Léo Lacroix (footballer)

Léo Lacroix (born 27 February 1992) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a defender.

Club career
On 31 August 2016, Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Lacroix. Lacroix signed a four-year contract and in his first season he had 20 appearances in the 2016–17 Ligue 1. In the 2017–18 Ligue 1 season he played 11 games for the team, but was then loaned out to Swiss club Basel.

Lacroix joined Basel's first team in the winter break of their 2017–18 season under head coach Raphaël Wicky. The loan was dated until summer 2018, with the option of a definite transfer. Basel had to find a replacement for Manuel Akanji, who had transferred out to Borussia Dortmund. Lacroix played his domestic league debut for the club in the away game in the Stockhorn Arena on 10 February as Basel won 2–0 against Thun. Lacroix stayed with Basel until the end of the season, but the club did not pull the option. During his short period with the club Lacroix played a total of 12 games for Basel without scoring a goal. Nine of these games were in the Swiss Super League, one in the Swiss Cup and two games against Manchester City in the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League knockout phase.

In September 2021, Lacroix signed with Australian club Western United. Lacroix spent two seasons at Western United, before departing at the end of the 2022-23 season.

On 17 July 2023, he moved to Romanian Liga I club FC U Craiova on a one-year deal, with an extension option. On 13 May 2024, his contract was terminated by mutual consent, a day after a 1–3 loss to Hermannstadt, resulting in FC U Craiova's last-place finish and relegation to the second division.

International career
Lacroix was born in Switzerland, and is of Brazilian descent through his mother. He got his first call up to the senior Switzerland side for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Andorra in October 2016. He made his debut for the national team on 14 November 2018 in a friendly against Qatar.

Honours

 * Sion
 * Swiss Cup: 2014–15


 * Western United
 * A-League Men: 2021–22


 * Individual
 * A-Leagues All Star: 2022
 * PFA A-League Team of the Season: 2021–22