Claudio Suárez

Claudio Suárez Sánchez (locally [ˈklawðjo ˈswaɾes ˈsantʃes]; born 17 December 1968) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a defender. He last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer and an exhibition game on 5 September 2010 with the Carolina Railhawks versus the Pumas Morelos.

Claudio Suárez
Suárez in 2012
Personal information
Full name Claudio Suárez Sánchez
Date of birth (1968-12-17) 17 December 1968
Place of birth Texcoco, State of Mexico, Mexico
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1996 UNAM 204 (19)
1996–2000 Guadalajara 144 (10)
2000–2005 UANL 143 (15)
2006–2009 Chivas USA 64 (9)
Total 555 (53)
National team
1992–2006 Mexico 177 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Nicknamed El Emperador (The Emperor), he has the record for most caps with the Mexico national team, as well as third place all-time, after Egyptian midfielder Ahmed Hassan and Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea.[2]

Club career

Born in Texcoco, State of Mexico and nicknamed El Emperador ("The Emperor"), Suárez began his club career with UNAM Pumas, where he played from 1988 to 1996 where he became champion in 1991. He moved to Guadalajara as an important piece for the 1996 Apertura, and remained there for 3 years, through the 1999 Clausura where he became champion in the Verano 1997 tournament, and was called to the 1998 FIFA World Cup. After being in the All Mexican Team, as an important and solid defender he was transferred to Tigres.

Suárez then moved on to UANL Tigres, where he played from 1999 to the end of 2005. He led the team's defense during that time, and was league runner-up twice, in 2001 and 2003. His last game with Tigres, and in the Mexico league, was a semi-final Clásico Regiomontano in which he was sent off in a controversial referee decision. Previous to this incident, he already had disagreements with the team's management. Tigre's directive organization had asked Suarez to retire for years and join the management, but Suarez had refused. Other differences in defensive style were also cause for conflict with the team's management. The semi-final was the last excuse for separation.

In 2006, he moved to Major League Soccer to play for Chivas USA.

On 8 March 2009 after negotiations with his contract fell, Suarez announced his retirement. However, on 20 March 2009, he decided to return to professional soccer for another year. He was the last active soccer player left from Mexico's 1994 FIFA World Cup squad until he announced his retirement on 26 March 2010.[3]

On 5 September 2010, Suárez came out of retirement to play for the Carolina Railhawks in an exhibition game with the Pumas Morelos.[4]

International career

Claudio was a member and starter for Mexico in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States as well as the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He missed 2002 FIFA World Cup due to injury before the tournament began. He was picked to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany with the Mexico National Team. This FIFA World Cup meant his third World Cup in his career. Despite being picked for the squad he saw no action, but he did wear his legendary number 2 jersey.

Claudio captained the Mexico National Team for many years and officially represented Mexico 177 times (178 in Mexican record keeping) making him the player with the most caps in history for the Mexico National Team as well as giving him the FIFA world record for most caps by a field player (since surpassed by Ahmed Hassan in 2012), as well as the North American record (which he still holds).

On 25 March 2007, Suárez along with former national team and Chivas USA teammate Ramón Ramírez were honored in a friendly against Paraguay at Estadio Universitario.[5]

Personal life

Suárez currently resides in Southern California with his wife and three children,[6] and works as a commentator for Fox Deportes.

Career statistics

Club
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Mexico League Cup North America Total
1988–89UNAMPrimera División5020--70
1989–901702010200
1990–914037210485
1991–9240040--440
1992–93134--70204
1993–94203----203
1994–9537410--384
1995–9632510--335
1996–97Guadalajara39640436
1997–9832110120451
1998–9939140--431
1999–00342----342
2000–01UANL293----293
2001–02335----335
2002–03183----183
2003–0437130--401
2004–052032020243
200560----60
USA League Open Cup North America Total
2006Chivas USAMajor League
Soccer		206----206
2007253----253
2008140--20170
200950--2070
Total Mexico 4914431224054646
USA 649--40689
Career total 5555331228061455

International goals
Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.[7]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
1.8 November 1992Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent Saint Vincent2–04–01994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
2.22 November 1992Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Costa Rica2–04–01994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
3.27 January 1993Estadio Insular, Las Palmas, Spain Spain1–01–1Friendly
4.14 December 1994Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Hungary3–15–1Friendly
5.11 October 1995Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States Saudi Arabia1–12–1Friendly
6.31 January 2001Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States Colombia1–02–3Friendly
7.1 May 2001Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico Brazil1–03–3Friendly

Honours

Club
UNAM
Guadalajara
UANL
Chivas USA

International
Mexico

References
  1. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/claudio-suarez/
  2. Mamrud, Roberto (15 July 2011). "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  3. "Claudio Suárez le dijo adiós a las canchas".
  4. "Mexican legend debuts in Railhawks 3-0 win over Pumas Morelos". carolinarailhawks.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  5. México, El Universal, Compañia Periodística Nacional. "Preparan homenaje para Claudio Suárez y Ramón Ramírez".
  6. "Chivas USA: Roster, Player Bio". Archived from the original on 19 June 2009.
  7. Claudio Suárez - Century of International Appearances
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