Claudio Suárez

Claudio Suárez

Suárez presenting an award at Club Tijuana in 2012
Personal information
Full name Claudio Suárez Sánchez
Date of birth (1968-12-17) December 17, 1968
Place of birth Texcoco, Mexico
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position 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 (6)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Claudio "El Emperador" Suárez Sánchez (locally: [ˈklawðjo ˈswaɾes ˈsantʃes]; born 17 December 1968 in Texcoco, State of Mexico) is a retired Mexican footballer. 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.

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 .[1]

Career

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 where also cause for conflict with the teams 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 March 26, 2010.[2]

On 5 September 2010, Suárez came out of retirement to play for the Carolina Railhawks in an exhibition game with the Pumas Morelos.[3]

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 begins. 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 the Estadio Universitario.[4]

Personal life

Suárez currently resides in Southern California with his wife and three children.[5]

Stats

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mexico League Cup North America Total
1988–89UNAMPrimera División5050
1989–90170170
1990–91403403
1991–92400400
1992–93134134
1993–94203203
1994–95374374
1995–96325325
1996–97Guadalajara396396
1997–98321321
1998–99391391
1999–00342342
2000–01UANL293293
2001–02335335
2002–03183183
2003–04371371
2004–05203203
2005–066060
USA League Open Cup North America Total
2006Chivas USAMajor League
Soccer		206206
2007253253
2008140140
20095050
Total Mexico 4914449144
USA 649649
Career total 5555355553

International goals

Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. November 8, 1992 Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent  Saint Vincent 2–0 4–0 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
2. November 22, 1992 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  Costa Rica 2–0 4–0 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
3. December 14, 1994 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  Hungary 3–1 5–1 Friendly
4. October 11, 1995 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States  Saudi Arabia 1–1 2–1 Friendly
5. January 31, 2001 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States  Colombia 1–0 2–3 Friendly
6. May 1, 2001 Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico  Brazil 1–0 3–3 Friendly

Honours

Club

UNAM
Guadalajara
UANL

International

Mexico

References

  1. ↑ Template:Cite news .
  2. ↑ http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/noticias/2010/03/26/claudio-suarez-le-dijo-adios-a-las-canchas
  3. ↑ http://carolinarailhawks.com/article/mexican-legend-debuts-in-railhawks-3-0-win-over-pumas-morelos
  4. ↑ http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/412773.html
  5. ↑ Chivas USA: Roster, Player Bio
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