East Bengal signed New Zealand World Cupper Leo Bartos as their marquee player!

East Bengal have signed Leonida Christos “Leo” Bertos – a New Zealand World Cupper – on a two-year contract, the Club informed on Sunday, July 20.

The 32-year-old attacking midfielder is also the Marquee player of the team for 2014-15 I League.

Bertos was born on 20th December, 1981 and started his club career with local Wellington outfit Wellington Olympic in 1997. He later on played for the English clubs like Barnsley, Chester City, Rochdale and Scarborough, before joining A-League side Wellington Phoenix in 2008.

It will be from the latter club he would be seeking transfer to the Red-and-Golds. In the club and youth level he scored 35 goals, and in the International Level, he made his debut for New Zealand in a friendly vs Iran on 13th October 2003.

Bertos went on to win 52 caps for his country. He provided the assist which enabled Rory Fallon to score the winner vs Bahrain in the double legged playoff match which facilitated New Zealand to qualify for 2010 FIFA World Cup at South Africa.

He turned out for all the three matches of New Zealand in Group F of the World Cup – Slovakia (1-1), Italy (1-1), and Paraguay (0-0). Incidentally New Zealand remained the only unbeaten side in 2010 FIFA World Cup.

I-League Media