Claudio Suárez

Claudio Suárez Sánchez (locally [ˈklawðjo ˈswaɾes ˈsantʃes]; born 17 December 1968) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Claudio Suárez
Suárez in 2012
Personal information
Full name Claudio Suárez Sánchez[1]
Date of birth (1968-12-17) 17 December 1968
Place of birth Texcoco, Mexico
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
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)
International career
1996 Mexico Olympic (O.P.) 4 (0)
1992–2006 Mexico 177 (7)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup1998
WinnerFIFA Confederations Cup1999
Runner-upCopa America1993
Third placeCopa America1997
Third placeCopa America1999
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Club career

Born in Texcoco, State of Mexico and nicknamed El Emperador ("The Emperor"), Suárez began his club career with UNAM, 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 Tigres UANL, 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

Suárez was a member and starter for the senior national team 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, but was picked to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. 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.

He captained the national team for many years and officially represented Mexico 177 times (178 in Mexican record keeping) making him the 2nd player with the most caps in history for the Mexico national football team.[5]

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.[6]

He was selected as one of 3 overage players on the Mexico Olympic team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

Suárez currently resides in Southern California with his wife and three children,[7] and works as a commentator for Fox Deportes.

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup North America Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
UNAM 1988–89 Mexican Primera División 5020–70
1989–90 1702010200
1990–91 4037210485
1991–92 40040–440
1992–93 134–70204
1993–94 203––203
1994–95 37410–384
1995–96 32510–335
Total 204191729023021
Guadalajara 1996–97 Mexican Primera División 39640–436
1997–98 32110120451
1998–99 39140–431
1999–00 342––342
Total 144109012016510
Tigres UANL 2000–01 Mexican Primera División 293––293
2001–02 335––335
2002–03 183––183
2003–04 37130–401
2004–05 2032020243
2005 60––60
Total 14315502015015
Chivas USA 2006 Major League
Soccer		 206––206
2007 253––253
2008 140–20170
2009 50–2070
Total 649–40689
Career total 5555331227061355

International goals
Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Suárez goal.[8]
List of international goals scored by Claudio Suárez
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
18 November 1992Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2–04–01994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
222 November 1992Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Costa Rica2–04–01994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
327 January 1993Estadio Insular, Las Palmas, Spain Spain1–01–1Friendly
414 December 1994Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Hungary3–15–1Friendly
511 October 1995Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States Saudi Arabia1–12–1Friendly
631 January 2001Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States Colombia1–02–3Friendly
71 May 2001Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico Brazil1–03–3Friendly

Honours

UNAM

Guadalajara

UANL

Chivas USA

Mexico

Individual

See also

References
  1. "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Mexico" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. "Claudio Suárez". worldfootball.net.
  3. "Claudio Suárez le dijo adiós a las canchas". www.mediotiempo.com.
  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. Baum, Robert (17 February 2020). "11 of the most capped Mexico players". SoccerGator. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  6. México, El Universal, Compañia Periodística Nacional. "Preparan homenaje para Claudio Suárez y Ramón Ramírez".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "Chivas USA: Roster, Player Bio". Archived from the original on 19 June 2009.
  8. "Claudio Suárez - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF.
  9. "IFFHS".
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