Position(s)

Forward

Description

Player attributes

Walsall's former Director of Football, Paul Taylor has found some terrible foreign players , but Jorge is one his best ever signings.

He impressed Walsall boss Ray Graydon so much, that he persuaded Bonser to pay £150,000 for his services. Not that much you say, but when you look at the fee's we have paid since moving to the Bescot in 1990, it is the largest, and still not our record

He made an immediate impact and became the clubs first choice striker for 00/01. Angell and Byfield vied to partner him, but neither of them could match his high standards. He scored some vital goals on the way to play off success, most notably the solo effort against Cambridge (which ended a baron away run for the team), and the last minute equaliser against Wigan (fellow play off hopefuls). Although he failed to make his mark on the Play Off final, his partnership with Don Goodman was a good one, and one which struck fear in to center half's. He got 21 goals that season, and won the player of the season award. .

He found 01/02 in the first division a little harder, and he didn't carry on from where he left off the season before. We saw glimpses of the old Jorge, but he soon fell out of favour with Ray Graydon. He lost confidence and a looked a shadow of him former self. With Saddlers playing a lone striker, and Jorge being out of form, it was Darren Byfield who became the first choice center forward.

The arrival of Colin Lee is February signaled a change in fortunes for both Leitao and the team. Jorge slammed home two goals in Lee's first game (Knocking Premiership Charlton out of the FA Cup), and won his place in the starting XI back. The Saddlers clawed their way to safety, and it was Leitao who got the all important goal at Bramhall Lane which secured out first division status.

02/03 saw Gary Birch, Aussie David Zdrilic and Junior competing for the places up front. Leitao became the number 1 choice, with the others competing to partner him. Despite both Driller and Birch promise, it was the Brazilian Junior who Jorge forged a good understanding with Leitao. There goals played a major part in our survival. They forged one of the most entertaining partnerships seen in recent seasons.

The Saddlers failed to sign Junior on a permanent deal, and Jorge started 03-04 as our only recognized striker. He had a number of partners, struggled with injuries, lost his place for a while, went on a good scoring run then lost form. It was a strange season for Jorge.

04-05 should have been the season when Jorge Leitao found form and fired the Saddlers back in to the Championship.  It didn't turn out that way, and despite showing glimpses of what he is capable of, Jorge failed to deliver the goals and ended the season in the Reserves.