Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlwis ˈswaɾes]; born 24 January 1987) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Premier League club Liverpool and the Uruguayan national team.
At age of 19 Suárez moved to the Netherlands to play for Groningen in the Eredivisie. Suárez transferred to Ajax in 2007. In 2008–09 he was named club Player of the Year. The following year he was named the club captain, led the Eredivisie in scoring with 35 goals in 33 games and was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. He scored 49 goals in all competitions and Ajax won the KNVB Cup. In the 2010–11 season he scored his one hundredth Ajax goal and joined an elite group of players from the club, including Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Dennis Bergkamp, to do so.
In January 2011, Suárez transferred to Liverpool for €26.5 million (£22.8 million). During his partial season at Liverpool, Suárez helped the club move from twelfth in the league in mid-January to finish sixth. In February 2012 Suárez won his first trophy with Liverpool, as they won the Football League Cup.
Suárez represented Uruguay in the 2007 U-20 World Cup. In the 2010 World Cup he played an important role in Uruguay's fourth place finish and scored three goals, including when he infamously blocked an extra time goalbound header with his hands during the quarter finals against Ghana. At the 2011 Copa América Suárez scored four goals for Uruguay as they won a record fifteenth Copa América and was named Player of the Tournament.[2] On 23 June 2013, Suarez became Uruguay's all-time record goalscorer with 35 goals.
Nacional
Suárez joined local side Nacional's youth team at the age of 14.[3] At the age of 15, Suárez was red carded for headbutting a referee.[4] One night he was caught drinking and partying, and his coach threatened Suárez would never play unless he started playing football more seriously.[3][5] In May 2005, at age 18, he made his first team debut against Junior de Barranquilla in the Copa Libertadores.[3] He scored his first goal in September 2005[6] and helped Nacional win the 2005–06 Uruguayan league with 10 goals in 27 games.[7]Suárez was found by a group of scouts from the Dutch club Groningen when they were in Uruguay to watch another player. As they watched, he won and converted a penalty and scored a "wonder goal"[8] against Defensor. After watching only that game, the scouts approached Suárez and said they wanted to buy him;[8] after the season, Groningen paid Nacional €800,000 for him.[3] Suárez was thrilled to go to Europe because his girlfriend, and current wife, Sofia Balbi, had moved to Barcelona; they had maintained a long-distance relationship for a year and he wanted to move closer to her.[6]
Groningen
Ajax saw potential in Suárez and offered Groningen €3.5 million for him, but Groningen rejected the deal.[12] Suárez was upset and brought his case to the KNVB’s arbitration committee to try to facilitate the sale.[12]The arbitration committee ruled against him on 9 August 2007, but that same day, Ajax increased their offer to €7.5 million and Groningen accepted.[10][13]
Ajax
Suárez signed a five-year contract with Ajax[12][14] and made his club debut in the Champions League qualifier against Slavia Prague.[15] He scored one goal in his Eredivisie debut for the club[16] and two goals in his home debut at the Amsterdam Arena.[17] Ajax finished second in league in the 2007–08 season[18] and Suárez scored 17 goals in 33 league appearances, setting up a blossoming striking partnership with league top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.[19]During the 2008–09 season, Ajax coach Marco van Basten noted how Suárez played an important role in many of Ajax’s goals, but Van Basten was also upset by the number of yellow cards Suárez received.[16] Suárez was suspended for a game[20] because he was given his seventh yellow card of the season against Utrecht in a 2–0 win.[21] He was also suspended after a halftime altercation with teammate Albert Luque over a free kick.[5][16] Ajax ended the season in third place.[22] Suárez scored 22 goals in 31 league games[16][19] and finished second in scoring tables, one goal behind Mounir El Hamdaoui of AZ;[23] Suárez was named Ajax Player of the Year.[24]
Before the 2009–10 season, Martin Jol replaced Van Basten as coach.[16] After the departure of previous captain, Thomas Vermaelen, to Arsenal, Jol named Suárez team captain.[25][26] Suárez started scoring goals early in the season with a hat trick in a 4–1 win against RKC Waalwijk.[27] Suárez had a number of multiple-goal games throughout the season including four goals in wins over Slovan Bratislava in the Europe League play-off round,[28] VVV-Venlo[29][30] and Roda JC Kerkrade.[31] He scored three in the first half in another win over VVV-Venlo[32] and six against WHC Wezep in the KNVB Cup as Ajax won by a club-record margin of 14–1.[33][34] Suárez scored two more in the second leg of the KNVB Cup final and finished as the tournament's top scorer.[35] Ajax won the Cup final 6–1 on aggregate over Feyenoord,[24][35][36] but they finished second in the league behind FC Twente.[25] Suárez ended the season as the Eredivisie's top scorer with 35 goals in 33 games[19][25] and had 49 goals in all competitions.[25] He was named Ajax Player of the Year for the second straight time[24] and Dutch Footballer of the Year.[24][25][37]
Other European clubs began to show their interest in Suárez because of the number of goals Suárez was scoring for Ajax; his play that summer at the 2010 World Cup increased their interest.[5][38] Soon after Suárez returned from his World Cup campaign, he scored his one hundredth goal for Ajax in a 1–1 home draw against PAOK in a Champions League qualifier.[24][39] This put him in an elite group of players, including Johan Cruyff, Van Basten and Dennis Bergkamp, to score 100 or more goals with the club.[36][39] Suárez continued his scoring run with a hat trick against De Graafschap in a 5–0 win.[40]
During the suspension Ajax was in contact with other European clubs interested in Suárez; on 28 January 2011 they accepted a €26.5 million (£22.8 million) offer for Suárez from Premier League club Liverpool.[44][45] Despite leaving while suspended, Suárez departed Ajax on good terms, and he was given a farewell sendoff after an Ajax game. During the sendoff an Ajax coach spoke to him and the crowd and said how the club wished he could stay longer; the crowd applauded their agreement and fireworks followed.[46] Ajax ended the 2010–11 season as Eredivisie champions[47] and Suárez was given a winner’s medal[7][48] for his seven goals in 13 appearances.[49]
While he was at Ajax, Suárez scored 111 goals in 159 appearances.[15][44] Suárez recognized Ajax legends, Van Basten, Bergkamp, Frank de Boer and Henk ten Cate, for teaching him about football during his time at the club. He noted that Van Basten taught him the techniques and movement required for playing forward and he learned from all of them to be composed in front of the goal and not react to fouls.[8]
Liverpool
2010–11 season
Suárez signed a five-and-a-half-year deal until 2016,[44][50] and was Liverpool's most expensive signing (£22.8 million) until the arrival of Andy Carroll (£35 million) a few hours later.[51] Suárez requested the number seven jersey, but at the time did not realise that it had been worn by Liverpool "legends"[38] such as his new manager Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan.[52] After he learned about the players who previously wore that number, he said he appreciated the expectations associated with it.[8] Suárez made his Liverpool debut on 2 February against Stoke City at Anfield in a 2–0 win; he came on as a substitute and scored Liverpool's second goal in front of the Kop in the sixty-third minute.[51][53] He was one of Liverpool’s best players during his partial season[54][55][56] and helped Liverpool go from twelfth in the league in mid-January[54] to finish sixth.[56] He finished the 2010–11 season with four goals in 13 games.[49]2011–12 season
Racial abuse incident
Main article: Luis Suárez racial abuse incident
The season was marked by an incident in which Suárez was found guilty by the FA of racially abusing Patrice Evra during a game against Manchester United in October; he was given an eight-game suspension and a £40,000 fine.[61]After a 1–1 draw against Manchester United on 15 October 2011, Suárez was accused of racially abusing Evra,[62] and the Football Association opened up an investigation into the incident.[62] Suárez wrote on his Twitter and Facebook pages that he was upset by the accusation and denied the claims.[63] On 16 November, the FA announced it would charge Suárez with "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour contrary to FA rules", including "a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Patrice Evra." Liverpool later released a statement announcing Suárez would plead innocent, adding that they would "remain fully supportive" of him.[64] On 20 December, the FA concluded a seven-day hearing, handing Suárez an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine for racially abusing Evra.[65][66][67]
In their next meeting in February, during the pregame handshakes, Suárez avoided shaking Evra's hand, for which Suárez and Dalglish were later forced to apologize.[68] Suarez was also banned for one match for making an obscene gesture towards Fulham fans.[69]
2012–13 season
On 7 August 2012, Suárez signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool.[70] On 26 August, he scored his first goal of the 2012–13 season in a 2–2 draw with champions Manchester City at Anfield.[71] On 29 September 2012, Suárez scored a hat-trick in Liverpool's Premier League fixture away at Norwich City for the second consecutive season.[72] On 17 November, he scored a brace, bringing his tally to 10 goals in 12 league games, as Liverpool defeated Wigan Athletic 3–0.[73]On 6 January 2013, Suárez handled the ball before scoring the decisive goal in Liverpool's 2–1 win over Mansfield Town from the Conference National in an FA Cup third round match. Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers defended his player by claiming that "it's not his job to own up", while Mansfield manager Paul Cox said that he felt "a little bit gutted" by the "instinctive" handball, but admitted that he would have accepted a goal scored like that by one of his players.[74]
On 19 January, he scored his seventh goal in three matches against Norwich, as Liverpool cruised to a 5–0 home league victory.[75] The following week, Suárez captained Liverpool for the first time for the FA Cup fourth round match against Oldham Athletic; Liverpool lost to Oldham 2–3.[76] On 2 March, Suárez scored a hat-trick against Wigan, leading Liverpool to a dominant 4–0 victory at the DW Stadium. In doing so he became only the third Liverpool player to score 20 Premier League goals in a single season after Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres.[77][78] On 10 March, Suárez scored his 50th goal in all competitions since joining the Reds by grabbing the opener in a 3–2 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur ending that club's 12-match unbeaten run. He was also named man of the match for his performance after he won the decisive penalty which Steven Gerrard converted.
At the end of the season, Suárez was one of six players named on the shortlist for PFA Players' Player of the Year.[79] Suárez finished second in the final ballot behind Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur[80] and was named in the PFA Team of the Year.[80] He was second-top goalscorer in the Premier League for 2012–13 with 23 goals and Liverpool's top scorer in all competitions with 30 goals.[81] On May 28 2013, he was named as Liverpool's player of the season after receiving 64 percent of votes in a poll of the club's supporters.[82]
Bite incident
On 21 April 2013, in a 2–2 draw with Chelsea in a Premier League game at Anfield he appeared to bite opposing player Branislav Ivanović. It was not noticed by the officials, and Suárez scored an equaliser in injury time.[83] This was the second incident of its kind involving Suárez.[84] He was charged with violent conduct by the FA and fined an undisclosed sum by his club. Contrary to claims from Suárez, Ivanović did not accept an apology.[85] Suárez accepted the violent conduct charge but denied the FA's claim that the standard punishment of three matches was clearly insufficient for his offence.[86] A three-man independent panel appointed by the FA decided on a ten-game ban for Suárez, who did not appeal the ban; the panel criticised Suárez for not appreciating "the seriousness" of the incident when he argued against a long ban. The panel also wanted to send a "strong message that such deplorable behaviours do not have a place in football", while noting that "all players in the higher level of the game are seen as role models, have the duty to act professionally and responsibly, and set the highest example of good conduct to the rest of the game – especially to young players."[87]Summer 2013 transfer speculation
On 31 May 2013, Suárez said that he would be seeking an exit from Liverpool in the summer, citing the English media's intrusion into his private life as the reason for wanting to leave.[88]On August 6 2013, after Liverpool had rejected a bid of £40,000,001 for the player, Suárez reiterated his wish to leave Liverpool and claimed that the club had previously promised to allow him a transfer if the team failed to qualify for the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League.[89] On August 7, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers stated that Liverpool had not broken any promises to Suárez and that the player had shown "total disrespect" for the club.[90] After this incident, the British press reported that Suárez had been instructed to train away from the Liverpool first-team squad by Rodgers.[90][91][92]
On 8 August 2013, Liverpool owner John Henry stated that Suárez would not be allowed to leave the club.[93]
On 14 August 2013, Suárez appeared to turnaround, with reports stating that he wanted to stay at the club and that he was possibly going to sign a contract extension, citing the support from Liverpool supporters as the reason for his unexpected turnaround.[94][95][96][97][98]
On 16 August 2013, Suárez returned to first-team training alongside his Liverpool teammates after apologising to his teammates.[99]
International career
Suárez was invited to play for Uruguay in the qualifying rounds for the 2007 U-20 World Cup, but his club, Groningen, did not release him to play.[100] He did play in the tournament proper, and he scored two goals in four appearances.[101] His goals came in a group stage draw against Spain[102] and in the Round of 16 against the US,[101] but the US won 2–1 and Uruguay was knocked out of the tournament.[103]Suárez made his senior debut for Uruguay on 8 February 2007 in a 3–1 win against Colombia. He was sent off in the eighty-fifth minute after receiving a second yellow card for dissent.[9][100] Suárez played in 19 of 20 games in 2010 World Cup qualifying and the inter-confederation playoffs and scored five goals.[101][104]
2010 FIFA World Cup
During the round of 16 against South Korea, Suárez scored both goals in a 2–1 win. His second broke a tie in the 80th minute when he dribbled around a defender and curled a "spectacular shot"[110] in off the far post; Suárez was again named Man of the Match.[110] This win put Uruguay through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1970.[111] In the quarter-final against Ghana, the score was 1–1 at the end of regulation and the game went into extra time. Late in extra time, Ghana sent a free kick into the box; Suárez blocked Stephen Appiah's shot on the goal line.[112] He then blocked Dominic Adiyiah's goalbound header with his hands[36] to save what would have been the game winner[113] and was sent off. Asamoah Gyan hit the crossbar with the ensuing penalty kick[112] and Suárez, who had stopped to watch, celebrated the miss before heading down the tunnel.[8][114][115] Uruguay won the shootout 4–2 and advanced to the semi-finals.[112]
After the game, Suárez said, "I made the save of the tournament."[113] He claimed he had no alternative, was acting out of instinct, and would do it again if it helped his team win.[116][117] Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said the play was an "injustice"[114] and Suárez was labeled a villain[116] and a cheat[118] while he "enraged an entire continent [Africa]."[8] But others viewed him as a hero[8][36][119] who, due to the automatic suspension that accompanies a red card, sacrificed himself in the semi-final for the unlikely chance that the penalty would be missed and his team would later win.[5][118]
While Suárez was suspended for the semi-final game for his red card against Ghana,[120] Uruguay "lacked a second striker [alongside Diego Forlán] of cunning and movement"[121] and lost 3–2 to the Netherlands.[122][123] Suárez returned for the third place game against Germany; he was booed almost every time he had the ball because of his handball in the Ghana game.[124] He assisted Cavani on Uruguay's first goal,[125] but Uruguay lost 3–2.[124] During the tournament, Suárez played 543 minutes in six appearances and scored three goals.[1]
2011 Copa América
2012 Summer Olympics
On 9 July 2012, Suárez was selected for the Uruguay Olympic football team alongside Liverpool team mate Sebastián Coates to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games.[131] In the first pre-tournament warm-up game against Chile, Suárez scored a hat-trick for Uruguay as they came from 0–2 down to win 6–4 in a thrilling game.[132]As one of Uruguay's three overage players, Suárez was named as captain for the Olympic Games.[133] After an opening win over United Arab Emirates, Uruguay were beaten by Senegal and Great Britain and eliminated at the first round. Suárez failed to score during the tournament.
2013 Confederations Cup
Suárez was selected in the Uruguay squad to play in Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup. He scored a free-kick from 25 yards in a 2–1 defeat to Spain in their opening game at Recife on 16 June 2013.[134] He then scored twice after appearing as a substitute in Uruguay's 8–0 win over Tahiti, making him the Uruguay national team's all-time top-goalscorer with 35 goals.[135] Uruguay were eventually knocked out at the semi-final stage, losing 2–1 to Brazil in Belo Horizonte.International goals
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Style of play
Former Ajax coach Marco van Basten criticized Suárez for his tendency to pick up yellow cards.[16] van Basten said he had a tense relationship with Suárez,[16] although he conceded, "Luis is unpredictable, he’s hard to influence but that makes him special."[16] At times, Suárez can be dominant but fail to convert his efforts into goals.[143] Despite his weaknesses, Suárez’s leadership stood out to Ajax management;[44] coach Martin Jol appointed him captain because Jol believed that Suárez could transfer his mentality and attitude to the team.[8]
Suárez has also been widely accused of diving.[144][145][146] His manager, team-mates and various analysts have commented that this reputation for simulation has caused referees not to award him legitimate penalties.[147][148][149][150] In January 2013, Suárez admitted to diving against Stoke in an October 2012 match. This led to his manager Brendan Rodgers commented that his actions were "unacceptable" and he would be dealt with "internally" by the club.[151]
Personal life
Suárez was born in Salto, Uruguay, and is the fourth of seven brothers.[5][152] He moved with his family to Montevideo when he was seven[152] and his parents separated when he was nine.[8] He lived with his mother and brothers but still maintains contact with his father.[8] In Montevideo, Suárez developed his football skills on the streets.[6][152] His older brother Paolo Suárez is also a professional football player who plays for Isidro Metapán in El Salvador.[152]In 2009, he married his childhood sweetheart, Sofia Balbi, and they had their first daughter, Delfina, on 5 August 2010.
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