He left the club to join SpVgg Unterhaching, but returned, and began playing for the reserve team in 1995.

A year later he was promoted to the senior squad, but did not make any first-team appearances, continuing to play for the reserves in the Regionalliga Süd.

After two years Nürnberg were promoted to the Bundesliga as champions, where Leitl found his opportunities limited – after just five appearances he left the club half-way through the 2001–02 season, dropping back down a division to return to Unterhaching.

He could not prevent them being relegated down to the Regionalliga, but played in 33 of 36 games the following season as they won the title, finishing ahead of Jahn Regensburg on goals scored.

He returned to Bavaria to sign for FC Ingolstadt 04, where he established himself as a key player, captaining the club to promotion as league runners-up.

Ingolstadt were relegated after one season, but bounced back in 2010, beating Hansa Rostock in a playoff to return to the 2.

[4] The first match for Leitl as manager of FC Ingolstadt 04 II was a 4–2 win against Wacker Burghausen on 19 September 2014.