Marcel Sabou

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Marcel Sabou

| image =

| full_name =

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

| birth_place = Timișoara, Romania

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|6|9|1965|08|22|df=y}}

| death_place = Gijón, Asturias, Spain

| 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 U21

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Marcel Sabou (22 August 1965 – 9 June 2025) was a Romanian footballer who played for Romanian sides Politehnica Timișoara and Dinamo București, Spanish clubs Real Madrid Castilla, Tenerife, Racing Santander and Sporting Gijón and Portuguese team 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!"|date=5 September 2011|access-date=16 April 2018}}

Club career

Sabou was born on 22 August 1965 in Timișoara, Romania, starting to play football at local club, Politehnica, making his Divizia A debut on 14 August 1985 in a 1–0 away loss to Petrolul Ploiești.{{RomanianSoccer|4613/marcel-sabou}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sspolitehnica.ro/s-a-stins-marcel-sabou/|title=S-a stins Marcel Sabou|publisher=Sspolitehnica.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Marcel Sabou has passed away|date=10 June 2025|access-date=18 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/campionate/veste-trista-gijon-s-a-stins-marcel-sabou-59-de-ani-scleroza-laterala-amiotrofica-811896.html|title=Veste tristă din Gijon! S-a stins Marcel Sabou. Avea 59 de ani și se lupta teribil din 2013 cu boala necruțătoare!|publisher=Gsp.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Sad news from Gijon! Marcel Sabou has passed away. He was 59 years old and had been fighting a terrible battle with the relentless disease since 2013!|date=10 June 2025|access-date=18 June 2025}} At the end his first season spent at the club, they relegated to Divizia B but Sabou stayed with the club for another half of year. Afterwards he went to play under the guidance of coach Mircea Lucescu at Dinamo București. There he made his only appearance in European competitions, playing in a 3–0 victory against Kuusysi Lahti from the first round of the 1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/marcel-sabou/ec-der-pokalsieger-1988-1989/dinamo-bucuresti/3/|title=Marcel Sabou. Champions League 2010/2011|access-date=18 June 2025}} On 20 June 1989 he made his last Divizia A appearance in Dinamo's 4–0 home victory against SC Bacău, having a total of 77 games with five goals scored in the competition.

In 1989, Sabou defected to Spain, signing with Segunda División team, Real Madrid Castilla. Shortly afterwards he moved to Tenerife where on 9 September 1990 under coach Xabier Azkargorta he made his La Liga debut in a 3–1 away loss to Osasuna.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/marcel-sabou/esp-primera-division-1990-1991/cd-tenerife/3/|title=Marcel Sabou. Primera División 1990/1991|access-date=18 June 2025}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/primera-division-1990-1991-ca-osasuna-cd-tenerife/|title=CA Osasuna - CD Tenerife 3:1|access-date=18 June 2025}} In 1991 he went back to Segunda División at Racing Santander, helping the team earn promotion to the first division in his second season spent there. He then went back to La Liga football, playing for Sporting Gijón, scoring his first goal in the competition on 6 March 1994 in a 2–1 away loss to Rayo Vallecano.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/marcel-sabou/esp-primera-division-1993-1994/sporting-gijon/3/|title=Marcel Sabou. Primera División 1993/1994|access-date=18 June 2025}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/primera-division-1993-1994-rayo-vallecano-sporting-gijon/|title=Rayo Vallecano - Sporting Gijón 2:1|access-date=18 June 2025}} In 1995 he scored an important goal in a relegation play-off against Lleida which helped Gijón avoid relegation.{{cite web|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/marcel-sabou-a-murit-5338370|title=Marcel Sabou a murit. Fostul internațional de tineret se lupta de 12 ani cu o boală necruțătoare|publisher=Libertatea.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Marcel Sabou has died. The former youth international had been battling a relentless illness for 12 years|date=10 June 2025|access-date=18 June 2025}} On 25 February 1996, Sabou made his last La Liga appearance in Gijón's 3–2 home loss to Espanyol, having a total of 86 matches with six goals netted in the competition.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/marcel-sabou/esp-primera-division-1995-1996/sporting-gijon/3/|title=Marcel Sabou. Primera División 1995/1996|access-date=18 June 2025}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/primera-division-1995-1996-sporting-gijon-espanyol-barcelona/|title=Sporting Gijón - Espanyol Barcelona 2:3|access-date=18 June 2025}}

Afterwards he went to play for Desportivo Chaves where he was teammate with compatriot Ovidiu Cuc.{{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."| date=20 December 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501232729/https://sptfm.ro/2014/12/20/exclusiv-marcel-sabou-cred-ca-stie-mult-mai-lume-de-mine-spania-decat-romania/| access-date=18 June 2025| archive-date=1 May 2015}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/gd-chaves/1997/2/|title=GD Chaves. Squad 1996/1997|access-date=18 June 2025}} He made his Primeira Liga debut on 1 September 1996 under coach José Romão in a 3–3 draw against Marítimo.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/marcel-sabou/por-primeira-liga-1996-1997/gd-chaves/3/|title=Marcel Sabou. Primeira Liga 1996/1997|access-date=18 June 2025}}{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/primeira-liga-1996-1997-cs-maritimo-gd-chaves/|title=CS Marítimo - GD Chaves 3:3|access-date=18 June 2025}} On 13 October he netted a brace in a 5–2 victory against Braga. He would score two more doubles in a win against Farense and a loss to Leça, netting a personal record of eight goals until the end of the season. On 17 May 1998, Sabou played his last game in the Portuguese league, a 0–0 draw against Académica, having a total of 59 games with 10 goals scored in the competition.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/marcel-sabou/por-primeira-liga-1997-1998/gd-chaves/3/|title=Marcel Sabou. Primeira Liga 1997/1998|access-date=18 June 2025}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/primeira-liga-1997-1998-gd-chaves-academica-de-coimbra/|title=GD Chaves - Académica de Coimbra 0:0|access-date=18 June 2025}}

International career

Between 1986 and 1987, Sabou made seven appearances for Romania's under-21 squad.{{cite news|url=https://www.11v11.com/players/marcel-sabou-168410/|title=Marcel Sabou profile|publisher=11v11|access-date=18 June 2025}}

Escape from Communist Romania

Sabou was 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 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326041707/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/| access-date=18 June 2025| archive-date=26 March 2015}}{{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.

Personal life and death

In 2013 Sabou 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}}

On 9 June 2025, he died of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Gijón, Spain, at the age of 59.{{cite web |last1=Falagán |first1=Aser |title=Pésame por el fallecimiento del exjugador Marcel Sabou |url=https://www.realsporting.com/noticias/pesame-por-el-fallecimiento-del-exjugador-marcel-sabou |publisher=Realsporting.com|trans-title=Condolences on the passing of former player Marcel Sabou|date=9 June 2025|access-date=9 June 2025 |language=Spanish}}{{cite web |last1=Falagán |first1=Aser |title=Fallece Marcel Sabou, uno de los héroes del ascenso del 93 |url=https://www.eldiariomontanes.es/deportes/racing/fallece-marcel-sabou-heroes-ascenso-20250609202952-nt.html |publisher=El Diario Montañés|trans-title=Fallen Marcel Sabou, one of the heroes of the rise of 93|date=9 June 2025|access-date=12 June 2025 |language=Spanish}}