Sebastián Saja Explained

Sebastián Saja
Full Name:Diego Sebástian Saja
Birth Date:5 June 1979
Birth Place:La Plata, Argentina
Height:1.88 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Inter Miami (assistant)
Years1:2000–2008
Years2:2003
Years3:2004
Years4:2004
Years5:2005–2006
Years6:2007–2008
Years7:2008–2011
Years8:2011–2016
Years9:2016
Years10:2017
Clubs1:San Lorenzo
Clubs2:Brescia (loan)
Clubs3:Rayo Vallecano (loan)
Clubs4:Club América (loan)
Clubs5:Córdoba (loan)
Clubs6:Grêmio (loan)
Clubs7:AEK Athens
Clubs8:Racing Club
Clubs9:Gimnàstic
Clubs10:Zaragoza
Caps1:145
Caps2:4
Caps3:20
Caps4:4
Caps5:23
Caps6:30
Caps7:95
Caps8:169
Caps9:10
Caps10:6
Goals1:11
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals5:0
Goals6:1
Goals7:0
Goals8:7
Goals9:0
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:500
Totalgoals:19
Nationalyears1:1997–1999
Nationalyears2:2002–2003
Nationalteam1:Argentina U20
Nationalteam2:Argentina
Nationalcaps1:24
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalgoals2:0
Manageryears1:2017–2018
Manageryears2:2018
Manageryears3:2019
Manageryears4:2020–
Managerclubs1:Guaraní
Managerclubs2:Agropecuario
Managerclubs3:Inter Miami (academy coach)
Managerclubs4:Inter Miami (assistant)

Diego Sebastián Saja (born 5 June 1979) is an Argentine football coach and former player who is an assistant coach for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami CF.

He spent most of his professional career with San Lorenzo, Racing Club and AEK Athens, being one of the most prolific goal-scoring goalkeepers in history. He represented four clubs in the Spanish Segunda División, and also competed in Italy, Mexico and Brazil.

Club career

San Lorenzo

Born in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Saja had nearly 200 overall appearances for San Lorenzo de Almagro, being voted South America's best goalkeeper in 2002. In 2001, he helped the team win the Clausura and the Copa Mercosur, adding the following year's Copa Sudamericana.

Saja split the 2003–04 season with Brescia Calcio and Rayo Vallecano, being first-choice and dropping down a level with the latter. Moving to another club in Spain and in the second division for the following campaign, he would also be relegated with Córdoba CF.

After a brief spell in Mexico with Club América, Saja returned to San Lorenzo for 2005–06: he made 33 appearances and scored five goals in the Primera División, but was eventually sent out on loan for the fifth time, this time to Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense after falling out of favour with new manager Ramón Díaz.[1] [2]

AEK

Released in 2008, Saja signed a three-year contract with AEK Athens, earning approximately €400.000. He appeared in 29 games in his first year to help his team finish fourth in the league, but they was also quickly eliminated from UEFA Cup contention.[3]

On 31 May 2009, Saja agreed to a new three-year deal with the Greek side,[4] continuing to be first-choice and winning the Greek Cup in 2011.

Return to Argentina

On 29 June 2011, Saja and AEK agreed to terminate his contract one year before it expired.[5] Shortly after, the 32-year-old returned to his homeland and joined Racing Club de Avellaneda,[6] netting his first goal for his new team on 29 September of the following year, through a penalty against former club San Lorenzo in a 4–0 win;[7] he was also the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded in the 2011 Apertura, breaking a club record for a short tournament held by Carlos Roa since 1992.[8]

On 9 June 2013, again from the penalty spot, Saja scored against Boca Juniors (2–0 home triumph, which qualified the team for the Copa Sudamericana).[9] On 18 October 2015, against the same opponent but for the league, he repeated the feat to help the hosts win it 3–1.[10]

Gimnàstic and Zaragoza

On 16 August 2016, free agent Saja signed a one-year deal with Gimnàstic de Tarragona, returning to Spain and its second tier after 11 years.[11] Due to the injury of Manolo Reina, he was made a starter during the first matches of the season.[12]

On 21 December 2016, after being overtaken by another new signing, Stole Dimitrievski, Saja left Nàstic by mutual consent.[13] The following 24 January, he joined fellow league team Real Zaragoza until the end of the campaign.[14]

On 9 June 2017, Saja announced his retirement at the age of 38.[15]

International career

Saja earned four caps for Argentina, making his debut against Wales on 13 February 2002 (1–1 in Cardiff).[16] In the following year he appeared in a further three friendlies, with Honduras (3–1), Mexico (1–0) and the United States (1–0).[17]

Honours

San Lorenzo

2001 Clausura

2001

2002

Grêmio

2007

AEK

2010–11

Racing Club

Individual

Notes and References

  1. http://www.lanacion.com.ar/876222-saja-se-fue-a-brasil-llega-romagnoli Saja se fue a Brasil; llega Romagnoli (Saja went to Brazil; Romagnoli arrives)
  2. https://www.minutouno.com/notas/69619-sebastian-saja-y-otro-conflicto-enpuerta-el-equipo-ramon-diaz Sebastián Saja y otro conflicto en puerta para el equipo de Ramón Díaz (Sebastián Saja and another run-in in the making for Ramón Díaz's team)
  3. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15283/match=303886/report=rp.html Omonia keep the party going in Nicosia
  4. http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=5090 Saja signs new deal
  5. http://www.tovima.gr/sports/article/?aid=408714 Βελούδινο διαζύγιο ΑΕΚ – Σάχα
  6. http://www.ole.com.ar/racing/Chino-Avellaneda_0_509949283.html Chino de Avellaneda (Avellaneda's Chino)
  7. https://www.lacapital.com.ar/ovacion/racing-goleo-4-0-san-lorenzo-y-quedo-un-punto-del-lider-n359241.html Racing goleó por 4 a 0 a San Lorenzo y quedó a un punto del líder (Racing routed San Lorenzo 4 to 0 and are now one point behind leader)
  8. http://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-primera/Premio-mejor_0_608339193.html Premio para el mejor (Award to the best)
  9. http://mundod.lavoz.com.ar/futbol/torneo-final-racing-le-gano-boca-y-se-clasifico-la-copa-sudamericana Torneo Final: Racing le ganó a Boca y se clasificó a la Copa Sudamericana (Final Tournament: Racing beat Boca and qualified for the South American Cup)
  10. https://www.elpatagonico.com/racing-le-amargo-la-noche-boca-n1297999 Racing le amargó la noche a Boca (Racing made night for Boca a bitter one)
  11. http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/saja-nou-fitxatge-per-a-la-porteria-del-nastic/ Saja, nou fitxatge per a la porteria del Nàstic (Saja, new signing for Nàstic's goal)
  12. https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1928854-1928854 Sebastián Saja seguirá su carrera en la segunda división de España (Sebastián Saja will continue his career in the Spanish second division)
  13. http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/saja-finalitza-la-seva-vinculacio-amb-el-nastic/ Saja finalitza la seva vinculació amb el Nàstic (Saja ends his link with Nàstic)
  14. http://www.realzaragoza.com/noticias/61839 Confirmada la contratación del portero Sebastián Saja (Signing of goalkeeper Sebastián Saja confirmed)
  15. http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2032187-sebastian-saja-se-retira-del-futbol-nada-de-lo-que-haga-de-aca-en-adelante-me-hara-sentir-tan-pleno Sebastián Saja se retira del fútbol: "Nada de lo que haga de acá en adelante me hará sentir tan pleno" (Saja retires from football: "Nothing that happens from now on will make me feel so fulfilled")
  16. https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/2002ic1.html 2002 Matches
  17. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/friend-intres2003.html International Friendly Matches 2003
  18. Web site: Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon: Official Player Awards. rsssf.or. 12 October 2022. 12 October 2022.