Miguel Sabah
Sabah playing for Morelia
Personal information
Full name Miguel Sabah Rodríguez
Date of birth (1979-11-14) 14 November 1979 (age 44)
Place of birth Cancún, Mexico
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2005 Guadalajara 86 (18)
2006–2008 Cruz Azul 104 (42)
2009–2012 Morelia 132 (64)
2013 Guadalajara 25 (3)
2014–2015 León 45 (12)
Total 392 (139)
International career
2009–2012 Mexico 17 (5)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Miguel Sabah Rodríguez (born 14 November 1979) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Throughout his career, he played for Guadalajara, Cruz Azul, Monarcas Morelia, and Club León. Sabah made his debut in the Invierno 2000 with Guadalajara entering in the 46th minute.[1] Sabah played five years with Guadalajara until transferring to Cruz Azul in the Apertura 2006.[2] Sabah was transferred to Morelia in the Clausura 2009, where he was the best Mexico-born goalscorer of the season with 11 goals.[3] Sabah made 17 appearances for the Mexico national team and was the top scorer of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[4]

Club career

Guadalajara

Sabah started his career with Club Deportivo Guadalajara, making his debut on 12 August 2000, coming in the 46th minute for Benjamin Galindo against his future team Cruz Azul.[1] Although making his debut in the third game of the season, Sabah did not appear in any games until the Verano 2002 season.[5][6] In the Verano 2002 season Sabah played in 16 games, including 11 starts, and scored three goals.[6] His second full season with Guadalajara did not go very well, Sabah appeared in only six games and did not score any goals.[7] The Clausura 2003 season was similar to the previous season, Sabah appeared in eight games, and scored no goals for the second consecutive season.[8] Sabah improved in the 2003 Apertura 2003 season, appearing in 18 games, and scoring eight goals.[9] Sabah appeared in 11 games the following season the season which Guadalajara reached the final. Sabah appeared in the first leg match against UNAM Pumas, coming in the 75th minute for Héctor Reynoso.[10] He did not appear in the second leg match, eventually Chivas lost the final 5–4 in penalty kicks.[11][12] In the Apertura 2004 season, Sabah would appear in 14 games, Sabah managed to score five goals, but got a red card against Atlante F.C. in the first game of the season.[13] Without Sabah, Guadalajara defeated Atlante 7–0.[14] Sabah appeared in 12 games combined in his last two seasons with Guadalajara.[15][16] Sabah appeared in 86 games (starting 36) and scored 18 goals in nine seasons with Guadalajara.[6]

Cruz Azul

Following the Apertura 2005 Sabah was transferred to Cruz Azul, which helped his career get going. His first season with Cruz Azul was solid, with Sabah scoring three goals and registering two assists.[17] Sabah had a very good Apertura 2006 season; he appeared in 18 games, starting 15, and he scored ten goals.[18] The Clausura 2007 season was not as good as the previous season for Sabah; he scored six goals in 17 games.[19] The Apertura 2007 season was statistically the best season for Sabah with Cruz Azul.[6][20] Sabah started all 17 games he played and scored 11 goals.[20] Although Sabah only scored 11 goals in 37 games, Cruz Azul reached the final in Sabah's last two seasons with that club.[21][22] Cruz Azul lost both of those finals, Clausura 2008 to Santos Laguna and Apertura 2008 to Deportivo Toluca.[23][24]

Morelia

On 28 December 2008, Miguel Sabah was transferred to Monarcas Morelia. He was presented on 31 December.[25] Sabah scored his first goal with Morelia on 31 January 2009, against América.[26] The rest of the Clausura 2009 season for Sabah with Morelia has gone well. Sabah started out slow but has responded with 11 goals in 17 games, 15 in which he started.[27] In his second tournament with Morelia, Sabah only appeared in 16 matches due to national team duty but still managed to score eight goals, including two in the playoffs. The Torneo Bicentenario 2010 was a very good season for Sabah as he finished with seven goals in 13 matches before he left for Mexico national team pre-World Cup training camp.

In the Clausura 2011 season, Sabah and teammate Rafael Márquez Lugo formed a dangerous attacking duo for a Morelia team who reached the league final. Between the two they scored a total of 17 goals for Morelia who eventually fell 3–2 on aggregate to UNAM.

In three years in Morelia, Sabah scored 64 goals, which makes him the club's third all-time scorer behind Marco Antonio Figueroa and Alex Fernandes, he is also the club's all time Mexico-born scorer.

Return to Guadalajara

Miguel Sabah transferred to his first club, Chivas on 14 December 2012 and was presented on 17 December 2012. On 6 January 2013, in the Fecha 1 in the Clausura 2013, Miguel Sabah scored his first goal in a 1–1 tie against Toluca. Later in that match he was sent off with a red card.

Leon

On 27 November 2013, Miguel Sabah was traded to Leon. During the 2014 Clausura season he managed to play key role in game against Santos Laguna, final score 4–2, where he had three assists and a goal. He then ended up becoming champions with Leon, giving him his first career Liga MX championship. On 29 November 2015, manager Juan Antonio Pizzi announced that Sabah as well as his teammate Gonzálo Ríos would not continue with the team for the Clausura 2016, both ended contract with the club.[28]

Retirement

After being released by Leon, Sabah did not find a team in the Liga MX Draft and he eventually announced his retirement on 5 January 2016, in a press conference in Guadalajara.[29][30] In 2017 Sabah started playing for Corinthians FC of San Antonio of the National Premier Soccer League.[31][32]

International career

Sabah was called up by the senior national team coach Javier Aguirre on 15 May 2009, for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.[4] Sabah earned his first international cap against Trinidad and Tobago, coming in for Nery Castillo in the 34th minute.[33] Aguirre included Sabah on the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster.[34] Sabah scored his first international goal on 9 July 2009, against Panama, that goal was the 500th goal in CONCACAF Gold Cup history.[35] On 12 August 2009, Sabah also scored a late winner against the United States in a crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match. However, he was not on the final list for the 2010 FIFA World Cup due to an injury.

Personal life

Miguel Sabah Rodríguez is of Lebanese[36] descent on his father's side. He was born in Cancún, Mexico.

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 August 2012[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Guadalajara 2000–01 Primera División de México 1 0 1 0
2001–02 16 3 16 3
2002–03 14 0 14 0
2003–04 29 10 29 10
2004–05 18 5 18 5
2005–06 8 0 8 0
Cruz Azul 2005–06 Primera División de México 15 3 15 3
2006–07 35 16 35 16
2007–08 34 19 34 19
2008–09 20 4 8 2 28 6
Morelia 2008–09 Primera División de México 17 11 17 11
2009–10 29 15 2 0 31 15
2010–11 33 11 5 4 3 0 41 15
2011–12 36 18 6 3 42 21
Career total 305 115 7 4 17 5 329 124

International

As of match played 1 March 2012[37]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Mexico 2009 14 5
2010 2 0
2012 1 0
Total 17 5
Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sabah goal.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
List of international goals scored by Miguel Sabah
1 9 July 2009 Reliant Stadium, Houston, United States  Panama 1–0 1–1 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2 12 July 2009 University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, United States  Guadeloupe 2–0 2–0 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
3 19 July 2009 Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, United States  Haiti 1–0 4–0 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
4 3–0
5 12 August 2009 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  United States 2–1 2–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Cruz Azul

Morelia

León

Mexico

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Cruz Azul - Chivas 2 – 1". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  2. ^ "Miguel Sabah stats". ESPN. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Tabla de Goleo Individual". femexfut.org. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Un regreso esperado". espndeportes. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Miguel Sabah – 2000 Invierno". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Miguel Sabah". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  7. ^ "Apertura 2002". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  8. ^ "Clausura 2003". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Apertura 2003". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  10. ^ "Pumas - Chivas first leg recap". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  11. ^ "Chivas - Pumas second leg recap". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  12. ^ "CÓMO NO TE VOY A QUERER". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  13. ^ "Apertura 2004". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  14. ^ "CHIVAS 7 - 0 ATLANTE". Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  15. ^ "Clausura 2005". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  16. ^ "Apertura 2005". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  17. ^ "Clausura 2006". mediotiempo..com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  18. ^ "Apertura 2006". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  19. ^ "Clausura 2007". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  20. ^ a b "Apertura 2007". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  21. ^ "Clausura 2008". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  22. ^ "Apertura 2008". www.mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  23. ^ "Santos Campeon". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  24. ^ "Toluca Campeon". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  25. ^ "Definió su situación". espndeportes.com. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  26. ^ "Morelia - América recap". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  27. ^ "Clausura 2009". mediotiempo.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  28. ^ "Sabah y Ríos, bajas del León para el C2016".
  29. ^ "Miguel Sabah anuncia su retiro entre lágrimas". 5 January 2016.
  30. ^ Téllez, Jesús Hernández. "Entre lágrimas se despide Sabah del futbol profesional".
  31. ^ "Miguel Sabah podría jugar en la NPSL en equipo de Galindo". ESPN. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  32. ^ "Player Roster and Stats". Corinthians FC of San Antonio. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  33. ^ "México 2 - 1 Trinidad y Tobago". espndeportes. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  34. ^ "Lista la convocatoria del Tri para la Copa de Oro". mediotiempo.com. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  35. ^ "Mexico draws with Panama in wild Gold Cup match". MLSnet.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  36. ^ SARMIENTO, SERGIO. "El libanés".
  37. ^ Miguel Sabah at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

Mexico squad – 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup winners (5th title)
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup Team of the Tournament
CONCACAF Gold Cup awards
Categories