On its almost 92 years of history, C.D Leganés, as other clubs of Spain, has played with national players. However foreign players have had great roles as well within the pepineros, mostly from the 90’s decade.
Since its foundation, Leganés has counted with Spanish players that were born at other countries. However, the market opening of football on the 90’s allowed several foreign players to arrive to Leganés, mostly since 1996.
Mantovani, Gabriel and Siovas lead the ranking
Martín Mantovani is the football player with the most appearances. The Argentinean central defender is the foreign player with the most official matches as a pepinero with 167 games played. The southamerican arrived to Butarque on 2013 and remained until 2018, playing a total of five seasons and reaching two promotions from Segunda División 'B' to Primera División. He was the captain of the team and one of the most emblematic players of the club’s history. Right now, he is playing for U.D Las Palmas.
Second on the ranking is Gabriel Pires. The Brazilian midfielder landed at Leganes on 2015 and stayed for three seasons at the club. He played one season on second division and two on first division. He totalized 111 matches as a pepinero before he was transferred to Benfica in 2018.
Completing the podium of the foreigners with more than 100 official matches with the club is Dimitrios Siovas. The Greek central defender arrived in the club in 2017 and is currently playing his fourth season as a pepinero. He has played on 102 matches. The former Olympiacos defender reached 100 games with the club last February against R.C Celta at Balaídos.
Szymanowski and El Zhar complete the top 5
The fourth place is for one of the current squad’s captains, Alexander Szymanowski. The Argentinean left winger is completing his fifth season at the club after arriving in 2015 from the Danish team Brondby. Despite of his bad luck with injuries, he has managed to play with the team for 90 official matches. He is also the top scorer among foreign players with the white and blue jersey.
The French Moroccan midfielder, Nabil El Zhar completes the top 5. The player reached 82 official matches with the team in the two and a half season he played with the club. He arrived at Leganés in January 2017 and played the rest of the 2016/17 season and the following two, all of them on the top category. He currently plays for Qatar’s Al-Ahli.
Teixeira, Calandria and Darmon, pepineros from the end of the XX century and the start of XXI
Sixth on the ranking is the Portuguese Nuno Manuel Sousa Dias, “Teixeira”. The midfielder played for the club on Segunda División for three seasons between 1997 and 2000. He reached 77 matches with the white and blue jersey before leaving to C.D Ourense.
The seventh spot is for the Argentinean Pablo Calandria. The forward arrived in the club in 2002 after played for Olympique de Marseille and Málaga. He stayed at Butarque during 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons. He ended his period as a pepinero with 66 games played and 15 goals scored before leaving to Real Sporting and retiring at Chile one year ago.
Another player from the begininig of XXI century is eight on the ranking, the French David Darmon. The central midfielder played for two seasons at the club arriving from Racing Ferrol in 2001. He left for Elche C.F in 2003 after playing a total of 65 matches.
Zarandona and Jonathan Silva complete the list
Ranked nineth is Iván Zarandona. The international from Guinea Ecuatorial played 63 matches at Butarque for two seasons (2008/09 and 2009/10), both for Segunda División 'B' before leaving to Real Jaén.
Finally, in the top 10 is the third footballer from the current squad to be on the top of the ranking: Jonathan Silva. The Argentinean defender has played for 60 matches with the team in two seasons. He arrived during the 2018 summer from Portugal’s Sporting Clube.
