Mario Suárez (footballer)

Mario Suárez Mata (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmaɾjo ˈswaɾeθ ˈmata]; born 24 February 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Mata.

Mario Suárez
Suárez with Atlético Madrid in 2013
Personal information
Full name Mario Suárez Mata[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-24) 24 February 1987[1]
Place of birth Alcobendas, Spain
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1999–2004 Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Atlético Madrid B 38 (4)
2005–2008 Atlético Madrid 4 (0)
2006–2007 → Valladolid (loan) 23 (3)
2007–2008 → Celta (loan) 26 (2)
2008–2010 Mallorca 60 (5)
2010–2015 Atlético Madrid 121 (4)
2015–2016 Fiorentina 9 (1)
2016–2017 Watford 15 (0)
2016–2017 → Valencia (loan) 21 (3)
2017–2018 Guizhou Hengfeng 29 (2)
2019–2023 Rayo Vallecano 91 (11)
Total 437 (35)
International career
2002–2003 Spain U16 8 (1)
2004–2005 Spain U17 11 (1)
2005–2006 Spain U19 10 (3)
2007 Spain U20 4 (1)
2007–2009 Spain U21 5 (0)
2013–2015 Spain 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He amassed La Liga totals of 236 matches and 14 goals over 13 seasons, representing mainly in the competition Atlético Madrid[3] and winning six major titles with the club, including the 2014 national championship and the 2012 Europa League.

Suarez played 38 times for Spain at youth level, making his debut for the full side in 2013.

Club career

Atlético Madrid

A product of Atlético Madrid's youth system, Suárez was born in Alcobendas, Madrid. He first appeared with the first team on 6 November 2005, playing four minutes in a 0–0 draw at Sevilla FC[4] and going on to make a further three La Liga appearances during the season, including two 90-minute games.

From 2006 to 2008, Suárez served two Segunda División loan stints, being an important element in Real Valladolid's 2007 top-flight return[5][6] and spending his second year at RC Celta de Vigo.[7] In August 2008 he was purchased by RCD Mallorca, signing a four-year deal that left Atlético the possibility of reacquiring the player.[8]

After two seasons appearing regularly – in the second, he scored five goals in 34 matches to help the Balearic Islands side qualify for the UEFA Europa League – the rebuy clause was activated and Suárez returned to the Colchoneros.[9] In his debut campaign in his second spell, he battled for first-choice status at holding midfielder with Brazilian Paulo Assunção.[10] He netted his first official goal for the club on 10 April 2011, in a 3–0 home win against Real Sociedad.[11]

On 10 August 2014, Suárez was knocked unconscious in a friendly against VfL Wolfsburg, after teammate Cristian Ansaldi's hip hit his head. He suffered a "traumatic brain injury" and stayed for treatment in Germany, while the rest of the team returned to Spain.[12] However, on 19 August, he played the entire first leg of the Supercopa de España, a 1–1 draw away to Real Madrid.[13]

Suárez scored his second competitive goal of 2014–15 on 17 March 2015, through a 27th-minute deflected effort for the only goal against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League's round-of-16. He also converted his penalty shootout attempt, in an eventual 3–2 win.[14]

Fiorentina

On 24 July 2015, Suárez signed for Serie A club ACF Fiorentina, with Stefan Savić moving in the opposite direction.[15] He appeared in only 13 competitive games during his six-month tenure, his maiden league appearance occurring on 23 August in a 2–0 home victory over AC Milan (23 minutes played).[16]

Suárez's sole goal for the Viola came on 1 November 2015, in a 4–1 rout of Frosinone Calcio.[17]

Watford

On 30 January 2016, after weeks of negotiations, Watford announced the signing of Suárez on a four-and-a-half-year contract, for a €4 million transfer fee.[18][19] His first Premier League appearance occurred four days later, as he came on as an 87th-minute substitute for Étienne Capoue in a 0–0 home draw against Chelsea.[20]

Suárez signed for Valencia CF on a season-long loan deal on 16 August 2016, with an option of a subsequent purchase.[21] He scored his first brace as a senior on 16 October, in a 2–1 victory at Sporting de Gijón.[22]

Later years

On 11 July 2017, Suárez transferred to Chinese Super League side Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC.[23] He returned to Spain on 31 January 2019, joining Rayo Vallecano on a six-month contract.[24] He helped the latter to achieve top-tier promotion at the end of the 2020–21 campaign, contributing 30 games and two goals (110 and 12 during his spell).[25][26]

Suárez announced his retirement from football in October 2023, aged 36.[27]

International career

Suárez played for Spain in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. He scored a penalty in the match against Zambia, in a 2–1 win.[28] Subsequently, he appeared for the under-21s at the 2009 UEFA European Championship in Sweden, in an eventual group stage exit.[29]

On 6 February 2013, Suárez earned his first cap for the full side, playing the last 20 minutes of the 3–1 friendly win over Uruguay in Doha, Qatar.[30]

Personal life

In June 2017, Suárez married model Malena Costa Sjögren.[31]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[32][33]
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Apps GoalsAppsGoals
Atlético Madrid 2005–06 La Liga 4020— —60
Valladolid (loan) 2006–07 Segunda División 23371— —304
Celta (loan) 2007–08 Segunda División 26210— —272
Mallorca 2008–09 La Liga 26060— —320
2009–10 La Liga 34541— —386
Total 605101— —706
Atlético Madrid 2010–11 La Liga 272404[lower-alpha 1]0 0 0352
2011–12 La Liga 2800014[lower-alpha 1]0 —420
2012–13 La Liga 291805[lower-alpha 1]0 1[lower-alpha 2] 0431
2013–14 La Liga 170105[lower-alpha 3]0 2[lower-alpha 4] 0250
2014–15 La Liga 201608[lower-alpha 3]1 1[lower-alpha 4] 0352
Total 1214190361 4 01805
Fiorentina 2015–16 Serie A 91004[lower-alpha 1]0 —131
Watford 2015–16 Premier League 15020— 0 0170
Valencia (loan) 2016–17 La Liga 21330— —243
Guizhou Hengfeng 2017 Chinese Super League 12000— —120
2018 Chinese Super League 17210— —182
Total 29210— —302
Rayo Vallecano 2018–19 La Liga 14200— —142
2019–20 Segunda División 34730— —377
2020–21 Segunda División 27240— 3[lower-alpha 5] 0342
2021–22 La Liga 14 0 7 1 — — 21 1
2022–23 La Liga 2 0 2 0 — — 4 0
Total 9111161— 3 011012
Career total 39931613401 7 050735
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. Appearance(s) in Supercopa de España
  5. Appearances in 2021 Segunda División play-offs

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[34]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 201320
201510
Total30

Honours

Valladolid

Atlético Madrid

Spain U19

References
  1. "Mario Suárez". Diario AS. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  2. "Mario Suárez". Atlético Madrid. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  3. "SuperMario cumple 150 en Primera" [SuperMario reaches 150 in Primera] (in Spanish). Atlético Madrid. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  4. Carvajal, Álvaro (6 November 2005). "El Sevilla y el Atlético se quedan sin gol" [Goal eludes both Sevilla and Atlético]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  5. Alvarado, Arturo (30 August 2006). "Mario Suárez, a Pucela" [Mario Suárez, to Pucela]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  6. "Los héroes del ascenso esperan su oportunidad" [Promotion heroes await their chance]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 26 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  7. "Mario Suárez jugará cedido en el Celta esta temporada" [Mario Suárez will play on loan to Celta this season]. Marca (in Spanish). 22 August 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  8. Trives, Luis Ángel (3 July 2008). "Mario Suárez llega a Mallorca" [Mario Suárez arrives at Mallorca]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  9. "Atlético re-sign Suárez from Mallorca". UEFA. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  10. Malagón, Manuel (18 November 2010). "Mario Suárez o Assunçao, la última duda de Quique" [Mario Suárez or Assunçao, Quique's last doubt]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  11. "Luis, Suarez and Aguero on target for Atletico". ESPN Soccernet. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  12. Bonn, Kyle (10 August 2014). "Atletico's Mario Suarez suffers "traumatic brain injury" in Wolfsburg friendly". NBC Sports. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  13. "Spanish Super Copa: Real Madrid and Atletico draw 1–1 in first leg". Sky Sports. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  14. "Atlético edge past Leverkusen on penalties". UEFA. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  15. "Mario Suarez seals move to Fiorentina from Atletico Madrid". ESPN FC. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  16. "La Fiorentina stende il Milan: Alonso-Ilicic show e 2–0" [Fiorentina knock Milan out: Alonso-Ilicic show and 2–0]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 23 August 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  17. "Fiorentina beats Frosinone to return to top of Serie A". Sports Illustrated. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  18. "Official: Suárez signs on". Watford F.C. 30 January 2016. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  19. ACF Fiorentina S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2015 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  20. Rose, Gary (3 February 2016). "Watford 0–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  21. "VCF official statement | Mario Suárez". Valencia CF. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  22. "Mario Suárez alegra el debut de Prandelli en el Valencia" [Mario Suárez sweetens Prandelli debut at Valencia]. El País (in Spanish). 16 October 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  23. "贵州官宣西班牙中场正式加盟 曾随马竞登顶西甲" [Guizhou officially announced arrival of Spanish midfielder] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  24. "Mario Suárez nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Mario Suárez new Rayo Vallecano player] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  25. Calderón Aguado, Daniel (25 July 2022). "Los datos de la temporada 2021–22 de Mario Suárez" [Mario Suárez 2021–22 season data] (in Spanish). Unión Rayo. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  26. "Mario Suárez: "He disfrutado con la pasión que transmite este barrio"" [Mario Suárez: "I've enjoyed the passion that this neighbourhood displays"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 10 July 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  27. Martín, Maite (1 October 2023). "Mario Suárez se retira" [Mario Suárez retires]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  28. "España sufre pero gana ante Zambia" [Spain struggle but win against Zambia]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 5 July 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  29. Atkin, John (23 June 2009). "Too little too late for Spain". UEFA. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  30. Aldunate, Ramiro (6 February 2013). "Campeón hasta en los simulacros" [Champions even in drills]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  31. "Boda sorpresa de Malena Costa y Mario Suárez en Mallorca" [Surprise wedding of Malena Costa and Mario Suárez in Mallorca] (in Spanish). ¡Hola!. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  32. "Mario Suárez: Mario Suárez Mata". BDFutbol. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  33. Mario Suárez at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  34. "Mario Suárez" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
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