Facundo Sava
Personal information
Full name Facundo Sava
Date of birth (1974-03-07) 7 March 1974 (age 49)
Place of birth Ituzaingó, Argentina
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre forward
Team information
Current team
 Huracán (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1996 Ferro Carril Oeste 80 (9)
1996–1997 Boca Juniors 7 (0)
1997–2002 Gimnasia LP 182 (67)
2002–2006 Fulham 27 (6)
2004–2005 → Celta (loan) 26 (3)
2005–2006 → Lorca Deportiva (loan) 38 (7)
2006–2008 Racing Club 66 (29)
2008–2009 Arsenal de Sarandí 21 (3)
2009–2010 Quilmes 21 (4)
2010 Ferro Carril Oeste 6 (2)
Total 474 (130)
Managerial career
2012 San Martín SJ
2013 Unión de Santa Fe
2014–2015 O'Higgins
2015 Quilmes
2016 Racing Club
2017 Tigre
2018 Gimnasia LP
2019–2021 Quilmes
2022 Patronato
2023 Cerro Porteño
2023 Sarmiento
2024– Huracán
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Facundo Sava (born 7 March 1974) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a centre forward. He is the current manager of Huracán.

Sava played 17 years of professional football, mainly representing Gimnasia and Racing Club in the Argentine Primera División. Abroad, he had brief spells at Fulham in the Premier League, and Celta Vigo and Lorca Deportiva in Spain's Segunda División in the early 2000s.

In 2012, Sava began managing, leading several clubs in his country's top flight including Racing and Gimnasia, as well as O'Higgins in the Chilean Primera División and Cerro Porteño in Paraguay. He won the Copa Argentina with Patronato in 2022.

Playing career

Early years and Fulham

Sava started his career at Ferro Carril Oeste in 1993. In 1996, he moved to Boca Juniors. A year later, he was sold on to Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. In 2002, Sava was sold to Fulham on a four-year deal for £2 million, having helped his team come second to Club Atlético River Plate.[1][2] He was the one signing made by Franco Baresi as sporting director, while manager Jean Tigana was on holiday.[3]

Sava made his debut on 6 July in the UEFA Intertoto Cup first round away to FC Haka in Finland, playing 60 minutes before being substituted for Barry Hayles.[4] His Premier League debut was on 17 August as the season began with a 4–1 home win over Bolton Wanderers; he came on for Louis Saha with 12 minutes remaining.[5] In the next game a week later, again from the bench, he equalised in the last minute in a 2–2 draw at Middlesbrough.[6]

On 23 November 2002, Sava scored once in each half of a 3–2 win over Liverpool at Craven Cottage.[7] Three days later, he failed to clear for the first goal and scored an own goal for the second, as Fulham lost 2–1 to Hertha BSC in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup; he was openly criticised by Tigana for his performance.[8] During his time at Fulham, Sava celebrated goals by putting on a mask that he pulled from his sock; he explained that it came from his time at Gimnasia when fans threw masks onto the pitch.[9]

Affected by injury, Sava played only six games in 2003–04, scoring once for Chris Coleman's team.[10]

Spain

On 27 August 2004, Sava was loaned to RC Celta de Vigo, newly relegated to the Spanish Segunda División and who had lost star striker Savo Milošević.[10] He made his debut on 4 September as a substitute in a 1–0 home win over Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[11] Twenty-two days later, he played the full match and scored his first goal in his fifth game, to open a 1–1 draw at Real Murcia; he contributed three goals in 26 games, mainly as a substitute, as the team returned to La Liga as runners-up to Cádiz CF.[12]

In 2005–06, Sava signed on loan for another team in Spain's second division, Unai Emery's Lorca Deportiva.[13] He contributed seven goals in 38 games to help towards a fifth-place finish; this included two on 20 November in a 4–0 home win over Hércules CF.[14]

Return to Argentina

Sava was one of six Fulham players released in May 2006.[15] He then returned to his country's top flight, at Racing Club de Avellaneda.

In 2008, he joined Arsenal de Sarandí and, the following season, he helped Quilmes Atlético Club achieve promotion to the Argentine Primera División. However, he did not stay with Quilmes in the Primera, instead returning to his first club, Ferro Carril Oeste, after 14 years.[16] With Ferro, he played 6 games in the 2010–11 season of the Primera B Nacional, before deciding to retire. He played his last game in an away draw against Club Atlético Belgrano on 11 September 2010.[17]

Coaching career

On 23 April 2012, Sava took his first coaching job as the head coach at San Martín de San Juan, having previously been the assistant.[18] He made his debut five days later, in a 1–0 home top-flight win over Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba.[19] On 4 September, having lost all five games of the new season, he was sacked.[20]

At the start of 2013, Sava succeeded Nery Pumpido at Unión de Santa Fe.[21] He kept his job after relegation, but was dismissed in December as the team fell out of the Nacional B play-off positions.[22]

In May 2014, Sava was appointed by Chilean Primera División club O'Higgins F.C. as the replacement for his compatriot, Eduardo Berizzo.[23] The following January, he was dismissed after a defeat at C.D. Universidad de Concepción.[24]

Sava was hired by his former team Quilmes in July 2015,[25] moving in December to replace Diego Cocca at Racing Club for a 3 million Argentine peso fee.[26] He made his debut on 4 February 2016 in his first continental game, a 2–2 draw at Puebla FC in Mexico for the Copa Libertadores qualifying round,[27] eventually being eliminated 2–1 in the last 16 in May by Brazil's Clube Atlético Mineiro.[28] Club president Víctor Blanco confirmed Sava as manager for the rest of the calendar year,[29] but he left and was replaced by Ricardo Zielinski before the new season.[30]

In March 2017, Sava was hired for two years at Club Atlético Tigre.[31] On 3 June, he announced his resignation following a 3–0 home loss to Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield.[32] At the start of the new year, he returned to Gimnasia where he had left as a player 16 years earlier.[33] He left on 21 April, after achieving two wins and three draws from 12 games.[34]

Sava returned to Quilmes in December 2019.[35] In 2021, the team reached the promotion play-off final, losing on penalties to Barracas Central after a goalless draw on 21 December.[36]

In March 2022, Sava returned to the top flight, being hired by Club Atlético Patronato for the rest of the year.[37] He guided the team to the Copa Argentina, winning 2–1 at Gimnasia in the last 16, on penalties against River Plate in the quarter-finals, and on the same method against Boca Juniors in the semi-finals, before defeating Talleres de Córdoba by a single goal in the final on 31 October.[38] Days later, he announced that he would not renew his contract.[39]

Sava moved to Paraguay as manager of Cerro Porteño on 12 February 2023,[40] but was sacked on 9 July.[41] On 27 October, he returned to his country's top flight on a 12-month deal replacing Pablo Lavallén at Club Atlético Sarmiento,[42] but left on 28 November.[43]

Honours

Player

Fulham
Arsenal de Sarandí

Manager

Patronato

References

  1. ^ "Fulham sign Argentinian striker". Irish Examiner. 25 May 2002. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  2. ^ Grant, Alistair (22 July 2002). "Fulham manage to Sikora an own goal". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  3. ^ Alexander, David; Brodkin, Jon (21 August 2002). "Baresi shown the door by Fulham". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Fulham in Intertoto stalemate". BBC Sport. 6 July 2002. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Fulham thrash Bolton". BBC Sport. 17 August 2002. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Late Fulham deny Boro". BBC Sport. 24 August 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Sava stuns Liverpool". BBC Sport. 23 November 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Sava shown no sympathy". BBC Sport. 26 November 2002. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Who is the man in the mask?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Sava joins Celta on loan". BBC Sport. 27 August 2004. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  11. ^ Martínez, O. (4 September 2022). "Nagore se estrenó con un gol justo al salir al terreno de juego" [Nagore debuted with a goal as soon as he entered the field of play]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Sava: "El Colorado" de Vigo" (in Spanish). 24 April 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  13. ^ Guasch, Tomás (12 March 2006). ""Lo bonito es el fútbol y no su entorno: los coches, las mujeres..."" ["What is beautiful is football and not what surrounds it: the cars, the women..."]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Bianchi, en caída libre" [Bianchi, in free fall]. El Litoral (in Spanish). 21 November 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Sevilla get royal approval". UEFA. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Sava acordó su regreso a Ferro" [Sava agreed to return to Ferro]. Clarín (in Spanish). 20 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  17. ^ Cáceres, Damián (11 October 2010). "El psicólogo del fútbol" [The psychologist of football]. Cancha Llena (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  18. ^ "Sava, el nuevo entrenador" [Sava, the new manager]. San Martín de San Juan official site (in Spanish). 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  19. ^ "El "Colorado" Sava debutó con un triunfo en San Martín (SJ)" ["Colorado" Sava debuted with a triumph for San Martín (SJ)]. La Voz del Interior (in Spanish). 28 April 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Despidieron a Sava" [Sava dismissed]. Ámbito (in Spanish). 4 September 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Facundo Sava comenzó su era en Unión" [Facundo Sava began his era at Unión]. La Nación (in Spanish). 3 January 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Echaron a Sava en Unión y ya le buscan reemplazo" [Sava removed at Unión who are already looking for his replacement]. Los Andes (in Spanish). 9 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  23. ^ Martín, Juan Ignacio (13 May 2014). "Confirman a Facundo Sava como el nuevo técnico de O'Higgins" [Facundo Sava confirmed as new manager of O'Higgins]. El Rancahuaso (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Facundo Sava es despedido y O'Higgins busca técnico" [Facundo Sava is dismissed and O'Higgins search for a manager]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  25. ^ "FÚTBOL-Sava asume como nuevo técnico de Quilmes en Argentina" [FOOTBALL-Sava assumes role as new manager of Quilmes in Argentina] (in Spanish). Reuters. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Facundo Sava será el nuevo director técnico de Racing: llegó a un acuerdo para salir de Quilmes" [Facundo Sava will be the new manager of Racing: he reached an agreement to leave Quilmes] (in Spanish). Infobae. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Racing amarga debut del Puebla y acaricia boleto a fase de grupos" [Racing make Puebla's debut bitter and are touching the tickets for the group stage] (in Spanish). Telemetro. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Racing hizo un gran encuentro en Brasil, pero Atlético Mineiro fue certero y lo eliminó" [Racing made a great meeting in Brazil, but Atlético Mineiro were accurate and eliminated them] (in Spanish). Infobae. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  29. ^ "Confirman a Facundo Sava como entrenador de Racing" [Facundo Sava confirmed as manager of Racing]. Democracia (in Spanish). 28 May 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Zielinski asume como nuevo DT de Racing Club de Argentina, promete un equipo con "identidad"" [Zielinski assumes role as new manager of Racing Club of Argentina, promises a team with "identity"] (in Spanish). Reuters. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  31. ^ "Facundo Sava es el nuevo DT de Tigre" [Facundo Sava is the new manager of Tigre]. Clarín (in Spanish). 27 March 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Facundo Sava renunció como DT de Tigre" [Facundo Sava resigned as manager of Tigre] (in Spanish). ESPN. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  33. ^ "Facundo Sava, sobre su regreso a Gimnasia: "Siento una gran emoción, vuelvo a un lugar donde fui feliz"" [Facundo Sava, on his return to Gimnasia: "I feel a great emotion, I'm returning to a place where I was happy"]. La Nación (in Spanish). 6 January 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Facundo Sava se fue de Gimnasia, pero antes dejó un duro mensaje para sus jugadores" [Facundo Sava left Gimnasia, but before he left a harsh message for his players]. Clarín (in Spanish). 21 April 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Facundo Sava, nuevo DT de Quilmes" [Facundo Sava, new manager of Quilmes] (in Spanish). TNT Sports. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Barracas Central le ganó por penales a Quilmes y consiguió el ascenso a Primera División" [Barracas Central won on penalties against Quilmes and achieved promotion to the Primera División] (in Spanish). Infobae. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  37. ^ "Patronato tiene nuevo técnico" [Patronato have a new manager] (in Spanish). IAM Noticias. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Patronato de Paraná hizo historia: le ganó 1–0 a Talleres y se consagró campeón de la Copa Argentina" [Patronato de Paraná made history: they beat Talleres 1–0 and were corwned champions of the Copa Argentina] (in Spanish). Infobae. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  39. ^ González, Fede (12 November 2022). "Facundo Sava deja Patronato" [Facundo Sava leaves Patronato]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  40. ^ "Cerro Porteño presentó a Facundo Sava" [Cerro Porteño presented Facundo Sava] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  41. ^ "La lista de jugadores que no seguirán en Cerro Porteño" [The list of players that will not continue at Cerro Porteño] (in Spanish). D10. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  42. ^ "Facundo Sava asumió en Sarmiento y dirigió su primer entrenamiento" [Facundo Sava took control of Sarmiento and led his first training session]. Democracia (in Spanish). 28 October 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  43. ^ "Facundo Sava deja de ser el entrenador de Sarmiento" [Facundo Sava leaves as manager of Sarmiento] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 28 November 2023.
  44. ^ "Fulham clinch Euro glory". BBC Sport. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  45. ^ "Arsenal se adjudicó la primera edición de la Copa Suruga Bank" [Arsenal awarded the first edition of the Copa Suruga Bank]. Río Negro (in Spanish). 30 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2023.

External links

Club Atlético Huracán – current squad
Current Argentine Primera División managers
Copa Argentina winning managers
Facundo Sava – Managerial positions
Categories