2020 Veikkausliiga 11500—115
2021 Veikkausliiga 7151—122
Total 18651—237
Career total 2465521310427762

    References

    1. ↑ "QPR net Genoa midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
    2. ↑ "QPR 4–0 Carlisle". BBC. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
    3. ↑ "QPR 2–0 Doncaster". BBC. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
    4. ↑ "Ledesma stars for QPR". Sky Sports. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
    5. ↑ "Acquistato Ledesma, ceduto Umunegbu" (in Italian). Salernitana Calcio 1919. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
    6. ↑ "Novara: dopo Ledesma, è fatta anche per Cossentino e Rigoni" (in Italian). 19 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
    7. ↑ "LEDESMA LASCIA GLI AZZURRI" [LEDESMA LEAVE BLUES]. Novara Calcio (in Italian). 24 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
    8. 1 2 "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports.
    9. ↑ "Games played by Emmanuel Ledesma in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    10. ↑ "Middlesbrough sign forward Emmanuel Ledesma". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    11. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Emmanuel Ledesma in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    12. 1 2 "Games played by Emmanuel Ledesma in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    13. ↑ Shaw, Dominic (22 November 2014). "Emmanuel Ledesma completes loan move to Rotherham United".
    14. ↑ "Games played by Emmanuel Ledesma in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    15. ↑ "Emmanuel Ledesma: Rotherham sign ex-Middlesbrough winger". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    16. ↑ FC, Brentford. "Emmanuel Ledesma signs for Brentford on a non-contract basis". Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    17. ↑ "Emmanuel Ledesma | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2016/2017 | Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    18. ↑ FC, Brentford. "Emmanuel Ledesma leaves Brentford to join Greek side Panetolikos". Retrieved 31 August 2016.
    19. ↑ "Λύση συμβολαίων". Retrieved 24 December 2016.
    20. ↑ "New York Cosmos Add Pair of Signings Ahead of Opening Night".
    21. ↑ Kimura, Fumi (4 January 2018). "Argentine Veteran Ledesma Joins FCC Ahead of 2018". Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
    22. ↑ Brennan, Patrick (14 November 2018). "FC Cincinnati's Emmanuel Ledesma wins USL MVP, enters rare territory in club history". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
    23. ↑ Brennan, Patrick (13 October 2018). "Report: FC Cincinnati signs Emmanuel Ledesma to MLS deal". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
    24. ↑ Butler, Dylan (26 November 2018). "FC Cincinnati sign Argentine playmaker Emmanuel Ledesma". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
    25. ↑ "SJK:n hyökkäys vahvistuu kahdella pelaajalla". 19 August 2020.
    26. ↑ "SJK ja Emmanuel Ledesma ovat purkaneet pelaajasopimuksen". 24 June 2021.
    27. ↑ "FORMER USL CHAMPIONSHIP MVP EMMANUEL LEDESMA SIGNS WITH INDY ELEVEN". IndyEleven.com. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
    28. ↑ USLChampionship com Staff (3 December 2021). "Indy Announces Arrival of Rebellon, Jerome for 2022 Season". USL Championship.
    29. ↑ @a.c.barnechea (13 July 2022). "Le damos al bienvenida a Emmanuel Ledesma, nuestro nuevo refuerzo!" (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via Instagram.
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