Leandro Grana

Leandro Grana (1911-1994) was a Brunanter footballer who played for Grijzestad Strijders and the Brunant national football team as a midfielder. A member of the famous 1931 Mediterranean Cup team, he scored the only goal in the final for Brunant.

Biography
Grana was born in Niesburg. His father Piero was an early Brunanter footballer who played for the national team in 1914. Grana began his career at top side Fulvia, but was immediately sent on loan to FC Drenthe 09 for the 1925-26 season. In March 1926 he made his debut for the club and became the youngest player to ever start in a First League match. Two goals in three appearances saw him recalled to Fulvia at the end of the season.

In the summer of 1927, he made his senior debut for Fulvia and was playing in the league from November. He still had a minor role as the club won the league that season, and was to take the place of the club's retiring number 10 until an injury forced him out for much of the 1928-29 season. In 1930, he joined Grijzestad Strijders for a transfer fee equivalent to around £2600, the highest ever paid for a player under 25 at the time.

At Grijzestad he found success befitting his talent. League titles in 1932-33 and 1938-39 and a Cup title in 1930-31 might have been all he could win, but he was the league top scorer in 1934-35 and 1935-36. During the war Grana was called up to the military and was wounded during the German invasion. After the war he continued as a player, retiring in the 1946-47 season.

National team
Grana was called up to the national team in 1930 and generally featured as a substitute. He was called up for the 1931 Mediterranean Cup, again as a substitute as Brunant's coach still did not value youth players as much.