Steve Leo Beleck
Beleck playing for AEK Athens
Personal information
Full name Steve Leo Beleck A'Beka
Date of birth (1993-02-10) 10 February 1993
Place of birth Yaoundé, Cameroon
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
0000–2009 Diósgyőri
2009–2010 Panthrakikos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Panthrakikos 13 (5)
2010–2014 Udinese 0 (0)
2011–2012 → AEK Athens (loan) 27 (5)
2012–2013 → Watford (loan) 5 (0)
2013 → Stevenage (loan) 13 (0)
2013 → Mons (loan) 7 (1)
2014–2017 Fiorentina 0 (0)
2014 → Crotone (loan) 12 (1)
2015 → Mantova (loan) 11 (2)
2015–2016 → CFR Cluj (loan) 25 (4)
2016–2017 → Ümraniyespor (loan) 30 (5)
2017–2019 Balıkesirspor 31 (5)
2019–2020 Rieti 18 (2)
2020 Catania 7 (0)
2020–2021 Petrolul Ploiești 4 (0)
2021–2023 Yverdon 51 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 June 2023

Steve Leo Beleck A'Beka (born 10 February 1993) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker.

Beleck began his career at Greek team Panthrakikos, breaking into the first team at age 16. Following a successful second half to the 2009–10 season, Beleck joined Udinese of the Italian Serie A for an undisclosed fee, signing a five-year deal in July 2010. A year later, Beleck returned to Greece, this time joining AEK Athens on a season-long loan. He played regularly, and returned to his parent club at the end of the 2011–12 season. A month after returning to his parent club, Beleck was loaned out for a second time, joining English Championship side Watford on a one-year loan agreement. In January 2013, Beleck was re-loaned from Watford to Stevenage for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. In August 2013, Beleck was signed on a season-long loan for RAEC Mons but returned to Udinese in January 2014.

Club career

Early career

Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Beleck joined Greek side Panthrakikos at the age of 15.[1] He played for the club's first team in January 2010, starting in a 3–1 away defeat to Iraklis.[2] He received a red card five minutes into the second half, and consequently missed Panthrakikos' next two matches.[2] Beleck scored four goals in February 2010: once in a 2–1 loss to AEK Athens,[3] twice in a 2–0 away victory against Larissa,[4] and a further goal in a 3–1 home defeat to Kavala.[5] He also scored on the last day of the regular season, netting from the penalty spot to briefly restore parity in an eventual 3–1 defeat to Atromitos.[6] It turned out to be his final appearance for the club.[7] Beleck made 13 league appearances during the season, scoring five goals,[8] although Panthrakikos were relegated at the end of the campaign.[9]

Udinese and loans

Beleck ultimately joined Udinese for an undisclosed fee on 22 July 2010, signing a contract until 2015.[10]

Beleck did not make any first-team appearances during the 2010–11 season, only appearing as an unused substitute in an away game against Fiorentina in May 2011.[11] He was subsequently loaned out to AEK Athens in July 2011, on a season-long loan, ahead of the 2011–12 campaign.[12][13] He made his debut for AEK in the club's 1–0 home win over Dinamo Tbilisi on 18 August 2011, in the play-off round of Europa League qualification, playing the whole match.[14] Beleck's first goal for the club came in a 3–1 away defeat to OFI Crete on 23 October 2011, coming on as a half-time substitute with the team losing by two goals and scoring on the hour mark to briefly reduce the deficit.[15] He also scored in a 3–2 defeat to rivals Panathinaikos at the Olympic Stadium in November 2011.[16] Later that month, Beleck was on hand to score twice in a 2–0 away win against Panetolikos,[17] as well as scoring the only goal of the game a week later in the 1–0 defeat of Kerkyra.[18] He took his goal tally to six for the season when he scored the winning goal as AEK progressed to the Fifth Round of the Greek Cup courtesy of a 1–0 win over Kalamata on 22 December 2011.[19] Despite his strong end to 2011, Beleck did not score during the second half of the season.[15] He made 34 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times, helping AEK Athens secure a fifth-place finish in the Greek Superleague.[7]

Following the completion of his one-year loan agreement at AEK, Beleck briefly returned to Udinese before subsequently joining English Championship side Watford in July 2012, on a season-long loan for the 2012–13 season.[20] Beleck was one of ten players loaned to Watford from Udinese.[20][21] He made his first starting appearance for the club in a home defeat against Bradford City in the second round of the League Cup on 28 August 2012,[22] having also made an injury-time substitute in a league match against Ipswich Town a week earlier.[23]

In January 2013, having only made six first-team appearances for Watford during the first half of the season,[24] Beleck joined League One side Stevenage on loan for the remainder of the 2012–13 season.[25] The move caused a great deal of curiosity, as Beleck was on loan at Watford from Udinese at the time of his move from Watford to Stevenage.[26] It was revealed that international loans are recognised as regular transfers, meaning the player can be re-loaned as long as the deal stretches between two transfer windows.[26] Beleck had scored a hat-trick against Stevenage a month prior to his move, in a behind-closed-doors friendly match.[27] He made his first appearance for Stevenage a day after signing, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute in the club's 2–1 away victory at Crewe Alexandra.[28] Beleck returned to Udinese at the end of the season, having made 13 appearances during his time on loan at Stevenage.[24][29]

In August 2013, Beleck again left Udinese on loan, moving to Belgian side R.A.E.C. Mons.[1]

Rieti

On 2 September 2019, he returned to Italy, signing with Serie C club Rieti.[30] His contract with Rieti was terminated by mutual consent on 31 January 2020.[31]

Catania

On 7 February 2020, Beleck joined Serie C club Catania until the end of the 2019–20 season.[32]

Petrolul Ploiești

On 23 October 2020 he joined Petrolul Ploiești.[33]

Yverdon

On 8 July 2021, he signed with Yverdon in Switzerland.[34]

International career

Beleck has represented Cameroon at both the U17 and U20 levels.[35]

Honours

Club

CFR Cluj

References

  1. 1 2 "Jupiler Pro League – Steve Beleck prêté à Mons par l'Udinese". La Dernière Heure (in French). 20 August 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Iraklis 3–1 Panthrakikos". Soccerway. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Panthrakikos 1–2 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Larissa 0–2 Panthrakikos". Soccerway. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Panthrakikos 1–3 Kavala". Soccerway. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "Atromitos 3–1 Panthrakikos". Soccerway. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Steve Leo Beleck – Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Sports Connection – Steve Leo Beleck". Sports Connection. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Wonderkid of the week – Steve Leo Beleck". Football Wonderkids. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "31/07/2010 Sports Connection – Summer transfers 2010". Sports Connection. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Fiorentina 5–2 Udinese". Soccerway. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Steve Leo Beleck – Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Stevenage sign Beleck on loan". Sky Sports. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "AEK Athens 1–0 Dinamo Tbilisi". Soccerway. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  15. 1 2 "Games played by Steve Leo Beleck in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Panathinaikos 3–2 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "Panetolikos 0–2 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "AEK Athens 1–0 Kerkyra". Soccerway. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Kalamata 0–1 AEK Athens". Soccerway. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  20. 1 2 "Watford: Manuel Almunia and Fitz Hall among seven signings". BBC Sport. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Watford acquire five more loans from Pozzo's Udinese". BBC Sport. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Watford 1–2 Bradford". BBC Sport. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  23. ↑ "Watford 0–1 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  24. 1 2 "Games played by Steve Leo Beleck in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "Beleck deal confirmed". Stevenage F.C. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  26. 1 2 "Watford loanee Steve Leo Beleck re-loaned to Stevenage". BBC Sport. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  27. ↑ "On-loan Udinese striker Steve Leo Beleck scored a hat-trick as Watford beat Stevenage in today's friendly". Watford Observer. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  28. ↑ "Crewe 1–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  29. ↑ "Loan players return to parent clubs". Stevenage F.C. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  30. ↑ "F.C. RIETI: UFFICIALE STEVE BELECK" (Press release) (in Italian). Rieti. 2 September 2019.
  31. ↑ "FC RIETI: RISOLUZIONE BELECK" (Press release) (in Italian). Rieti. 31 January 2020.
  32. ↑ "Leo Steve Beleck A'Beka al Catania: l'attaccante si lega al nostro club fino al 30 giugno 2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Catania. 7 February 2020.
  33. ↑ "Întăriri în atac: Steve Leo Beleck a semnat cu FC Petrolul Ploiești!" (Press release) (in Romanian). Petrolul Ploiești. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  34. ↑ "OFFICIEL : STEVE BELECK S'ENGAGE AVEC YS" (in French). Yverdon. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  35. ↑ "Association Des Sportifs Camerounais". ASCamerounais. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
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