Alejandro Sabella on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Alejandro Javier Sabella (; 5 November 19548 December 2020) was an Argentine Association football, football Association footballer, player and Manager (association football), manager. Born in Buenos Aires, he began his playing career with Club Atlético River Plate, River Plate in his home country before moving to England in 1978 to play for Sheffield United F.C., Sheffield United. He then had a spell with another English side, Leeds United F.C., Leeds United, before returning to South America and representing Estudiantes de La Plata, Estudiantes, Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, Grêmio, Ferro Carril Oeste and Irapuato FC, Irapuato.
After retiring from playing, Sabella became a coach and began a long association with fellow countryman and close friend Daniel Passarella, serving as his assistant manager during Passarella's spells managing Argentina national football team, Argentina, Italian club Parma Calcio 1913, Parma, Uruguay national football team, Uruguay, Mexican club Club de Fútbol Monterrey, Monterrey and Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Corinthians in Brazil. The duo finally returned to River Plate for whom they had both played before Sabella struck out on his own to become manager of Estudiantes in his own right, winning the 2010–11 Argentine Primera División season#Torneo Apertura, Argentine Primera División Apertura championship and the 2009 Copa Libertadores. Sabella resigned from Estudiantes in February 2011 and was subsequently appointed as the coach of the Argentina national team, coaching them to the 2014 FIFA World Cup 2014 FIFA World Cup Final, Final against Germany national football team, Germany, where they lost 1–0 in extra time. Sabella had scheduled his resignation to take effect after the conclusion of the World Cup.
Sabella died on 8 December 2020, due to an infection caught during a stay in hospital.
Alejandro Sabella was born to a middle-class family in Buenos Aires' well-off Palermo neighborhood.
He was an excellent student at school, and was admitted to the Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires, but his career as a football player eventually forced him to abandon his studies. As a young man Sabella was politically active in the left-wing Peronism, Peronist Youth and worked to aid the urban poor in the slums. He stated, "I felt a growing need to be always on the side of solidarity and of the distribution of wealth for a fairer, more egalitarian society, in which we can all have equal opportunities."
As a footballer, Sabella rose through the junior divisions of Club Atlético River Plate, River Plate in the early 1970s, when his position of attacking midfielder was covered by Norberto Alonso. His style reflected Alonso's, with emphasis on individual technique and short passes. His slow pace gained him the nickname of ''Pachorra'' (''lunfardo'', Spanish for "slowcoach"). In 1975, River Plate won their first title after an 18-year drought, and Alonso became the fans' undisputed hero. Sabella got his break in 1976, when Alonso was transferred to Olympique de Marseille, Marseille. He played a key role when River won the 1977 Argentine Primera División#Campeonato Metropolitano, 1977 ''Metropolitano'' championship. Nevertheless, when Alonso returned to River Plate, Sabella was again relegated to the bench.
Second Division side Sheffield United F.C., Sheffield United had tried to sign Diego Maradona from Argentinos Juniors. However, the club decided that Maradona was too expensive, and instead turned to Sabella, whom they signed for £160,000 on 19 July 1978. Known as Alex while in England, Sabella made his debut for the Blades in a 2–1 defeat against Leyton Orient F.C., Leyton Orient on 19 August 1978.
Sabella played for United until 1980, scoring eight league goals in 76 appearances. After relegation to the Football League Third Division, Third Division, manager Harry Haslam (footballer, born 1921), Harry Haslam agreed a fee of £600,000 with Football League Second Division, Second Division club Sunderland A.F.C, Sunderland. However, Sabella had ambitions to play in the Football League First Division, First Division and refused to go. His last appearance for United came with a goal in the final of the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup, (a regional competition between South Yorkshire teams) giving victory over Sheffield Wednesday F.C., Sheffield Wednesday on 8 May 1980.
During the close season, Sabella was sold to Leeds United F.C., Leeds United for £400,000. He played for Leeds without much success between 1980 and 1981, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals. John Lukic used to give him a lift to training and matches from Sabella's digs in Sheffield.
In December 1981, Sabella started looking for an Argentine club and was eventually sold to Estudiantes de La Plata. Under coach Carlos Bilardo, the team reached the semi-finals of the 1982 Argentine Primera División#Campeonato Nacional, 1982 Nacional tournament (Sabella was injured in the first semi-final match against Quilmes Atlético Club, Quilmes). Subsequently, Sabella, together with Marcelo Trobbiani, José Daniel Ponce and Miguel Ángel Russo, made up the solid midfield of the Estudiantes team that went on to win two back-to-back championship titles.
When Bilardo was put in charge of the Argentina national football team, Argentina national team, Sabella competed for his place with veterans Norberto Alonso and Ricardo Bochini, as well as younger players like Carlos Daniel Tapia, Jorge Burruchaga and Diego Maradona. Sabella played eight times for the national team, playing in all four games in the 1983 Copa América and in four friendlies; against Chile in May 1983 (as substitute), Paraguay in July 1983, Brazil in June 1984 and Uruguay in July 1984.
Profile and tactical analysis
in {{DEFAULTSORT:Sabella, Alejandro 1954 births 2020 deaths Footballers from Buenos Aires Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent Argentine expatriate sportspeople in England Argentine men's footballers Argentina men's international footballers Argentine football managers Men's association football midfielders Argentine expatriate men's footballers Expatriate men's footballers in England Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico Argentine Primera División players English Football League players Liga MX players 1983 Copa América players Club Atlético River Plate footballers Sheffield United F.C. players Leeds United F.C. players Estudiantes de La Plata footballers Grêmio FBPA players Ferro Carril Oeste footballers C.D. Irapuato footballers Estudiantes de La Plata managers Al Jazira Club managers Argentina national football team managers 2014 FIFA World Cup managers Argentine expatriate football managers Copa Libertadores–winning managers University of Buenos Aires alumni 20th-century Argentine sportsmen
Playing career
Early life and career
Alejandro Sabella was born to a middle-class family in Buenos Aires' well-off Palermo neighborhood.
He was an excellent student at school, and was admitted to the Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires, but his career as a football player eventually forced him to abandon his studies. As a young man Sabella was politically active in the left-wing Peronism, Peronist Youth and worked to aid the urban poor in the slums. He stated, "I felt a growing need to be always on the side of solidarity and of the distribution of wealth for a fairer, more egalitarian society, in which we can all have equal opportunities."
As a footballer, Sabella rose through the junior divisions of Club Atlético River Plate, River Plate in the early 1970s, when his position of attacking midfielder was covered by Norberto Alonso. His style reflected Alonso's, with emphasis on individual technique and short passes. His slow pace gained him the nickname of ''Pachorra'' (''lunfardo'', Spanish for "slowcoach"). In 1975, River Plate won their first title after an 18-year drought, and Alonso became the fans' undisputed hero. Sabella got his break in 1976, when Alonso was transferred to Olympique de Marseille, Marseille. He played a key role when River won the 1977 Argentine Primera División#Campeonato Metropolitano, 1977 ''Metropolitano'' championship. Nevertheless, when Alonso returned to River Plate, Sabella was again relegated to the bench.
Sheffield United
Second Division side Sheffield United F.C., Sheffield United had tried to sign Diego Maradona from Argentinos Juniors. However, the club decided that Maradona was too expensive, and instead turned to Sabella, whom they signed for £160,000 on 19 July 1978. Known as Alex while in England, Sabella made his debut for the Blades in a 2–1 defeat against Leyton Orient F.C., Leyton Orient on 19 August 1978.
Sabella played for United until 1980, scoring eight league goals in 76 appearances. After relegation to the Football League Third Division, Third Division, manager Harry Haslam (footballer, born 1921), Harry Haslam agreed a fee of £600,000 with Football League Second Division, Second Division club Sunderland A.F.C, Sunderland. However, Sabella had ambitions to play in the Football League First Division, First Division and refused to go. His last appearance for United came with a goal in the final of the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup, (a regional competition between South Yorkshire teams) giving victory over Sheffield Wednesday F.C., Sheffield Wednesday on 8 May 1980.
Leeds United and return to Argentina
During the close season, Sabella was sold to Leeds United F.C., Leeds United for £400,000. He played for Leeds without much success between 1980 and 1981, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals. John Lukic used to give him a lift to training and matches from Sabella's digs in Sheffield.
In December 1981, Sabella started looking for an Argentine club and was eventually sold to Estudiantes de La Plata. Under coach Carlos Bilardo, the team reached the semi-finals of the 1982 Argentine Primera División#Campeonato Nacional, 1982 Nacional tournament (Sabella was injured in the first semi-final match against Quilmes Atlético Club, Quilmes). Subsequently, Sabella, together with Marcelo Trobbiani, José Daniel Ponce and Miguel Ángel Russo, made up the solid midfield of the Estudiantes team that went on to win two back-to-back championship titles.
When Bilardo was put in charge of the Argentina national football team, Argentina national team, Sabella competed for his place with veterans Norberto Alonso and Ricardo Bochini, as well as younger players like Carlos Daniel Tapia, Jorge Burruchaga and Diego Maradona. Sabella played eight times for the national team, playing in all four games in the 1983 Copa América and in four friendlies; against Chile in May 1983 (as substitute), Paraguay in July 1983, Brazil in June 1984 and Uruguay in July 1984.
Later career
The Argentine midfielder then moved to Brazilian Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, Grêmio, where he played from 1985 to 1986. He subsequently returned to Estudiantes, but retired after a short spell in the Mexican league with Irapuato FC, Irapuato in 1989.Managerial career
Early career
After retirement, Sabella became a coach, but worked mostly as field assistant for Daniel Passarella. The duo coached the Argentina national team, Italian side Parma Calcio 1913, Parma, the Uruguay national football team, Mexican Club de Fútbol Monterrey, Monterrey, and Brazilian Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Corinthians. In 2006, they were hired back by River Plate, that finished in third place in the ''Apertura'' tournament. On 15 March 2009, Sabella became coach of Estudiantes de La Plata, where he won the 2009 Copa Libertadores. On 2 February 2011, he announced his resignation. Due to protestations from the team's players and management, he agreed to reconsider his decision, but made it final the following day. He officially resigned on 3 February 2011.Argentina
After Argentina's early exit at the 2011 Copa América, Sabella was appointed as the manager of the Argentina national football team, Argentina national team. Sabella was originally set to be the new coach of UAE League team Al-Jazira Club but backed out of the agreement after the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had shown interest in him. After his appointment in August 2011, Sabella named Lionel Messi as Argentina's new captain. He made his debut in charge of the Argentina in a 1–0 victory against Venezuela national football team, Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India.2014 World Cup
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Sabella coached Argentina to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final, final. The last time Argentina had advanced beyond the quarter-finals was when they made the final in 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1990 where they lost 1–0 to West Germany national football team, West Germany. Argentina never trailed during the whole tournament until the final. They won all three of their group games, where Lionel Messi scored all four of his goals against Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2–1), Iran national football team, Iran (1–0) and Nigeria national football team, Nigeria (3–2). They defeated Switzerland national football team, Switzerland 1–0 in extra time during the Round of 16, and then dispatched Belgium national football team, Belgium 1–0 in the quarter-finals. Reaching their first semi-final since 1990, Argentina eliminated the Netherlands national football team, Netherlands in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw. Argentina finished the tournament as runners-up after losing the final to Germany national football team, Germany 1–0 through an extra time goal scored by Mario Götze. Sabella's substitutions in the final, notably Sergio Agüero for Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio for Gonzalo Higuaín, were said to have blunted the team's attacking threat against the Germans, although many managers, such as Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone, praised Sabella's tactical performance throughout the World Cup. Sabella officially resigned on 30 July 2014.Managerial statistics
Political views and public image
Sabella was interested in politics and history and had strong political views. He was a left-wing politics, left-wing peronism, Peronist, and believed that "the state needs to be present to regulate politics and mark the path. We can't wait for the trickle-down effect to overflow, because that is a lie." In an interview he gave to La Garganta Poderosa, an Argentine alternative media outlet, he posed before a chalkboard with a "Dream Team" made up not of football players, but left-wing activists who have been killed or have gone missing since the return of democracy in 1983, many of them young victims of police violence.Death
Sabella was admitted to hospital on 25 November 2020 with cardiac problems. He caught a virus in hospital, and died on 8 December 2020. He was 66 years old.Honours
Player
River Plate *Primera División Argentina, Primera División: Primera División Argentina 1975#Metropolitano Championship, 1975 Metropolitano, Primera División Argentina 1975#Nacional Championship, 1975 Nacional, Primera División Argentina 1977#Metropolitano Championship, 1977 Metropolitano *Copa Libertadores runner-up: 1976 Copa Libertadores finals, 1976 Estudiantes (LP) *Primera División Argentina, Primera División: Primera División Argentina 1982#Metropolitano Championship, 1982 Metropolitano, Primera División Argentina 1983#Nacional Championship, 1983 Nacional Grêmio *Campeonato Gaúcho: 1985 Campeonato Gaúcho, 1985, 1986 Campeonato Gaúcho, 1986Manager
Estudiantes (LP) *Copa Libertadores: 2009 Copa Libertadores, 2009 *Argentine Primera División, Primera División: 2010–11 Argentine Primera División season#Torneo Apertura, 2010 Apertura *FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, 2009 *Recopa Sudamericana runner-up: 2010 Recopa Sudamericana, 2010 Argentina *FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2014Notes
External links
Profile and tactical analysis
in {{DEFAULTSORT:Sabella, Alejandro 1954 births 2020 deaths Footballers from Buenos Aires Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent Argentine expatriate sportspeople in England Argentine men's footballers Argentina men's international footballers Argentine football managers Men's association football midfielders Argentine expatriate men's footballers Expatriate men's footballers in England Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico Argentine Primera División players English Football League players Liga MX players 1983 Copa América players Club Atlético River Plate footballers Sheffield United F.C. players Leeds United F.C. players Estudiantes de La Plata footballers Grêmio FBPA players Ferro Carril Oeste footballers C.D. Irapuato footballers Estudiantes de La Plata managers Al Jazira Club managers Argentina national football team managers 2014 FIFA World Cup managers Argentine expatriate football managers Copa Libertadores–winning managers University of Buenos Aires alumni 20th-century Argentine sportsmen