David Suazo

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David Suazo
David Suazo Catania.jpg
Personal information
Full name Óscar David Suazo Velázquez
Date of birth (1979-11-05) 5 November 1979 (age 33)
Place of birth San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker
Youth career
Marathón
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1997–1999 Olimpia 10 (5)
1999–2007 Cagliari 255 (94)
2007–2011 Internazionale 28 (8)
2008–2009 → Benfica (loan) 12 (5)
2010 → Genoa (loan) 16 (3)
2011–2012 Catania 6 (0)
Total 295 (115)
National team‡
1999–2012 Honduras 57 (17)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 July 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 July 2012
This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Suazo and the second or maternal family name is Velázquez.

Óscar David Suazo Velázquez (born 5 November 1979 in San Pedro Sula) is a Honduran retired football striker.

Suazo played more than 300 league games and scored over 100 league goals in the Italian league during a period of 13 years, arguably making him the most successful Honduran player of all-time.

Contents

Club career[edit]

Early career[edit]

In his early career, Suazo developed alongside his cousin, Maynor Suazo, who also went on to play for the Honduran national football team. Suazo took his first steps at Olimpia Reserves and later went on to play at the Liga Bancaria. After his participation in 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship held at Nigeria, he was acquired by domestic club team Olimpia. Suazo continued to impress playing for Olimpia's youth system under the coaching of the late Angel Ramón Paz (Mon Paz) and earned a spot on the top squad before turning 20 years old.[1]

Cagliari Calcio[edit]

Óscar Tabárez, when coach of the Italian side Cagliari Calcio, was impressed by Suazo's performance and did not hesitate in bringing him across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.[1] Suazo officially joined Cagliari ahead of the 1999–2000 Serie A season. In his first season with the team, he scored one goal in 13 league appearances, and at the end of the 1999–00 season, Cagliari were relegated to Serie B, where they would remain until the 2003–04 season. In four years in Serie B, Suazo played 113 matches and scored 40 goals for the club. His scoring efficiency was impressive enough for him to earn the nickname La Pantera (the Panther). Suazo's time in Serie B provided him with great experience which would help ease his transition into more difficult competition at the top of the Italian Lega Calcio.

In the 2004–05 Serie A season, Suazo scored seven goals in 22 matches in a 4–3–3 scheme in which he performed as a reserve behind Gianfranco Zola, Mauro Esposito, and Antonio Langella. Suazo's scoring proved vital in helping Cagliari avoid relegation and impressed top clubs across Europe despite only scoring six goals. In 2006, he became a starter for Cagliari and scored 22 goals in the Serie A. For his play that season Suazo was honored with the Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year, which he shared with Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaká.[1] In 2007, he continued with his great play for Cagliari, where he scored 18 more goals in the Serie A championship and single-handedly saved Cagliari from another relegation to Serie B. During his spell with Cagliari, Suazo was known for his attacking partnership with both Langella and Esposito.

Internazionale[edit]

On 13 June 2007, reports arose that Suazo had agreed terms with Serie A champions Internazionale on a deal worth €14 million.[2] Six days later, though, crosstown rival and European champions A.C. Milan announced that they themselves had acquired Suazo.[citation needed] While Milan claimed they had successfully negotiated with Cagliari, the latter was confirmed by Cagliari president Massimo Cellino, who denied having made any contact with Moratti regarding the matter. Meanwhile, one of Suazo's agents, Carlo Pallavicino, added to the confusion by saying, "Suazo has not had any contact with Milan and he still has not given his consent to the transfer." It was later announced that Suazo was confirmed with Inter after Milan officially withdraw their contract offer. Since Suazo himself wanted to keep his initial agreement with Inter. "It was an issue of respect. The Rossoneri understood that I had a promise with coach Roberto Mancini, Marco Branca and president Massimo Moratti.".[3] He was in fact free to join Inter for a fee of £9.4 million.[4][5][6][7][8][9] He scored his first goal against Genoa and scored a total of eight goals throughout his first season with the Nerazzurri.

Loans[edit]

After a less than impressive first season with Inter Milan, Suazo was loaned to Portuguese giants Benfica for the 2008–2009 Portuguese season. Suazo however, appeared in just 12 league matches and scored just 4 goals during the season. Following his return to Inter in June 2009, Suazo was given limited squad space, and failed to make any starts for his club. On 29 December 2009 it was confirmed that Suazo had been authorized to play friendly match for Genoa, 2 days before the opening of the transfer windows.[10][11] After the opening of the transfer window, Suazo officially joined Genoa on a six month loan deal, where he replaced Sergio Floccari, who was transferred to Lazio on 4 January. This was part of a deal that completed a 3-way, 3-men swap, in which Inter also received Goran Pandev from Lazio on free transfer. Suazo then made his debut for Genoa against A.C. Milan in a losing effort, getting on the scoresheet in the process. Suazo scored the second goal for Genoa, and was eventually substituted in the 80th minute, by Hernan Crespo. His loan with Genoa, proved to be highly unsuccessful and the player scored a mere 2 goals in 16 Serie A appearances.

Return to Inter[edit]

After his Genoa loan expired, Suazo returned to Inter but, also because of a long-term injury, was not included in the first team, thus failing to make a single appearance in the entire 2010–11 season. Suazo's contract with Inter expired on 30 June 2011, thus leaving the player without a contract. Since then, he was linked with a comeback at Cagliari, following a trial period. This was a possibility that was later confirmed by club chairman Massimo Cellino, who, on 13 July 2011, confirmed Suazo's return to Sardinia by the end of the transfer window, and defined his signing as "a cherry on the pie".[12] The transfer however collapsed after Suazo was asked to leave Cagliari's pre-season camp after Cellino opted against the move and changed his decision about the transfer.

Calcio Catania[edit]

On 12 August 2011, he signed for Catania on a one year deal. He was officially presented on the same day, alongside new arrivals, Mario Paglialunga and Davide Lanzafame. Suazo was assigned the number 9 jersey. He only would make 6 appearances during his time in Sicily, which ended upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2012. On 27 March 2013, he announced his retirement from football.

Personal[edit]

His brothers are Nicolás and Ruben Suazo. Former internationals Maynor Suazo and Hendry Thomas are his cousins. He holds Italian nationality, thanks to the marriage to Italian woman Elisa Secchi in 2005.[13] They have two sons, David Edoardo and Luis Gabriel.

Career statistics[edit]

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Honduras League Honduran Cup North America Total
1997–98 Olimpia Liga Nacional 0 0 - - 0 0
1998–99 10 5 - - 10 5
Italy League Coppa Italia Europe Total
1999–00 Cagliari Serie A 13 1 3 0 - 16 1
2000–01 Serie B 33 12 3 2 - 36 14
2001–02 34 9 - - 34 9
2002–03 35 10 3 1 - 38 11
2003–04 45 19 1 0 - 46 19
2004–05 Serie A 22 7 3 1 - 25 8
2005–06 37 22 5 3 - 42 25
2006–07 36 14 3 1 - 39 15
2007–08 Internazionale 27 8 3 0 6 0 36 8
2008–09 Benfica (loan) Portuguese Liga 12 4 - - 4 1 16 5
2009–10 Genoa (loan) Serie A 16 3 - - - - 16 3
Internazionale 1 0 2 0 1 0 4 0
2010–11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Catania 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Total Honduras 10 5 - - 10 5
Italy 296 105 26 8 7 0 325 113
Portugal 12 4 - - 4 1 16 5
Career total 314 114 24 8 10 1 348 123

International career[edit]

Suazo played for the Honduras national under-20 football team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. He made his senior debut for Honduras in a May 1999 friendly match against Haiti and has earned a total of 57 caps, scoring 17 goals. He has represented his country in 30 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[14] He also played at the 2000 Summer Olympics and at the 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup[15] as well as at the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[16] He also played a few minutes of Honduras' first match at the 2001 Copa América.[17]

His final international was a June 2012 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Canada.

International goals[edit]

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
01. 16 July 2000 Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador  El Salvador 5 – 0 5 – 2 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
02. 2 September 2000 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  El Salvador 4 – 0 5 – 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
03. 12 June 2004 Stadion Ergilio Hato, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles  Netherlands Antilles 1 – 0 2 – 1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
04. 12 June 2004 Stadion Ergilio Hato, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles  Netherlands Antilles 2 – 0 2 – 1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
05. 19 June 2004 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  Netherlands Antilles 2 – 0 4 – 0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
06. 18 August 2004 Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela, Costa Rica  Costa Rica 1 – 1 5 – 2 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
07. 8 September 2004 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  Guatemala 2 – 2 2 – 2 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
08. 7 October 2006 Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States  Guatemala 3 – 2 3 – 2 Friendly
09. 12 September 2007 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  Ecuador 1 – 0 2 – 1 Friendly
10. 26 March 2008 Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States  Colombia 1 – 0 2 – 1 Friendly
11. 4 June 2008 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  Puerto Rico 3 – 0 4 – 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
12. 4 June 2008 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  Puerto Rico 4 – 0 4 – 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
13. 7 June 2008 Estadio Nilmo Edwards, La Ceiba, Honduras  Haiti 2 – 0 3 – 1 Friendly
14. 14 June 2008 Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamón, Puerto Rico  Puerto Rico 1 – 0 2 – 2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
15. 5 September 2009 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  Trinidad and Tobago 4 – 0 4 – 1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
16. 18 November 2009 Land Shark Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States  Peru 1 – 1 1 – 2 Friendly
17. 11 April 2012 Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica  Costa Rica 1 – 0 1 – 1 Friendly

Honours and awards[edit]

Club[edit]

CD Olimpia[edit]

Cagliari[edit]

Internazionale[edit]

S.L. Benfica[edit]

Individual[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "David Suazo, the black-and-blue panther". FIFA.com. 10 July 2007. 
  2. ^ FC Internazionale Milano 2006–07 Bilancio (Report and Accounts), Require purchase in CCIAA (Italian)
  3. ^ "Suazo Thanks Milan For "Understanding"". Goal.com. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-25. 
  4. ^ "Inter, AC fight over Suazo". Setanta Sport. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
  5. ^ "Milan confirm Suazo swoop". Football Italia. 19 June 2007. Archived from the original on 13 September 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
  6. ^ "Suazo mystery deepens!". Football Italia. 19 June 2007. Archived from the original on 28 August 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
  7. ^ "AC Milan cool Eto´o interest as row erupts over Suazo". Soccerway. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
  8. ^ "Both Milan clubs claim Suazo deal". CNN. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-19. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Official Milan Release Suazo". Channel 4 Football Italia. 19 June 2007. Archived from the original on 26 June 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-22. 
  10. ^ "DAVID SUAZO ARRIVING AT THE SIGNORINI". Genoa C.F.C. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-29. 
  11. ^ "Inter reach agreement with Genoa over Suazo". inter.it. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-31. 
  12. ^ "Cellino annuncia Suazo "Ciliegina sulla torta"" [Cellino announces Suazo "Cherry on the pie"] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
  13. ^ "Io, Suazo, tra matrimonio calcio e la morte del Papa" (in Italian). L'Unione Sarda. 4 April 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2011. [dead link]
  14. ^ David Suazo – FIFA competition record
  15. ^ Qualifying Tournament for Gold Cup 2003 - Details - RSSSF
  16. ^ CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2003 - Full Details - RSSSF
  17. ^ Copa América 2001 - RSSSF

External links[edit]
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Suazo&oldid=559171750"