IRVINE, Calif. – Former Houston Dynamo center back Leonardo joins Orange County SC for the 2019 USL Championship season pending league, federation approval.
Jose Leonardo Ribeiro Da Silva, 31 arrives at the club with a wealth of experience having spent the past 9 years in MLS, with LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, making over 145 appearances in America’s top flight.
"I couldn't be happier that we have come to terms with Leonardo! He is a top notch professional both on and off the field,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “He will be a fantastic addition to our team and back line."
IRVINE, Calif. – Former Houston Dynamo center back Leonardo joins Orange County SC for the 2019 USL Championship season pending league, federation approval.
Jose Leonardo Ribeiro Da Silva, 31 arrives at the club with a wealth of experience having spent the past 9 years in MLS, with LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, making over 145 appearances in America’s top flight.
“I couldn’t be happier that we have come to terms with Leonardo! He is a top notch professional both on and off the field,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “He will be a fantastic addition to our team and back line.”
The Brazilian native first moved to America in 2010, when he joined LA Galaxy on loan from Sao Paulo FC of the Brazilian Sèrie A. In his first season with the Galaxy he helped lead them to the MLS Supports Shield. In 2012, his move to the Galaxy was made permanent and he went on to have a vastly successful time with the club, making over 100 appearances, lifting the MLS Cup three times in 2011,2012 & 2014 and voted Galaxy defender of the year in 2015.
The Brazilian native first moved to America in 2010, when he joined LA Galaxy on loan from Sao Paulo FC of the Brazilian Sèrie A. In his first season with the Galaxy he helped lead them to the MLS Supports Shield. In 2012, his move to the Galaxy was made permanent and he went on to have a vastly successful time with the club, making over 100 appearances, lifting the MLS Cup three times in 2011,2012 & 2014 and voted Galaxy defender of the year in 2015.
"I am very happy and thankful to be here at Orange County SC,” Said Leonardo. “This club has grown so much over the past few years and I am looking forward to winning a championship here. I would like to thank Orange County for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started."
Following his time with LA Galaxy he joined Houston Dynamo in 2017. He made an instant impact, making over 30 appearances in first season and helped lead the club to the MLS Western Conference Playoff Finals. He continued his success with the club in 2018, winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time in Dynamo’s club history.
“We are very excited to add Leonardo, an experienced center back who’s quality and leadership will have a significant impact on our team,” said Oliver Wyss, OCSC GM and EVP. “His signing clearly indicates that we are not resting on last year’s success and are continuing our pursuit of winning the USL Cup this season!”
He joins Orange County SC in time for the club’s 2019 USL Championship home opener against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on March 16th, 2019.
“I am very happy and thankful to be here at Orange County SC,” Said Leonardo. “This club has grown so much over the past few years and I am looking forward to winning a championship here. I would like to thank Orange County for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”
Following his time with LA Galaxy he joined Houston Dynamo in 2017. He made an instant impact, making over 30 appearances in first season and helped lead the club to the MLS Western Conference Playoff Finals. He continued his success with the club in 2018, winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time in Dynamo’s club history.
“We are very excited to add Leonardo, an experienced center back who’s quality and leadership will have a significant impact on our team,” said Oliver Wyss, OCSC GM and EVP. “His signing clearly indicates that we are not resting on last year’s success and are continuing our pursuit of winning the USL Cup this season!”
He joins Orange County SC in time for the club’s 2019 USL Championship home opener against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on March 16th, 2019.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.