Nick DeLeon

Nick DeLeon
DeLeon playing for D.C. United in 2014
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Lee DeLeon
Date of birth (1990-07-17) July 17, 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Midfielder, Full Back
Youth career
1998–2009 CISCO Soccer Club
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 UNLV Rebels 29 (7)
2010–2011 Louisville Cardinals 46 (14)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Arizona Sahuaros 0 (0)
2012–2018 D.C. United 180 (13)
2019–2021 Toronto FC 69 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 7, 2021

Nicholas Lee DeLeon (born July 17, 1990) is an American professional soccer player. Although he is capable of playing as a full-back, he typically plays as a wide midfielder, working towards the center. He is highly regarded for his work rate and 1-on-1 skills. He also demonstrates an ability to score with both feet.[1]

Club career

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Youth

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DeLeon played three years for Thunderbird High School in Phoenix, Arizona from 2004 to 2007. DeLeon started his collegiate career at University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2008, and led freshmen in appearances with 18, starting in 12, and earned 3 assists in his first year.[2] DeLeon scored two goals and two assists in 12 appearances his sophomore year. In the summer of 2010, DeLeon took part in and scored in the U.S. Open Cup with Phoenix-based NPSL team Arizona Sahuaros.[3]

DeLeon transferred to the University of Louisville for the 2010 season. DeLeon had a successful first season with the Cardinals, starting all 24 games and scoring 8 goals and 3 assists, and was named to the All-Big East first team.[4] The Cardinals won the 2010 Big East Soccer Tournament[5] and advanced to the final of the 2010 College Cup, where they fell 1–0 to the Akron Zips. In DeLeon's senior season at Louisville, he again started every game, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists, and was again named to the All-Big East first team. DeLeon's two goals in the Cardinals' first two games helped them to the quarterfinals of the 2011 College Cup and saw him named to the Cup's All-Tournament team.[6] DeLeon was invited to the 2012 MLS Combine based on his strong collegiate performances.

Professional

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DeLeon playing for DC United in 2012

DeLeon signed with Major League Soccer on December 29, 2011, and was chosen with the 7th overall pick of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United.[7] He made his first appearance for United on March 18, 2012, coming on as a substitute in the second half against the LA Galaxy. He scored D.C.'s only goal in a 3–1 loss, curling a right-footed shot just inside the back post, earning DeLeon a nomination for Goal of the Week.[8] On November 8, DeLeon scored the winning goal in the 88th minute to knock the New York Red Bulls out of the playoffs and to take D.C. United to the Eastern Conference finals, where United were defeated by the Houston Dynamo. DeLeon would feature in 28 games on the season, starting 25, running up a total of six goals and four assists. In the post-season, DeLeon was voted runner-up for the 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year award, losing out to fellow University of Louisville alum Austin Berry of the Chicago Fire. On November 1, 2018, DeLeon scored a volley in the 116th minute of an MLS Playoff game against Columbus Crew. DeLeon eventually missed the decisive penalty as the Crew won 3–2 on PK's.

Following the 2018 season, D.C. declined the 2019 contract option on DeLeon. In December 2018, he was selected by Toronto FC in the 2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft.[9] DeLeon scored his first goal for Toronto FC in the 2019 season opener on March 2, 2019, against Philadelphia Union.[10] He scored a goal against his former club, D.C. United on June 29, 2019.[11] He scored against D.C. United again in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs on October 19, 2019. The game ended in a 5–1 win for Deleon's side.[12] On October 30, 2019, Deleon scored the winning goal against Atlanta United FC in a 2–1 win.[13] He departed Toronto FC after the 2021 season.[14][15]

International career

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Born in the United States, DeLeon is also eligible to represent Trinidad and Tobago through his father, a former Trinidadian international. DeLeon was called up for Trinidad and Tobago's qualifying campaign for the 2012 Summer Olympics but declined.[16] In January 2013, DeLeon was called up for Trinidad and Tobago's senior friendly against Peru on February 6, 2013,[17] but once again declined. DeLeon stated his desire to represent the United States internationally but did not eliminate the possibility of representing Trinidad and Tobago in the future.[18] In January 2016, DeLeon's father told Trinidadian media that his son was ready to play for Trinidad and Tobago and was working on acquiring a passport for the country. However, as of October 2021 he remains uncapped.[19]

Personal life

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Nick is the son of former Trinidadian international[16] and NASL player Leroy DeLeon, who played with the Washington Diplomats in the 1970s.

On April 5, 2011, while attending the University of Louisville, DeLeon was arrested along with two members of the Louisville diving team after being found with a large amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Each were charged with one count of drug trafficking and one count of possession.[20]

DeLeon married his longtime girlfriend Jordan Trimble on December 14, 2013. They have two children, a girl, born August 10, 2016, and a son born September 2017.[citation needed]

In March 2021, DeLeon stated his opposition to modern medicine by telling Toronto Sun reporter Steve Buffery "I’ve never had vaccines. I don’t get the flu shot. I don’t get any of that. I don’t take medicine. I don’t take prescription crap. Any of that." He also stated that he will never receive the COVID-19 vaccine. He went on to state that the numbers from the COVID-19 pandemic, that at the time of the interview had killed 2.75 million people worldwide, don't matter to him "It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t cower at (COVID-19) numbers, all that b.s. I don’t care. I don’t have to follow the flow of what everybody’s doing. Nah. I run my race, period.".[21]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played November 21, 2021[22][23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs[a] Cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arizona Sahuaros 2010 NPSL – – 2 1 – – 2 1
D.C. United 2012 MLS 28 6 4 2 2 0 – – 34 8
2013 25 2 – 5 1 – – 30 3
2014 32 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 – 34 3
2015 29 2 3 0 1 1 2 0 – 35 3
2016 32 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 – 35 1
2017 19 0 – 0 0 – – 19 0
2018 15 0 1 1 0 0 – – 16 1
Total 180 13 11 4 8 2 4 0 – 203 19
Toronto FC 2019 MLS 32 6 4 2 2 2 1 0 – 39 10
2020 21[c] 1 1 0 0 0 – 1[d] 0 23 1
2021 16 1 — 2 0 3 0 – 21 1
Total 69 8 5 2 4 2 4 0 1 0 83 12
Career total 249 21 16 6 14 5 8 0 1 0 286 31
  1. ^ All appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs
  2. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Canadian Championship
  3. ^ Includes three appearances in the MLS is Back Tournament group stage
  4. ^ Appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage

Honors

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D.C. United

References

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  1. ^ "24 Under 24: #16: Nick DeLeon". MLS Soccer. September 11, 2012.
  2. ^ "Nicholas DeLeon". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  3. ^ "2010 US Open Cup First Round: Sahuaros knock out defending PDL champions in PK shootout". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  4. ^ "Nick DeLeon". University of Louisville. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  5. ^ "Louisville Wins 2010 BIG EAST Champions Cup on Penalty Kicks". Big East Conference. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  6. ^ "DeLeon Signs with MLS Early". University of Louisville. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  7. ^ "Nick DeLeon selected with seventh overall in 2012 MLS SuperDraft". dcunited.com. D.C. United. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  8. ^ Goff, Steven (March 19, 2012). "After 3–1 loss, United is showing signs of trouble this season". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  9. ^ "Nick DeLeon selected by Toronto FC in Stage 1 of 2018 Re-Entry Draft". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. December 14, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  10. ^ "Michael Bradley sets tone in Toronto FC's season-opening win". cbc.ca. CBC Radio Canada. March 2, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  11. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (June 29, 2019). "DC United 1, Toronto FC 1 | 2019 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  12. ^ "Toronto FC scores 4 goals in extra time, beats DC United 5-1". wtop.com. October 19, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  13. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (October 30, 2019). "Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 2 | 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Match Recap". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Buffery, Steve (December 1, 2021). "There's no place like home for TFC veteran Nick DeLeon who went through a personal hell the last two seasons". Toronto Sun.
  15. ^ Davidson, Neil (November 23, 2021). "Out of contract, veteran midfielder Nick DeLeon set to say goodbye to Toronto FC". Toronto Star.
  16. ^ a b Freedman, Jonah. "Report: DC's DeLeon called up by Trinidad and Tobago". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  17. ^ "De Leon gets the call for T&T friendly against Peru". The T&T Guardian. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  18. ^ Goff, Steven. "Nick DeLeon declines T&T call-up". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  19. ^ Keefer, Ryan (January 19, 2016). "Nick DeLeon's father says son "wants to come and play" for Trinidad & Tobago". Black and Red United. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  20. ^ GabeDuverge (April 22, 2011). "Three UofL Athletes Arrested on Drug Charges". Louisville KY. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  21. ^ "Toronto Sun interview". March 25, 2021.
  22. ^ Nick DeLeon at Soccerway
  23. ^ Nick DeLeon at Major League Soccer
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