Leo Percovich

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Percovich and the second or maternal family name is Lopes.

Leo Percovich

Personal information
Full name	Galileo Galilei Percovich Lopes
Date of birth	(1968-04-20) 20 April 1968
Place of birth	Montevideo, Uruguay
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Middlesbrough (head of player pathway & development)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987–1993	Nacional
1994	Atlético Mineiro
1995	Guarani
1995–1999	Fluminense
2000	Alianza Lima
2001	Racing de Ferrol
International career
	Uruguay	6	(0)
Managerial career
2022	Middlesbrough (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Galileo Galilei Percovich Lopes (born 20 April 1968), known professionally as Leo Percovich, is an Uruguayan former professional footballer, who is currently Head of Player Pathway and Development at Championship club Middlesbrough. He was granted British citizenship in June 2024.

Playing career

Percovich played for Nacional, notably winning the Copa Libertadores and Uruguayan First Division. He went on to play for Atlético Mineiro, Guaraní FC, Fluminense FC and Alianza Lima. He appeared six times for the Uruguay national team.

Coaching career

Percovich has had previous coaching stints and training with Stuttgart, Pachuca, Cruzeiro, Valencia and Real Madrid, alongside spells serving with the national teams of Brazil, France and Uruguay.

He joined the Colorado Rapids coaching staff in 2006, as their new goalkeeper coach, serving for two seasons before joining Chivas USA prior to the commence of the 2008 season. He moved to Toronto in December 2009, as an assistant coach following the departure of Preki during the off-season. In January 2011, Percovich continued coaching in the United States, joining Chicago Fire as assistant coach. In November 2013, it was announced he would not be returning for the 2014 season.

In November 2013, Percovich was appointed as a member of Aitor Karanka's coaching staff at Championship club Middlesbrough, being appointed as their new goalkeeping coach. He was part of the club staff that secured promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2015–16 season. Percovich continued on as goalkeeping coach for the entirety of the 2016–17 season, despite Karanka's dismissal in March. Following the appointment of Garry Monk in June 2017, Percovich vacated his position, being replaced by Darryl Flahavan.

After a brief spell coaching at Fluminense, Percovich returned to Middlesbrough in June 2019, after being appointed as a first team assistant coach to new manager and former associate Jonathan Woodgate.

After Chris Wilder was sacked by Middlesbrough on 3 October 2022, Percovich was named caretaker manager. Middlesbrough won his first game in charge, a 1-0 home victory, over Birmingham City. On 24 October 2022, following the appointment of Michael Carrick, Percovich assumed the role of Head of Player Pathway and Development.

Personal life

Percovich was born in Montevideo to a family of Croatian descent and was named after the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. In December 2017, Percovich and his family were seriously injured after the vehicle he was driving in plummeted off a bridge. He personally suffered from "slight injuries", his youngest daughter Antonella was killed, whereas his other two children, son Pietro and daughter Valentina, were seriously injured and left in critical condition. His wife Juliana suffered from a fractured pelvis. His older daughter Valentina died a week later.

Managerial statistics

As of match played 22 October 2022

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	From	To	Record
			G	W	D	L	Win %
Middlesbrough (interim)	3 October 2022	24 October 2022	5	2	1	2	040.00

Honours

Nacional

• Primera División Uruguaya: 1992

Middlesbrough

• Championship promotion: 2015–16