Leo Ponzio and his last time with the River shirt. Photo: Maxi Failla.
Recently Leonardo Ponzio He wrote on his social networks: “We are close to seeing each other again”. With those words, the former River player prefigured what he made official this Thursday, his farewell match from the club, scheduled for 21 September at the Monumental.
The idea that Leo has in mind for his party is to bring together the champions of the Libertadores 2015 and those of 2018. “I played 12 years with this shirt, out of the 21 I have in the profession,” he said Thursday, very excited and anxious for the event.
There are data that speak for themselves. Leonardo Ponzio is the player with the most titles in the history of the River, surpassing none other than a glory like Ángel Labruna. What else can be added to understand the importance of Leo to Núñez?
Ponzio made his debut at Newell’s in 2000 and after excellent seasons at the Rosario he made the leap to Europe to play in the Spanish league with the colors of Zaragoza. It was only in 2007 that he would arrive in River, to experience a first stage.
In recent years, Leo’s retirement has always been present as the player was approaching his 40s and had lost ownership. But he has always been a point of reference who added to the team, to his teammates, an example to follow on and off the pitch. A positive and much loved leader in the locker room.
Ponzio’s last official matches were as he deserved: two championships. First they were champions of the 2021 First Division Tournament and then they won the Champions Trophy by beating Colón in the final.
There, raised on a litter by his companions, he hung up his boots. “I came from another place and here they have adopted me in the best way. I have dedicated myself to the maximum and I hope to be able to continue in this house. I have been thinking for a long time about the decision to stop playing football. It is hard for it to end, but I think it’s the best time for me “, he stressed, excited, at the end of December 2021. He was about to turn 40.
The last minutes as a player of River were the entry from the bench in the 3-0 for Colón, in Santiago del Estero, where he reached 17 Olympic laps with the Champions Trophy; he thus broke the records of Angel Labruna and Ricardo Vaghi and Bruno Rodolf, members of La Maquina.
“More than once I thought about leaving, a long time ago, but Marcelo (for Gallardo) told me that he needed me, that the group needed me and that it was always important to give him a little more and not to leave. “, he acknowledged after his farewell.
In the River, in its two phases, he played a total of 358 games and scored 10 goals. And he greeted us in grand style, as Gallardo wanted.
Source: Clarin
