Moritz Leitner

TSV 1860 München

Born in Munich, Germany, Leitner started his football career at FC Unterföhring since joining them when he was two. When he was six years old, he moved to 1860 München, where he started his career.

Leitner made his professional debut playing for his childhood club 1860 München on 14 August 2010, when he came on as a substitute for Aleksandar Ignjovski in a DFB-Pokal match against SC Verl and set up an equaliser for Stefan Aigner, who later scored the winning goal. At some point of his career, he was contracted with the club, keeping him until 2014. By the end of 2010, Leitner went on to make eighteen appearances in all competitions. Prior to his departure in January, Leitner's form dipped and was reduced to the substitute bench.

Borussia Dortmund

In October 2010, it was announced that Leitner would transferred to Borussia Dortmund when the transfer window opened in January 2011. Upon signing for the club, he signed a four-year contract with the club, keeping him until 2015.

Following his loan spell at Augsburg came to an end, Leitner joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2011 and was given a number seven shirt ahead of the 2011-12 season. After appearing as an unused substitute on the bench since the start of the season, Leitner made his Borusssia Dortmund debut on 24 September 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 2-1 win over Mainz 05. Leitner had a handful of first team appearances between 22 October 2011 and 26 November 2011 until he suffered a back injury that kept him out throughout 2012. It wasn't until on 22 January 2012 when he made his return to the first team from injury, setting up one of the goals, in a 5-1 win over Hamburger SV. Although he suffered another injury later in the season, Leitner played 22 games in his first season. Because of the impressive competition at the playmaker position, he played only four times as a starter in the 2011/12 season. In those 22 games, he scored two assists.

In the 2012-13 season, Leitner made his first start of the season when he played 64 minutes, in a 2-1 loss against Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup. He soon got some more game time (30 games) after the departure of Shinji Kagawa since the start of the season. However, because of the impressive performances of Mario Götze, he played as a starter only at ten times and spent the most of the 2012-13 season on the substitute bench as a result. He also appeared as an unused substitute in the UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich. He had three assists with no goals scored. As a result, Leitner hinted of leaving Borussia Dortmund to get first team football when the 2013-14 season starts.

After spending two seasons at Stuttgart, Leitner's future at Borussia Dortmund became uncertain following the arrival of Thomas Tuchel. In the first half of the season, he spent time, playing in the club's reserve. His first appearance came on 1 October 2015, in a UEFA Europa League match, drawing 1-1 against PAOK. It wasn't until the second half of the season that saw Leitner appearing in the first team following an injury crisis. He went on to make twelve appearances in all competitions.

Loan to Augsburg

Shortly after joining Borussia Dortmund, Leitner subsequently joined Augsburg on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season in January 2011.

He made his Augsburg debut for the club, setting up one of the goals, in a 2-0 win over Ingolstadt 04 on 16 January 2011. Despite once being ineligible to face his former club on 16 February 2011 and sidelined with an elbow injury Leitner went on to make nine appearance for the club.

Loan to Stuttgart

On 1 July 2013, Moritz Leitner joined VfB Stuttgart on loan until June 2015. Upon joining the club, Leitner said about the move, quoting: "For me this can be a big step forward if I can develop as a player."

He made his Stuttgart debut in their first game of the Bundesliga season in a 3-2 loss against 1. FSV Mainz 05. He appeared in the first team since the start of the season until he suffered a knee injury in training and was sidelined for weeks. After returning to training from injury, he returned to the first team on 1 November 2013, playing against his parent club, in a 6-1 loss. Since returning to the first team, Leitner continued to established himself in the first team. On 1 February 2014, Leitner scored his first Bundesliga goal in Stuttgart's 2–1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. However, he was then sent-off for a second bookable offence, in a 4-1 loss against 1899 Hoffenheim on 15 February 2014. Despite suffering from injuries later in the season, Leitner finished his first season at Stuttgart, making twenty-four appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

In his second season at Stuttgart, Leitner continued to be in the first team regular and then scored his first goal of the season, as well as, setting up one of the goals, in a 3-2 loss against Hertha BSC on 3 October 2014. However, during a 3-3 draw against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 18 October 2014, Leitner, however, suffered a thigh injury and was sidelined as a result. However, as the 2014-15 season progressed, Leitner's first team opportunities came under threat when he fell out with Manager Huub Stevens and argued in training, resulting Leitner dropped from the first team. Not only that, Leitner was also demoted to the reserve side for the rest of the season. He went on to make twenty appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

Just before the end of the season, it was announced that Leitner returned to his parent club when the 2014-15 season ended.

S.S. Lazio

On 12 August 2016, Lazio signed Leitner from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of €1.5 million. He arrived in Lazio to replace Ogenyi Onazi who joined Turkish Süper Lig club Trabzonspor.

It wasn't until on 1 October 2016 when he made his Lazio debut, coming on as a late substitute, in a 3-0 win over Udinese. Leitner also made another appearance on 26 October 2016, in a 4-1 win over Cagliari. However, Leitner was unable to dispatch from the first team and spent the first half of the season on the substitute bench, leading him to make two appearances for Lazio.

Augsburg

On 31 January 2017, Leitner signed for Bundesliga side Augsburg signing a four-year deal for a reported fee of €2 million. A team with whom he spelt time on loan at in 2011. Upon joining the club, he was given a number five shirt.

However, Leitner did not appear in the first team immediately, due to adapting the club's playing style. It wasn't until on 17 February 2017 when he made his re-debut for Augsburg, in 3-1 loss against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Leitner then made his first start on 12 March 2017, in a 3-0 loss against Schalke 04. At the end of the 2016-17 season, he went on to make six appearances for the club.

International Career

After making one appearance for Austria U17, which was against Estonia U17 on 21 May 2008, which saw Austria U17 winning 7-0, Leitner appeared to switch nationality.

In September 2010, Leitner received a German Citizenhsip, making him eligible to play for Germany. This allows him to be called up by Germany U19, making his debut for the national side, in a 3-0 win over Denmark U19. Leitner scored his first goals, as well as, setting up a goal, in a 10-0 win over Andorra U19 on 8 October 2010, followed up with his third in a 2-1 win over Northern Ireland U19 three days later. He later scored four more goals, including a 5-0 win over Macedonia U19.

After being called up by Germany U21, Leitner made his debut for the side, in a 4-1 win over Cyprus U21 on 9 August 2011. Leitner then scored his first Germany U21 goal on 10 October 2011, in a 8-0 win over San Marino U21. Leinter was then appointed Germany U21 and captained three times against Montenegro U21, Republic of Ireland U21 and Romania U21. Leitner was also included for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad, playing once for the side.

In March 2013, Leitner was called up by Germany U20 and scored in both legs against Switzerland U21.

Career statistics

Personal life

Leitner's father Erwin Feldberger (born 1943) comes from the Baden-Württemberg town of Burladingen. His mother, born Leitner, comes from Austria. Erwin Feldberger was also a footballer settled down in the Munich area after retirement. Leitner was then born in 1992 as one of two children in Munich and grew up in the suburb of Oberföhring.

In addition to having an Austrian citizenship, Leitner was granted a German Citizenship in September 2010.

Club