Claudio Suárez

Claudio Suárez

Personal information
Full name	Luis Claudio Suárez Sánchez
Date of birth	December 17, 1968 (1968-12-17)
Place of birth	Texcoco, Mexico
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Defender
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)
National team
1992–2006	Mexico	178	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Luis Claudio Suárez Sánchez (born December 17, 1968 in Texcoco) is a retired Mexican footballer. He last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.

He has the record for most caps with the Mexico national team, as well as the world record for the most capped outfield player with 178 caps and joint world record for most caps of any player, which he shares with Saudi goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea and Egyptian midfielder Ahmed Hassan.

Career

Nicknamed El Emperador ("The Emperor"), Suárez began his club career with UNAM Pumas, 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 UANL Tigres, 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 Mexican 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 where also cause for conflict with the teams management. The semi-final was the last excuse for separation.

In 2006, he moved to Major League Soccer to play for Chivas USA.

On March 8, 2009 after negotiations with his contract fell, Suarez announced his retirement. However, on March 20, 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 March 26, 2010.

On September 5, 2010, Suárez came out of retirement to play for the Carolina Railhawks in an exhibition game with the Pumas Morelos.

International career

Claudio was a member and starter for Mexico in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States as well as the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Claudio was picked to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany with the Mexican National Team. 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.

Claudio captained the Mexican National Team for many years and represented Mexico 178 times making him the player with the most caps in history for the Mexican National Team as well as giving him the FIFA world record for most caps by a field player and a North American Record.

On March 25, 2007, Suárez along with former national team and Chivas USA teammate Ramón Ramírez were honored in a friendly against Paraguay at the Estadio Azteca.

Personal life

Suárez currently resides in Southern California with his wife and three children.

Stats

Career statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mexico			League		Cup		North America		Total
1988–89	UNAM	Primera División	5	0					5	0
1989–90			17	0					17	0
1990–91			40	3					40	3
1991–92			40	0					40	0
1992–93			13	4					13	4
1993–94			20	3					20	3
1994–95			37	4					37	4
1995–96			32	5					32	5
1996–97	Guadalajara		39	6					39	6
1997–98			32	1					32	1
1998–99			39	1					39	1
1999–00			34	2					34	2
2000–01	UANL		29	3					29	3
2001–02			33	5					33	5
2002–03			18	3					18	3
2003–04			37	1					37	1
2004–05			20	3					20	3
2005–06			6	0					6	0
USA			League		Open Cup		North America		Total
2006	Chivas USA	Major League Soccer	20	6					20	6
2007			25	3					25	3
2008			14	0					14	0
2009			5	0					5	0
Total	Mexico		491	44					491	44
	USA		64	9					64	9
Career total			555	53					555	53

International goals

Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	November 8, 1992	Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent	Saint Vincent	2–0	4–0	1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
2.	November 22, 1992	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico	Costa Rica	2–0	4–0	1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
3.	December 14, 1994	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico	Hungary	3–1	5–1	Friendly
4.	October 11, 1995	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States	Saudi Arabia	1–1	2–1	Friendly
5.	January 31, 2001	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States	Colombia	1–0	2–3	Friendly
6.	May 1, 2001	Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico	Brazil	1–0	3–3	Friendly

Honours

Mexican National Team

• FIFA Confederations Cup (1): 1999
• CONCACAF Gold Cup (3): 1993, 1996, 1998

Pumas UNAM

• Primera División de México (1): 1990–91

Chivas Guadalajara

• Primera División de México (1): Verano 1997

Tigres UANL

• InterLiga (1): 2005

External links

• Claudio Suárez at Esmas.com (Spanish)
• Claudio Suárez Interview (Spanish)
• Football Database.com provides Claudio Suárez's profile and stats
• Profile and Statistics (Spanish)
• Biography