Sebastián Saja

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sebastián Saja

| image = Chino Saja (cropped).jpg

| caption = Saja in 2014

| full_name = Diego Sebástian Saja

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|6|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = La Plata, Argentina

| height = 1.88 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Inter Miami (assistant)

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| 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 = 2020–2025

| 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.[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)]; La Nación, 18 January 2007 (in Spanish)[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)]; Minuto Uno, 19 February 2008 (in Spanish)

=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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080830012315/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15283/match=303886/report=rp.html Omonia keep the party going in Nicosia]; UEFA, 28 August 2008

On 31 May 2009, Saja agreed to a new three-year deal with the Greek side,[http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=5090 Saja signs new deal]; AEK Athens, 31 May 2009 (in Greek) 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.[http://www.tovima.gr/sports/article/?aid=408714 Βελούδινο διαζύγιο ΑΕΚ – Σάχα]; Tovima, 29 June 2011 (in Greek) Shortly after, the 32-year-old returned to his homeland and joined Racing Club de Avellaneda,[http://www.ole.com.ar/racing/Chino-Avellaneda_0_509949283.html Chino de Avellaneda (Avellaneda's Chino)]; Olé, 2 July 2011 (in Spanish) 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;[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)]; La Capital, 29 September 2012 (in Spanish) 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.[http://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-primera/Premio-mejor_0_608339193.html Premio para el mejor (Award to the best)]; Olé, 13 December 2011 (in Spanish)

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).[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)]; La Voz del Interior, 9 June 2013 (in Spanish) On 18 October 2015, against the same opponent but for the league, he repeated the feat to help the hosts win it 3–1.[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)]; El Patagónico, 19 October 2015 (in Spanish)

=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.[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)]; Gimnàstic Tarragona, 16 August 2016 (in Catalan) Due to the injury of Manolo Reina, he was made a starter during the first matches of the season.[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)]; La Nación, 17 August 2016 (in Spanish)

On 21 December 2016, after being overtaken by another new signing, Stole Dimitrievski, Saja left Nàstic by mutual consent.[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)]; Gimnàstic Tarragona, 21 December 2016 (in Catalan) The following 24 January, he joined fellow league team Real Zaragoza until the end of the campaign.[http://www.realzaragoza.com/noticias/61839 Confirmada la contratación del portero Sebastián Saja (Signing of goalkeeper Sebastián Saja confirmed)]; Real Zaragoza, 24 January 2017 (in Spanish)

On 9 June 2017, Saja announced his retirement at the age of 38.[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")]; La Nación, 9 June 2017 (in Spanish)

International career

Saja earned four caps for Argentina, making his debut against Wales on 13 February 2002 (1–1 in Cardiff).[https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/2002ic1.html 2002 Matches]; at RSSSF In the following year he appeared in a further three friendlies, with Honduras (3–1), Mexico (1–0) and the United States (1–0).[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/friend-intres2003.html International Friendly Matches 2003]; at RSSSF

Honours

San Lorenzo

Grêmio

Campeonato Gaúcho: 2007

AEK

Greek Football Cup: 2010–11

Racing Club

Argentine Primera División: 2014

Individual

Toulon Tournament best goalkeeper: 1999{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toulon.html|title=Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon: Official Player Awards|publisher=rsssf.or|date=12 October 2022|accessdate=12 October 2022}}
South American Goalkeeper of the Year: 2002
Copa Libertadores best goalkeeper: 2007

References

External links

{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605134546/http://www.futbolxxi.com/Futbolista.aspx?ID=12418&SEOFutbolista=Saja+Diego+Sebastian |date=5 June 2008 |title=Argentine League statistics}} {{in lang|es}}
{{BDFutbol|4887}}
{{NFT player|314}}
{{Soccerway|diego--sebastian-saja/9186}}
{{Official website|url=http://www.sebastiansaja.com.ar}} {{in lang|es}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent

Category:Italian sportspeople of Argentine descent

Category:Naturalised citizens of Italy

Category:Footballers from La Plata

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:Argentine Primera División players

Category:San Lorenzo de Almagro footballers

Category:Copa Sudamericana–winning players

Category:Racing Club de Avellaneda footballers

Category:Serie A players