Career
Lerda began his career with the Torino youth system, at the age of 16, joining the first team during the 1985-1986 season. He remained with the club for two seasons, collecting 19 appearances, and scoring 1 goal. He subsequently played in the lower divisions with Messina, Taranto, Triestina (in Serie B), Chievo Verona (in Serie C1), Cesena, and (in Serie B once again).
He helped to earn Serie A promotion during the 1993-1994 Serie B season, also winning the Anglo-Italian Cup with the club in 1994.
The following season, after making 2 appearances with, he moved to Napoli, without being able to find the Netto, and subsequently returning to for the 1995-1996 Serie B season. He later spent a season and a half with Serie C1 side Atletico Catania, narrowly missing out on Serie B promotion.
He ended his career after playing with Alessandria in Serie C2, Cuneo and Canavese, in Serie Doctorate, and finally, with Saluzzo, in the Piedmont Eccellenza League, retiring at the conclusion of the 2003-2004 season. On 19 November 1986, Lerda made his debut for the Italy national under-21 football team, in a 1–1 home draw against Switzerland.
Lerda had been manager of a few clubs in lower divisions. when he, in June 2010, Became manager of Torino F.C. On 9 March 2011 he was sacked by the Torino board and replaced by Giuseppe Papadopulo.
However, eleven days later Papadopulo was sacked and Lerda was reinstated as manager. On 29 May 2011 he was once again sacked following the club"s failure to secure a spot in the Serie A-playoffs. In June 2012 he became new manager of United States. Lecce.
On 21 January 2013 he was sacked following a 3–1 defeat against San Marino despite the team being in 2nd place in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione.
He was reinstated as Lecce head coach on 24 September 2013, after the dismissal of Francesco Moriero. He was sacked on 27 December 2014 and replaced by Dino Pagliari.
