Vítor Saba

Vítor Rodrigues Saba (born 11 July 1990) is a former Brazilian professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and last played for Hong Kong Premier League team, Eastern SC.

For the many other Portuguese and Brazilian men's footballers named Vítor, see Vítor.
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Rodrigues and the second or paternal family name is Saba.

Vítor Saba
Saba with Eastern SC in 2017
Personal information
Full name Vítor Rodrigues Saba[1]
Date of birth (1990-07-11) 11 July 1990
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2001–2006 Vasco da Gama
2006–2010 Flamengo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Flamengo 1 (0)
2011 → Macaé (loan) 1 (0)
2011–2012 → Vitória (loan) 1 (0)
2012 → Boavista (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2014 Brescia 35 (3)
2014–2015 Western Sydney Wanderers 8 (0)
2015 Crotone 1 (0)
2015–2016 AEL Kalloni 12 (0)
2016 Siena 6 (0)
2016–2017 Al-Muharraq (2)
2017 Fortuna Sittard 5 (0)
2017–2018 Eastern SC 11 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Sukakerta, Saba arrived in Vasco da Gama's youth team at the age of 10. In 2007, he joined Flamengo's youth team and was promoted to the professional team in 2010. Saba made his professional debut on 25 September 2010, as a first-half substitute for Juan, playing as left back in a Brazilian Série A 1–3 loss to Palmeiras at Engenhão Stadium. After loans to Brazilian state league sides Macaé, Vitória and Boavista in 2011 and 2012 proved unsuccessful, with Saba failing to make an appearance at either club, he returned to Flamengo. On 14 August 2012, Saba transferred to Italian Serie B club Brescia.[2] During his two-season stint, Saba made 35 appearances (including 2 Coppa Italia matches) and scored 13 goals.

On 20 June 2014, Australian A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers signed Saba on a two-year contract.[3] Saba made his first appearance for the club in the first leg of the 2014 AFC Champions League quarter-final against Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, with the player also appearing in the 2014 AFC Champions League Final. In the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, Saba scored at the 89th minute against ES Sétif of Algeria to level the scoreline 2–2.[4] On January 26, 2015, Saba left Western Sydney Wanderers,[5] later attributing his departure to a poor relationship with the manager, Tony Popovic.[6]

On 2 February 2015, Saba signed with Italian second tier club F.C. Crotone on a free transfer.[7] In June, he received an offer from his old club Botafogo.[8] In February 2016, he switched to the Italian third tier with A.C. Siena after a stint with Greek club AEL Kalloni F.C.[9] After a stint with Bahrani club Al-Muharraq SC, he joined Eerste Divisie (Dutch second tier) club Fortuna Sittard on a one-year deal on 27 January 2017.[10]

On 4 July 2017, Saba returned to Asia to continue his career by signing with Hong Kong club Eastern SC.[11] On 17 April 2018, Saba confirmed via his Instagram account that he would not return for the following season.[12]

Vitor Saba announced his retirement from football on 26 January 2019 citing heart-related health issues.

Honours
Western Sydney Wanderers

Club statistics
As of 7 December 2014
Club Season League Cup Continental1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Flamengo 2006 1000—10
Total 1000—10
Macaé 2011 0000—00
Total 0000—00
Vitória 2011 1000—10
Total 1000—10
Boavista 2012 0000—00
Total 0000—00
Brescia 2012–13 17200—172
2013–14 16120—181
Total 33320—353
Western Sydney Wanderers 2013–14 ——6060
2014–15 80000080
Total 800060140
Career total 4332060513
1 AFC Champions League statistics are included in season ending during group stages (i.e. ACL 2014 and A-League season 2013–14 etc.)

References
  1. "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 15 December 2014. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2015.
  2. "Flamengo negocia Vitor Saba com o Brescia". flamengo.com.br. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  3. "Wanderers Add Brazilian to Attacking Mix". wswanderers.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  4. "Setif sink Wanderers in penalties to finish fifth". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  5. "Western Sydney Wanderers and Vitor Saba agree termination". wswanderersfc.com.au. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  6. "Wanderers reject Saba slams 'bully' Popovic".
  7. "Calciomercato: in rossoblù l'attaccante Michael Rabusic e il centrocampista Vitor Saba [Calciomercato: striker Michael Rabusic and midfielder Vitor Saba in the Red and Blues]" (in Italian). La Provincia KR. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  8. "Botafogo faz proposta por meia Vitor Saba, ex-Flamengo [Botafogo proposes half Vitor Saba, former Flamengo]" (in Portuguese). O Globo. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  9. "Robur, tesserato il brasiliano Vitor Saba [Robur, a member of the Brazilian Vitor Saba]" (in Italian). Tuttomercatoweb. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  10. "Braziliaanse middenvelder Vitor Saba naar Fortuna Sittard [Brazilian Vitor Saba joins Fortuna Sittard]" (in Dutch). Fortuna Sittard. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  11. "東方龍獅新援曝光？域陀沙巴捧過亞冠踢過意乙". Upower. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017. (in Chinese)
  12. Saba, Vitor. "I'm going to miss this place, man". Instagram. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
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