Marcel Sabou

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Marcel Sabou

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|08|22|df=y}}

| birth_place = Timișoara, Romania

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Politehnica Timișoara

| years1 = 1985–1986

| years2 = 1986–1989

| years3 = 1989–1990

| years4 = 1990–1991

| years5 = 1991–1993

| years6 = 1993–1996

| years7 = 1996–1998

| clubs1 = Politehnica Timișoara

| clubs2 = Dinamo București

| clubs3 = Real Madrid Castilla

| clubs4 = Tenerife

| clubs5 = Racing Santander

| clubs6 = Sporting Gijón

| clubs7 = Desportivo Chaves

| caps1 = 46

| caps2 = 48

| caps3 = 7

| caps4 = 20

| caps5 = 66

| caps6 = 72

| caps7 = 59

| goals1 = 9

| goals2 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 9

| goals6 = 6

| goals7 = 10

| totalcaps = 318 | totalgoals = 34

| nationalyears1 = 1986–1987

| nationalteam1 = Romania U-21

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Marcel Sabou (born 22 August 1965) is a Romanian retired footballer who played for amongst others, Romanian side Dinamo București, Spanish sides CD Tenerife, Racing Santander and Sporting de Gijón, and Portuguese side Desportivo Chaves.{{cite web|url=http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/diverse/e-pe-locul-4-in-topul-romanilor-cu-cele-mai-multe-meciuri-in-primera-am-batut-si-bar-a-si-realul-8692895|title=E pe locul 4 în topul românilor cu cele mai multe meciuri în Primera! "Am bătut şi Barça, şi Realul!|publisher=prosport.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title= He is ranked 4th in the Romanians top with most matches in Primera! "I beat both Barça and Real!"|access-date= 16 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://sptfm.ro/2014/12/20/exclusiv-marcel-sabou-cred-ca-stie-mult-mai-lume-de-mine-spania-decat-romania/|title=Marcel Sabou: "Cred ca stie mult mai multa lume de mine in Spania decat in Romania."|publisher=sptfm.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Marcel Sabou: "I think that more people know about me in Spain than in Romania."|access-date= 16 April 2018}} In 2013 he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that causes the death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles.{{cite web | url=https://premium.gsp.ro/editorial-romana/premium/povestea-tulburatoare-a-lui-marcel-sabou-de-la-transferul-la-real-madrid-la-6-ani-in-vartejul-als-587768.html | title=REPORTAJ EMOȚIONANT – Povestea tulburătoare a lui Marcel Sabou: de la transferul la Real Madrid la 6 ani în vârtejul ALS, o boală incurabilă| publisher=Sptfm.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=EXCITING REPORT – Marcel Sabou's disturbing story: from the transfer to Real Madrid to 6 years in the whirlwind of ALS, an incurable disease| date= 16 January 2020 | access-date=29 May 2020}}

Escape from Communist Romania

Sabou is one of the few footballers who managed to escape from Romania's communist regime, at that time defection from the country being illegal.{{cite web | url=https://sptfm.ro/2014/11/25/exclusiv-gheorghe-viscreanu-singurul-fotbalist-roman-care-fugit-de-doua-ori-din-tara-comunism-vorbeam-de-doua-ori-pe-saptamana-cu-hagi-dupa-ce-venit-la-madrid/ | title=Gheorghe Viscreanu, singurul fotbalist roman care a fugit de doua ori din tara, in comunism: "Vorbeam de doua ori pe saptamana cu Hagi, dupa ce a venit la Madrid"| publisher=Sptfm.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Gheorghe Viscreanu, the only Romanian footballer who fled the country twice, during communism: "I used to talk twice a week with Hagi, after he came to Madrid"| date= 25 November 2014 | access-date=29 May 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/diverse/exclusiv-video-gheorghe-viscreanu-fost-jucator-la-steaua-si-dinamo-face-o-incursiune-rascolitoare-prin-viata-sa-australia-m-a-extradat-in-baza-unui-pact-secret-cu-ceausescu-588770.html |title=Gheorghe Viscreanu, fost jucător la Steaua și Dinamo, face o incursiune răscolitoare prin viața sa: "Australia m-a extrădat în baza unui pact secret cu Ceaușescu"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Gheorghe Viscreanu, former player at Steaua and Dinamo, makes a tumultuous foray through his life: "Australia extradited me on the basis of a secret pact with Ceausescu" | date= 27 January 2020 | access-date=29 May 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/diverse/a-doua-parte-a-confesiunilor-lui-gheorghe-viscreanu-chef-de-pomina-cu-colegi-de-la-dinamo-steaua-si-22-de-balerine-am-spart-banii-la-cazinou-ca-sa-nu-i-impart-cu-sotia-la-divort-588798.html | title=A doua parte a confesiunilor lui Gheorghe Viscreanu: "Chef de pomină cu colegi de la Dinamo, Steaua și 22 de balerine" + "Am spart banii la cazinou ca să nu-i împart cu soția la divorț" | publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The second part of Gheorghe Viscreanu's confessions: "Party with colleagues from Dinamo, Steaua and 22 ballerinas" + "I broke the money at the casino so as not to share it with my wife at divorce" | date= 27 January 2020 | access-date=29 May 2020}}

His escape was in 1989 while he was playing for Dinamo București in a friendly tournament held in Madrid, Spain. Together with teammate Gheorghe Viscreanu, he sneaked out of the hotel and went to the airport. They bought tickets to Frankfurt where Sabou said he had a friend who would help them, but when they arrived they didn't have an entrance visa so they were sent back to Madrid. When they got back at the airport from Madrid, they found out that their visa for Spain was no longer available. A police commissioner from the airport understood their situation and allowed them to stay in the airport for two days and introduced them to some people he knew from Rayo Vallecano. They signed three-year contracts with Rayo, but did not play in the first one because in those times there was a rule that every footballer who ran away from the communist bloc would be suspended for one year before being allowed to play again. Viscreanu and Sabou made an agreement that they would not sign a contract one without the other, but Sabou did not respect this pact as he signed with Real Madrid Castilla without thinking of Viscreanu's situation, a fact that ruined their friendship.