In what has been an outstanding inaugural season with Adelaide United, Lucía León shares with aleagues.com.au her journey of overcoming familial expectations to chase her football dream, and how an unexpected opportunity to captaining internationally transformed her life.
Lucía León vividly recalls her time in London: gazing out the bus window at the overcast skies while inching through rush hour traffic on her daily trek to the Tottenham Hotspur training ground.
Each day, she would depart home in the early afternoon, only to arrive just in time for training to commence at seven.
The year was 2013, and León was a mere 16 years old, embarking on her path to becoming a professional footballer after a recent move from Spain to the UK.
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At that time, León was not fluent in English; intimidated by the bustling London Underground, she opted for the more leisurely, and in her view, safe option of the bus to reach training.
For the next six years, her routine remained consistent:
“Study, play, eat and sleep,” León recalls with a smile to aleagues.com.au. “I adored it. That was the foundation of my journey.”
These days, fans of the Ninja A-League are well-acquainted with the player León has evolved into. The 27-year-old international from the Dominican Republic has made a significant impact in her first season with the Reds.
However, it’s only through understanding the obstacles she faced to get to this point that one can truly appreciate the calibre of player León has become: a dynamic defender with an instinctive goal-scoring ability soaring up and down the flanks for Adelaide in 2025.
León might never have kick-started her career had she conformed to the traditional roles imposed upon women within Dominican society.
“My mum moved to Spain from the Dominican Republic in her teenage years, and my dad followed a few years later,” León explained.
“They already had one daughter by then, but following that, they had me and my twin brother. Even though we’re the same age, I always refer to him as my little brother because I’ve cared for him my entire life.
“He, my older sister, and my cousin were the highlights of my childhood journey in football. We played together constantly.”
“My sister had to frequently fight our parents about playing football, as they believed it was a sport for men. Their views were quite traditional, reflecting the norms of Dominican culture.”
“She faced numerous struggles in pursuing football; she loved playing futsal because she was so skilled at it. I’d watch her and think, ‘Wow, she’s incredible!’ However, she often had to bring us to matches, which meant she would have to leave her game to find my brother when he wandered off.”
“Her challenges motivated me. I observed how hard it was for her, and I resolved to be strong and determined like her. I knew I’d have to push back a bit against my parents.”
“I declared, ‘If I can’t play football, then I won’t study!’ To which they responded, ‘No, you must study! You can play, but ensure you come home at a reasonable hour.’
“When I turned 16, my dad landed a new job, and we relocated to London. That’s when I began playing for Tottenham.”
Now, Tottenham’s women’s squad competes in the prestigious FA Women’s Super League, a far cry from its amateur roots in 2013.
Arriving at Spurs without speaking any English, León was unaware of the experiences waiting for her over the next eight years in London.
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“We really started from scratch at an amateur level,” León continues.
“I can picture taking the bus to training alongside our coach, Juan Carlos Amorós, who would carry his bag filled with footballs.”
“He was coaching us while managing to survive, given the lack of funding for the women’s program, having to earn money through other coaching jobs.”
“For me, the priority was to learn English since I didn’t know a word when I arrived in England.”
“Suddenly, I found myself navigating this vast city, using the tube, which I once found terrifying as a young girl. Everything was so overwhelming.”
“If my training was set for 7:00 PM, I’d leave at around 3 or 4 PM, needing that time to traverse London. I feared the tube and was constrained to bus routes due to my limited knowledge. My journey could last three hours one way and just over an hour back, as the traffic eased once I finished training.”
“It was a lot of travelling. I can’t envision doing that now, but back then, being just 16, I thought, ‘This is my dream, and I want to pursue it for life.’”
“We’d attend school from 9 AM to 2 PM, then train, and often had two to three-hour gaps where I’d simply hang around. I had few friends, so I’d occasionally chill at a park, since my home was too far away to go back before training with the senior squad.”
“Thus, two or three times a week, I’d leave my home at 7 AM and return at 11 PM after training twice. However, throughout that grind, the energy I experienced was incredible—I was immersed in football every day.”
“Life in England was fantastic. I loved it, and I’m grateful to my parents for bringing us there.”
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After eight years with Tottenham, including their inaugural WSL season, León returned to Madrid CFF on loan in 2021, the club where her career began in her teens.
Just last week, León read an article on aleagues.com.au about fellow Ninja A-League Finalist Brooke Nunn, who was discovered by a scout while playing casually with friends in a London park.
The narrative struck a chord with León, recalling her own journey when she got scouted at Madrid CFF at the young age of 14.
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“I found Brooke Nunn’s story quite familiar,” she reflected.
“I was also playing in a park when some club directors remarked on my skills and invited me to join their team, albeit an all-boys squad. I spent my early days playing with boys until I was scouted by Madrid CFF at 14.”
“That was the genesis of my football journey, preceding my move to London. The similarities between my and Brooke’s stories are remarkable—just two girls playing in the streets, and then someone notices you, changing your life.”
Initially, León aspired to play for the Spanish national team. Years later, she earned a spot on the Under-23 squad, and it seemed natural she would transition to the senior side.
However, that opportunity never materialised; instead, a chance arose with the Dominican Republic upon her return to Madrid CFF on loan in 2021.
“Growing up, my aspiration was to don the colours of the Spanish national team,” she explained.
“The Dominican Republic team was virtually non-existent back then, and I knew little about it. But in my late teens, I began hearing more about the national team, even attending one of their training camps. At that time, I had the option of Spain still open to me.
“I enjoyed my time with the U23s, thinking it was finally my turn to represent the senior team, but that never came to fruition.”
“As I advanced in age, the pathway to the senior team became challenging, especially without a robust history in youth camps.”
“While at Madrid CFF on loan from Tottenham, I met the technical director, a friend of the new Dominican Republic coach. He approached me, sharing about a promising project with the national team, and I was keen to learn more.”
“Accepting this opportunity was life-changing. It proved to be my best decision yet. Today, even if Spain offered me a chance, I wouldn’t consider it, as my experiences in the D.R. have given me so much beyond sport but in life as well.”
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When León made her debut for the Dominican Republic in 2021, the team was at its lowest world ranking, positioned at 113. They have since risen to 101, with their highest-ever ranking at 81 in 2009.
She compares her choice to join the Dominican Republic team to the decision to join Adelaide United ahead of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season, a choice made on instinct that is yielding considerable benefits.
“Coming here felt similar to my decision with the D.R. national team,” León reflected.
“It was an extraordinary choice. I was uncertain about my next steps, especially in August when most people in Europe would already have commitments. At that point, I was not in pre-season and felt mentally and physically out of sorts. Then, the opportunity with Adelaide arose. It wasn’t a conscious decision—I relied on my gut feeling.”
“While it may not have been a life-changing contract financially, it uplifted my life in various ways. I’ve enjoyed a fantastic season due to the faith from my coaches and teammates, remaining injury-free and getting ample playing time in the league.”
“I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity. This league seems to grow in competitiveness every year.”
For the first time, León plays her club football across the globe from her parents.
After all the challenges faced in her childhood regarding her football aspirations, she now relishes the strong bond she has with her parents.
“It’s somewhat peculiar as they don’t typically message me,” León shared. “They’re supportive in their own way, even though they don’t watch my matches. They might check my Instagram to see my updates and occasionally reach out to congratulate me on a goal.”
“It may seem unusual, but I don’t rely on their support to pursue my passion since that wasn’t a luxury I had growing up. I love making them proud, and knowing they’re happy and tell everyone about my football career means a lot to me.”
“Just this week, I spoke with my mum, who was curious about my plans for the following year since I had mentioned my stay in Adelaide might just be for one season.”
“She asked, ‘Are you returning? What’s your plan?’ I responded, ‘Honestly, I’m unsure at this moment. This past season has been quite successful, so I’m considering extending my stay for another year here in Australia.’
“To my delight, she was very supportive, saying, ‘I’m proud of you. Keep pushing. I’ve seen your goals, and this season has been your best thus far.’”
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This season, León has featured in 24 matches for Adelaide, netting five goals and assisting another three from her relentlessly energetic wing-back position. Her integration into the team has been pivotal in transforming the club from last season’s wooden spooners to a commendable third place finish in 2024-25.
Last week, León and the Reds achieved their first victory in the Finals Series, triumphing 1-0 over Western United, setting the stage for a two-legged Semi-Final encounter against Melbourne Victory, where a spot in the Grand Final awaits the winner.
This Saturday, Adelaide is set to host the first leg at Coopers Stadium, a match León describes as one of the most significant in the club’s history.
“This turnaround has been monumental, and none of us anticipated it,” León noted.
“I arrived with no expectations, knowing this team had finished at the bottom of the table last year. Together, we have forged a solid unit, which is vital. Despite injuries to Fi (Fiona Worts), Chels (Chelsie Dawber), and Erin Healy, we’ve consistently found ways to secure results. We’ve learned we can endure and emerge victorious.”
“Now, we need to reflect on our past performances against Victory, aiming to exploit the weaknesses we’ve previously uncovered.”
“This is one of the biggest games in our club’s history. We require all the support we can muster; it’s essential we show that this is our home, and we are here for a win. Fans need to create a raucous atmosphere with every attack, defence, and challenge we take on.”
“We need that noise to signal to Victory that this is our home ground. This can only happen if our 12th player, the fans, show up in numbers. The atmosphere last weekend was fantastic, and I’m confident we can amplify that even more this time around.”
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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