Mario Suárez (footballer)

Mario Suárez Mata (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmaɾjo ˈswaɾeθ ˈmata]; born 24 February 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Rayo Vallecano 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
Date of birth (1987-02-24) 24 February 1987
Place of birth Alcobendas, Spain
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Rayo Vallecano
Number 4
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– Rayo Vallecano 59 (10)
National team
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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 January 2021

He amassed La Liga totals of 220 matches and 14 goals over 11 seasons, representing mainly in the competition Atlético Madrid[2] 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[3] 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[4][5] and spending his second year at RC Celta de Vigo.[6] In August 2008 he was purchased by RCD Mallorca, signing a four-year deal that left Atlético the possibility of reacquiring the player.[7]

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.[8] In his debut campaign in his second spell, he battled for first-choice status at holding midfielder with Brazilian Paulo Assunção.[9] He netted his first official goal for the club on 10 April 2011, in a 3–0 home win against Real Sociedad.[10]

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.[11] However, on 19 August, he played the entire first leg of the Supercopa de España, a 1–1 draw away to Real Madrid.[12]

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.[13]

Fiorentina

On 24 July 2015, Suárez signed for Serie A club ACF Fiorentina, with Stefan Savić moving in the opposite direction.[14] 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 A.C. Milan (23 minutes played).[15]

Suárez's sole goal for the Viola came on 1 November 2015, in a 4–1 rout of Frosinone Calcio.[16]

Watford

On 30 January 2016, after weeks of negotiations, Watford announced the signing of Suárez on a four-and-a-half year contract, for €4 million transfer fee.[17][18] 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.[19]

Suárez signed for Valencia CF on a season-long loan deal on 16 August 2016, with an option of a subsequent purchase.[20] He scored his first brace as a senior on 16 October, in a 2–1 victory at Sporting de Gijón.[21]

Later years

On 11 July 2017, Suárez transferred to Chinese Super League side Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC.[22] He returned to Spain on 31 January 2019, joining Rayo Vallecano on a six-month contract.[23]

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.[24] Subsequently, he appeared for the under-21s at the 2009 UEFA European Championship in Sweden, in an eventual group stage exit.[25]

On 6 February 2013, Suárez earned his first cap with the full side, playing the last 20 minutes of the 3–1 friendly win over Uruguay in Doha, Qatar.[26]

Personal life

In June 2017, Suárez married model Malena Costa Sjögren.[27]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 1 August 2020[28][29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlético Madrid 2005–06 La Liga 4020—0060
Valladolid 2006–07 Segunda División 23371—00304
Celta Vigo 2007–08 Segunda División 26210—00272
Mallorca 2008–09 La Liga 26060—00320
2009–10 La Liga 34541—00386
Total 605101—00706
Atlético Madrid 2010–11 La Liga 27240—40352
2011–12 La Liga 28000—140420
2012–13 La Liga 29180—60431
2013–14 La Liga 17020—50240
2014–15 La Liga 20170—81352
Total 1214210—3711795
Fiorentina 2015–16 Serie A 9100—40131
Watford 2015–16 Premier League 150200000170
Valencia (loan) 2016–17 La Liga 21300—00213
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 0000——00
Total 48930——519
Career total 356294720041144432

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[30]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 201320
201510
Total30

Honours

Club

Valladolid

Atlético Madrid

International

Spain U19

References
  1. "Mario Suárez". Atlético Madrid. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. "SuperMario cumple 150 en Primera" [SuperMario reaches 150 in Primera] (in Spanish). Atlético Madrid. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  3. 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.
  4. Alvarado, Arturo (30 August 2006). "Mario Suárez, a Pucela" [Mario Suárez, to Pucela]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. Trives, Luis Ángel (3 July 2008). "Mario Suárez llega a Mallorca" [Mario Suárez arrives at Mallorca]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  8. "Atlético re-sign Suárez from Mallorca". UEFA. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  9. 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.
  10. "Luis, Suarez and Aguero on target for Atletico". ESPN Soccernet. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  11. Bonn, Kyle (10 August 2014). "Atletico's Mario Suarez suffers "traumatic brain injury" in Wolfsburg friendly". NBC Sports. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  12. "Spanish Super Copa: Real Madrid and Atletico draw 1–1 in first leg". Sky Sports. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  13. "Atlético edge past Leverkusen on penalties". UEFA. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  14. "Mario Suarez seals move to Fiorentina from Atletico Madrid". ESPN FC. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  15. "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.
  16. "Fiorentina beats Frosinone to return to top of Serie A". Sports Illustrated. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  17. "Official: Suárez signs on". Watford F.C. 30 January 2016. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  18. 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.
  19. Rose, Gary (3 February 2016). "Watford 0–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  20. "VCF official statement | Mario Suárez". Valencia CF. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  21. "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.
  22. "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. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  23. "Mario Suárez nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Mario Suárez new Rayo Vallecano player] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  24. "España sufre pero gana ante Zambia" [Spain struggle but win against Zambia]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 5 July 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  25. Atkin, John (23 June 2009). "Too little too late for Spain". UEFA. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  26. Aldunate, Ramiro (6 February 2013). "Campeón hasta en los simulacros" [Champions even in drills]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  27. "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.
  28. "Mario Suárez: Mario Suárez Mata". BDFutbol. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  29. Mario Suárez at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  30. "Mario Suárez" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
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