Western United sensation Dylan Leonard became the youngest ever player to start an Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Final on Friday.
Leonard etched his name in the history books after the 17-year-old started the opening leg against rivals Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
Aged 17 years and 259 days, the history-making defender surpassed Scott Galloway – who was 17 years and 354 days when he started Melbourne Victory’s Semi-Final against Central Coast Mariners in 2013.
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A-Leagues graduate Nestory Irankunda – now playing for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich – remains the youngest to feature in an Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Final, but he did not start aged 16 against Melbourne City in 2022. He did not start in any of his four Semi-Finals for Adelaide before his 18th birthday.
It has been an extraordinary rookie season for Leonard, one that has also created history and established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in Australian football.
He is already Western United’s youngest ever debutant and goalscorer in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
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“He surprises me every day, because he’s just got such composure about him,” Western head coach John Aloisi told Network 10 pre-game on Friday.
“He’s improved so much over the season, he’s stepped up when he’s needed to. At the beginning of the season, I don’t know if you remember, he scored an own goal and got sent off.
“It didn’t faze him; he just kept going. I don’t think this will faze him.
“I think he’ll be excited about the prospect of playing against quality opposition, but also that this is helping him grow as a player.”
