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{{Infobox Football biography |
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| playername = Leroy Lita |
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| image = |
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| fullname = Leroy Halirou Bohari Lita |
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| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1984|12|28|df=yes}} |
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| cityofbirth = |
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| countryofbirth = [[England]] |
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| height = {{height|meters=1.75}} |
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| position = [[Striker]] |
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| currentclub = [[Ipswich Town F.C.]] |
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| clubnumber = N/A |
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| youthyears = 1999–2001 |
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| youthclubs = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] |
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| years = 2002–2005<br />2005–2009<br />2008<br />2008<br />2009- |
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| clubs = [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] <br />[[Reading F.C.|Reading]]<br />→ [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] (loan)<br />→ [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] (loan)<br /> |
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| caps(goals) = 85 (31)<br />77 (20)<br />{{0}}8 {{0}}(3) <br />16 {{0}}(7)<br /> |
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| nationalyears = 2005–2007 |
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| nationalteam = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] |
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| nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}9 {{0}}(6) |
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| pcupdate = 16:54, 15 May 2009 (UTC) |
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| ntupdate = 23:19, 17 October 2008 (UTC) |
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}} |
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'''Leroy Halirou Bohari Lita''', known to his friends as 'Haribo' (born 28 December 1984 in [[Kinshasa]]<ref>{{cite news | date=2005-10-01 | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9753,1582421,00.html | title=Chelsea finishing school graduate has eyes on Premiership honours | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | accessdate=2006-08-23}}</ref>) is a [[Democratic Republic of Congo|Congolese]] born [[England|English]] professional [[Association football|football]]er. He currently plays for [[Ipswich Town F.C.]]. |
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==Club career== |
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Lita signed his first professional contract for [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] at the age of 18 at the start of the [[2003-04 in English football|2003-04]] season, after being discovered by scout Roger Barton.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-04-01]] | url=http://www.www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/reading/article1596265.ece | title=Lita the fighter | work=[[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]] | accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref> It wasn't until [[Brian Tinnion]] took over from [[Danny Wilson (footballer)|Danny Wilson]] as manager at the start of the [[2004-05 in English football|2004–05]] season that Lita really established himself in the first team. That year he scored 29 goals in all competitions for club and one U21 international goal taking his tally to 30 for the season. |
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Lita moved to [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] (then in the [[Football League Championship]]) on 13 July 2005 for a then club record fee for Reading of £1m.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2005-07-14]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/4674515.stm | title=Reading snap up £1m striker Lita | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref> Lita's potential was confirmed when he hit a hat-trick against [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] in the third round of the [[FA Cup]] on 17 January 2006. |
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Sadly, Lita's [[2005-06 in English football|2005–06]] season ended early after a broken ankle, but Reading still won [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] to the [[Premier League]] that season. |
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Despite a promising start to life in the Premiership, in which he netted the winner against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] on the opening day, Lita endured a barren run and lost his place in the first team. He ended his drought by scoring against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]], the first of ten goals in twelve games.<ref>{{cite web | title=Leroy Lita career stats | work=Soccerbase | url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=136&playerid=32646 | accessdate=2007-06-16}}</ref> |
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On 13 April 2007, Lita was banned for three games for allegedly [[headbutt]]ing [[Talal El Karkouri]] of [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] on 9 April, a charge disputed by both the player and Reading's manager, [[Steve Coppell]]. |
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In a freak occurrence just prior to the start of the [[2007-08 in English football|2007–08]] season, Lita was faced with a month of downtime after damaging a leg muscle as he, supposedly, stretched in bed upon waking.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-08-07]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/6935892.stm | title=Lita sidelined after freak injury | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-08-07}}</ref> Coppell told the [[BBC]]: "Leroy is in a great deal of pain. It's a point of laughter but a serious business for him because he's going to be out for three or four weeks." |
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On 5 March 2008, Lita joined Charlton on a 28 day loan deal, after finding his first team opportunities limited at Reading during the 2007–08 season.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2008-03-05]] | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1256983,00.html | title=Lita makes Charlton loan move | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> The loan was later extended to the end of the season,<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2008-03-27]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/7316451.stm | title=Lita extends loan with Charlton | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2008-03-27}}</ref> but he was called back from the loan on 19 April for the last three games of the season.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2008-04-21]] | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1294539,00.html | title=Lita back after Charlton loan | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> Lita then went to [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] for a month long loan on 1 October. He scored 4 goals in his initial 6 game spell including a hat-trick against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton]] in a 5-2 victory. Reading and Norwich agreed to extend the loan for another 6 games until 7 December. Following Norwich's 2-0 win over local rivals Ipswich, it was announced on the 8th December that Lita would sign for a third month on loan. |
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Lita returned to Reading and played in the third round FA Cup tie defeat at [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7803237.stm |title=Cardiff 2-0 Reading |date=3 January 2009 |accessdate=9 January 2009 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> |
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He then made his first league appearance since August, coming on as a sub, to score a goal against Watford at home on the 9th January 2009, to make it 4-0. Later, in the same week Lita announced that he had changed for the better, and that he would stay with Reading for the promotion push.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1516968,00.html |title=Lita - I've changed for the better |date=12 January 2009 |accessdate=12 January 2009 |publisher=readingfc.co.uk}}</ref> |
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Sheffield United had a seven figure sum accepted by Reading for Leroy Lita on 13th January 2009, but Lita rejected the contract offer and decided to fight for his place at Reading.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2009-01-15]] |http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1518604,00.html| title=Lita not joining Sheffield United |
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| publisher=[[Reading FC]] | accessdate=2009-05-15}}</ref> |
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On 15 May 2009 Lita was told along with [[Michael Duberry]], club captain [[Graeme Murty]] and [[Marcus Hahnemann]] that their contracts would not be renewed. |
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Lita signed a two year contract with [[Barcelona]] on the 22nd July 2009. |
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==International career== |
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===England U21 breakthrough=== |
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Lita rejected the chance to play for [[Congo DR national football team|DR Congo]] in favour of pursuing an international career with England, despite having previously stated he wished to represent the country of his birth.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2004-01-22]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3404339.stm | title=Lita seeks Simba stardom | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2006-08-30}}</ref> He scored on his debut for [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] with a goal against [[Netherlands national under-21 football team|Holland U21]] in a 2-1 loss on 8 February 2005, coming on as a second half substitute.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2005-02-08]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/4233991.stm | title=England U21 1-2 Holland U21 | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref> He had to wait over a year to make his second appearance, again as a substitute, in a 3-1 win over Norway on 28 February 2006.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2006-02-28]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4750998.stm | title=England U21 3-1 Norway U21 | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref> Following excellent goal-scoring form in the Premier League, Lita was awarded with a further '''cap''' as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with Spain on 6 February 2007, scoring his second goal in three international appearances.06}}</ref> |
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===2007 European U21 Championship=== |
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Despite being 22, Lita was eligible to compete in the [[2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship]],<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-02-06]] | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~976694,00.html | title=Lita hoping for his first England start tonight as he looks to Euro championships | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref> and was called up to the squad.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-05-10]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6644497.stm | title=FA names 30-man England U21 squad | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref> |
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In the first group game against the [[Czech Republic national under-21 football team|Czech Republic]], England were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute which Lita subsequently dragged wide condemning England to a scoreless draw.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-06-11]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6738781.stm | title=Czech Rep U21 0-0 England U21 | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-06-12}}</ref> However he then scored for England in each of their next three games; a 2-2 draw against Italy, a 2-0 win over Serbia, and a 1-1 (13-12) penalty shoot-out loss to Holland in the semi-finals. |
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After the tournament he was named in the ''UEFA Dream Team'' for the tournament.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-07-02]] | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1065230,00.html | title=Lita gets award from UEFA | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-07-02}}</ref> |
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==Career statistics== |
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{|border=1 align=center cellpadding=4 cellspacing=2 style="background: ivory; font-size: 95%; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; clear:center" |
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|+ '''<big>All-Time Club Performance</big>''' |
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|- style="background:beige" |
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!rowspan="2"|Club |
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!rowspan="2"|Season |
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!colspan="2"|{{flagicon|England}} League |
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!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]] |
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!colspan="2"|[[League Cup]] |
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!colspan="2"|Other |
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!colspan="2"|Total |
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|- style="background:beige" |
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!App |
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!Goals |
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!App |
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!Goals |
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!App |
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!Goals |
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!App |
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!Goals |
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!App |
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!Goals |
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|- |
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! colspan="2" align="left"| Reading Total !! 76 !! 19 !! 8 !! 7 !! 7 !! 5 !! 0!! 0 !! 91 !! 31 |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1" align=center valign=center|'''[[Reading F.C.|Reading]]''' ([[Football League Championship|Championship]]) |
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|align="center"|2008-09 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|- |
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|rowspan="2" align=center valign=center|([[Premier League]]) |
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|align="center"|2007-08 |
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|align="center"|14 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|18 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|- |
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|align="center"|2006-07 |
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|align="center"|33 |
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|align="center"|7 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|4 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|38 |
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|align="center"|14 |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1" align=center valign=center|([[Football League Championship|Championship]]) |
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|align="center"|2005-06 |
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|align="center"|26 |
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|align="center"|11 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|32 |
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|align="center"|15 |
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|- style="background:lemonchiffon" |
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|- |
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! colspan="2" align="left"| Norwich City Total !! 13 !! 6 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0!! 0 !! 13 !! 6 |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1" align=center valign=center|'''[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]''' (Loan) ([[Football League Championship|Championship]]) |
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|align="center"|2008-09 |
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|align="center"|13 |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|13 |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|- style="background:lemonchiffon" |
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|- |
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! colspan="2" align="left"| Charlton Athletic Total !! 8 !! 3 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0!! 0 !! 8 !! 3 |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1" align=center valign=center|'''[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]''' (Loan) ([[Football League Championship|Championship]]) |
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|align="center"|2007-08 |
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|align="center"|8 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|8 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|- style="background:lemonchiffon" |
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|- |
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! colspan="2" align="left"| Bristol City Total !! 85 !! 31 !! 5 !! 3 !! 3 !! 2 !! 6!! 2 !! 99 !! 38 |
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|- |
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|rowspan="3" align=center valign=center|'''[[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]''' |
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([[Football League One|League One]]) |
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|align="center"|2004-05 |
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|align="center"|44 |
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|align="center"|24 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|51 |
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|align="center"|29 |
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|- |
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|align="center"|2003-04 |
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|align="center"|26 |
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|align="center"|5 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|31 |
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|align="center"|5 |
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|- |
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|align="center"|2002-03 |
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|align="center"|15 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|align="center"|17 |
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|align="center"|4 |
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|- style="background:lemonchiffon" |
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! style="background:beige" colspan="2" align="left" |Career Total |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 174 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 57 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 13 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 10 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 10 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 7 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 6 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 2 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 203 |
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! align=center style="background:beige"| 76 |
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|- |
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| colspan="12"|<small>Last updated 11 December 2008. |
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|} |
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==Personal life== |
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On 30 August 2006, Lita was arrested on suspicion of causing [[grievous bodily harm]] in Bristol on 27 August<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2006-08-30]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5298340.stm | title=Footballer arrested over attack | publisher=[[BBC News]] | accessdate=2006-08-30}}</ref>, but on 18 September 2006 the complaint was withdrawn and police confirmed that no further action would be taken.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2006-09-18]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5355882.stm | title=Complaint against player dropped | publisher=[[BBC News]] | accessdate=2006-09-18}}</ref> |
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Lita attended King Ethelberts School located in Birchington Kent. |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~22482,00.html Leroy Lita profile] at readingfc.co.uk |
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*{{soccerbase|32646|Leroy Lita}} |
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*[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=12248 Photo and stats] at sporting-heroes.net |
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{{Persondata |
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|NAME=Lita, Leroy Halirou |
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer |
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|DATE OF BIRTH=28 December 1984 |
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|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Kinshasa]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] |
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|DATE OF DEATH= |
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|PLACE OF DEATH= |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lita, Leroy}} |
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[[Category:1984 births]] |
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[[Category:People from Kinshasa]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Football (soccer) forwards]] |
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[[Category:English people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent]] |
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[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo footballers]] |
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[[Category:English footballers]] |
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[[Category:England under-21 international footballers]] |
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[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]] |
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[[Category:Bristol City F.C. players]] |
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[[Category:Reading F.C. players]] |
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[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]] |
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[[Category:Norwich City F.C. players]] |
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[[Category:The Football League players]] |
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[[Category:Premier League players]] |
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[[Category:Black British sportspeople]] |
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[[ar:ليروي ليتا]] |
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[[ca:Leroy Halirou Lita]] |
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[[fr:Leroy Lita]] |
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[[it:Leroy Lita]] |
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[[ja:リロイ・リタ]] |
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[[no:Leroy Lita]] |
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[[fi:Leroy Lita]] |
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[[sv:Leroy Lita]] |
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