- David Suazo
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David Suazo Personal information Full name Óscar David Suazo Velázquez Date of birth November 5, 1979 Place of birth San Pedro Sula, Honduras Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) Playing position Striker Club information Current club Catania Number 9 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 (4) 2010 → Genoa (loan) 16 (3) 2011– Catania 3 (0) National team‡ 1999– Honduras 54 (16) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 October 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 October 2011This 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 football striker who currently plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A. He is also a member of the Honduran national team.
Contents
Club Career
Early career
In his early career, Suazo developed alongside his cousin, Maynor Suazo, who now also plays for the Honduran national football team. Suazo took his first steps at Olimpia Reservas 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 Angel Ramon Paz (Mon Paz) and earned a spot on the top squad before turning 20 years old.[1]
Cagliari Calcio
Oscar Tabarez, then 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 1999–20000 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 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
On June 13, 2007, reports arose that Suazo had agreed terms with Serie A champions Internazionale on a deal worth €10 million.[citation needed] Six days later, though, crosstown rival and European champions A.C. Milan announced that they themselves had acquired Suazo for the same monetary amount.[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.".[2] He was in fact free to join Inter for a fee of £9.4 million.[3][4][5][6][7][8] He scored his first goal against Genoa C.F.C. and scored a total of eight goals throughout his first season with the "Nerazzurri".
Loans
After a less than impressive first season with Inter Milan, Suazo was loaned to S.L. 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 December 29, 2009 it was confirmed that Suazo had been authorized to play friendly match for Genoa, 2 days before the opening of the transfer windows.[9][10] After the opening of the transfer window, Suazo officially joined Genoa C.F.C. on a six month loan deal, where he replaced Sergio Floccari, who was transferred to S.S. Lazio on January 4. 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, for Hernan Crespo. His loan with Genoa, proved to be highly unsuccessful and the player scored merely 2 goals in 16 Serie A appearances.
Return to Inter
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 June 30, 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 July 13, 2011, confirmed Suazo's return to Sardinia by the end of the transfer window, and defined his signing as "a cherry on the pie".[11] The transfer however collapsed after Suazo was asked to leave Cagliari's pre-season camp after Cellino opted against th move and changed his decision about the transfer.
Calcio Catania
On August 12, 2011, he signed for Calcio 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.
Personal
His brothers are Nicholas and Ruben Suazo. Maynor Suazo and Hendry Thomas are his cousins. He holds Italian nationality, thanks to the marriage to an Italian woman in 2005.[12]
Career statistics
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 Serie A 27 8 3 0 6 0 36 8 2008–09 Benfica Portuguese Liga 12 4 - - 4 1 16 5 2009–10 Genoa Serie A 16 3 - - - - 16 3 2009–10 Internazionale Serie A 1 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 2010–11 Internazionale Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2011–12 Catania Serie A 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Total Honduras 10 5 - - 10 5 Italy 293 105 26 8 7 0 322 113 Portugal 12 4 - - 4 1 16 5 Career total 314 114 24 8 10 1 348 123 International goals
Honours and awards
Club
CD Olimpia
- Honduran Liga Nacional: 1998–99
- Honduran Super Copa: 1996–97
- Honduran Cup: 1998
Cagliari
- Serie B: 2003–04
Internazionale
- Serie A: 2007–08
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2010
S.L. Benfica
- Portuguese League Cup: 2008–09
Individual
References
- ^ a b c "David Suazo, the black-and-blue panther". FIFA.com. 2007-07-10. http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=549704.html#david+suazo+black+blue+panther.
- ^ "Suazo Thanks Milan For "Understanding"". Goal.com. 2007-06-25. http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=335926. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ "Inter, AC fight over Suazo". Setanta Sport. 2007-06-19. http://au.setanta.com/portal/article/football::european?open&articleid=1dfd9c22566f3d58802572ff00702545. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ "Milan confirm Suazo swoop". Football Italia. 2007-06-19. Archived from the original on September 13, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060913171141/http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun19d.html. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ "Suazo mystery deepens!". Football Italia. 2007-06-19. Archived from the original on August 28, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060828100513/http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun19n.html. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ "AC Milan cool Eto´o interest as row erupts over Suazo". Soccerway. 2007-06-19. http://www.soccerway.com/news/2007/June/19/ac-milan-cool-etoo-interest-as-row-erupts-over-suazo. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ "Both Milan clubs claim Suazo deal". CNN. 2007-06-22. http://www.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/06/19/italy.suazo.reut/index.html?eref=rss_latest. Retrieved 2007-06-19.[dead link]
- ^ "Official Milan Release Suazo". Channel 4 Football Italia. 2007-06-19. Archived from the original on June 26, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060626113525/http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun23i.html. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
- ^ "DAVID SUAZO ARRIVING AT THE SIGNORINI". Genoa C.F.C.. 2009-12-29. http://www.genoacfc.it/index.php?. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
- ^ "Inter reach agreement with Genoa over Suazo". inter.it. 2009-12-29. http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=32931&L=en. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ^ "Cellino annuncia Suazo "Ciliegina sulla torta" [Cellino announces Suazo "Cherry on the pie"]" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 13 July 2011. http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/cagliari/2011/07/11/news/cellino_ingaggia_suazo-18983703/. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ "Io, Suazo, tra matrimonio calcio e la morte del Papa" (in Italian). L'Unione Sarda. 4 April 2005. http://edicola.unionesarda.it/Articolo.aspx?Data=20050409&Categ=31&Voce=1&IdArticolo=1121269. Retrieved 11 February 2011.[dead link]
Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year 1997: Zidane | 1998: Ronaldo | 1999: Batistuta | 2000: Shevchenko | 2001: Zidane | 2002: Trézéguet | 2003: Nedvěd | 2004: Kaká | 2005: Ibrahimović | 2006: Kaká & Suazo | 2007: Kaká | 2008: Ibrahimović | 2009: Ibrahimović | 2010: MilitoHonduras squad – 2000 Summer Olympics 
Honduras squad – 2001 Copa América Third Place 1 Enamorado • 2 Philips • 3 Cárcamo • 4 Caballero • 5 Reyes • 6 Lagos • 7 Suazo • 8 Brown • 9 • 10 de León • 11 • 13 Bernárdez • 14 Rodríguez • 15 García • 16 Pineda • 17 Güity • 18 Martínez • 19 Turcios • 20 Guevara • 21 Pérez • 22 Valladares • 23 Izaguirre • 24 Medina • 26 Morales • Coach: MaradiagaHonduras squad – 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup Honduras squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup 1 Canales • 2 Chávez • 3 Figueroa • 4 J. Palacios • 5 Bernárdez • 6 Thomas • 7 Núñez • 8 W. Palacios • 9 Pavón • 10 J.N. Palacios • 11 Suazo • 12 Welcome • 13 Espinoza • 14 García • 15 Martínez • 16 Sabillón • 17 Álvarez • 18 Valladares • 19 Turcios • 20 Guevara (c) • 21 Izaguirre • 22 Escober • 23 Mendoza • Coach: RuedaCalcio Catania – current squad 1 Košický · 2 Potenza · 3 Spolli · 4 Almirón · 5 Paglialunga · 6 Legrottaglie · 7 Lanzafame · 8 Ledesma · 9 Suazo · 10 Lodi · 11 M.López · 12 Marchese · 13 Izco · 14 Bellusci · 15 Keko · 16 Llama · 17 Gómez · 18 Bergessio · 19 Ricchiuti · 20 Sciacca · 21 Andújar · 22 Álvarez · 24 Delvecchio · 27 Biagianti (c) · 28 Barrientos · 29 Terraciano · 30 Campagnolo · 32 Catellani · 33 Capuano · 34 Donnarumma · Head Coach: Montella
Categories:- Honduran footballers
- Honduras international footballers
- Honduran expatriate footballers
- Honduran people of Black African descent
- Cagliari Calcio players
- Club Deportivo Olimpia footballers
- F.C. Internazionale Milano players
- S.L. Benfica footballers
- Genoa C.F.C. players
- Calcio Catania players
- Expatriate footballers in Italy
- Expatriate footballers in Portugal
- Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras footballers
- Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Olympic footballers of Honduras
- 1979 births
- Living people
- 2001 Copa América players
- 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- 2010 FIFA World Cup players
- Serie A footballers
- Serie B footballers
- Primeira Liga players
- People from San Pedro Sula
- Honduran expatriates in Italy
- Naturalised citizens of Italy
- Italian people of Black African descent
- Italian people of Honduran descent
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