Quick Facts
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Claudio "El Emperador" Suárez Sánchez (locally: [ˈklawðjo ˈswaɾes ˈsantʃes]; born 17 December 1968 in Texcoco, State of Mexico) is a retired Mexican footballer. He last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer and an exhibition game on 5 September 2010 with the Carolina Railhawks versus the Pumas Morelos.
He has the record for most caps with the Mexico national team, as well as third place all-time, after Egyptian midfielder Ahmed Hassan and Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea .
Career
Nicknamed El Emperador ("The Emperor"), Suárez began his club career with UNAM Pumas, where he played from 1988 to 1996 where he became champion in 1991. He moved to Guadalajara as an important piece for the 1996 Apertura, and remained there for 3 years, through the 1999 Clausura where he became champion in the Verano 1997 tournament, and was called to the 1998 FIFA World Cup. After being in the All Mexican Team, as an important and solid defender he was transferred to Tigres.
Suárez then moved on to UANL Tigres, where he played from 1999 to the end of 2005. He led the team's defense during that time, and was league runner-up twice, in 2001 and 2003. His last game with Tigres, and in the Mexico league, was a semi-final Clásico Regiomontano in which he was sent off in a controversial referee decision. Previous to this incident, he already had disagreements with the team's management. Tigre's directive organization had asked Suarez to retire for years and join the management, but Suarez had refused. Other differences in defensive style where also cause for conflict with the teams management. The semi-final was the last excuse for separation.
In 2006, he moved to Major League Soccer to play for Chivas USA.
On 8 March 2009 after negotiations with his contract fell, Suarez announced his retirement. However, on 20 March 2009, he decided to return to professional soccer for another year. He was the last active soccer player left from Mexico's 1994 FIFA World Cup squad until he announced his retirement on March 26, 2010.
On 5 September 2010, Suárez came out of retirement to play for the Carolina Railhawks in an exhibition game with the Pumas Morelos.
International career
Claudio was a member and starter for Mexico in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States as well as the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He missed 2002 FIFA World Cup due to injury before the tournament begins. He was picked to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany with the Mexico National Team. This FIFA World Cup meant his third World Cup in his career. Despite being picked for the squad he saw no action, but he did wear his legendary number 2 jersey.
Claudio captained the Mexico National Team for many years and officially represented Mexico 177 times (178 in Mexican record keeping) making him the player with the most caps in history for the Mexico National Team as well as giving him the FIFA world record for most caps by a field player (since surpassed by Ahmed Hassan in 2012), as well as the North American record (which he still holds).
On 25 March 2007, Suárez along with former national team and Chivas USA teammate Ramón Ramírez were honored in a friendly against Paraguay at the Estadio Universitario.
Personal life
Suárez currently resides in Southern California with his wife and three children.
Stats
Career statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Mexico | League | Cup | North America | Total | ||||||
| 1988–89 | UNAM | Primera División | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 1989–90 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||||||
| 1990–91 | 40 | 3 | 40 | 3 | ||||||
| 1991–92 | 40 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 4 | ||||||
| 1993–94 | 20 | 3 | 20 | 3 | ||||||
| 1994–95 | 37 | 4 | 37 | 4 | ||||||
| 1995–96 | 32 | 5 | 32 | 5 | ||||||
| 1996–97 | Guadalajara | 39 | 6 | 39 | 6 | |||||
| 1997–98 | 32 | 1 | 32 | 1 | ||||||
| 1998–99 | 39 | 1 | 39 | 1 | ||||||
| 1999–00 | 34 | 2 | 34 | 2 | ||||||
| 2000–01 | UANL | 29 | 3 | 29 | 3 | |||||
| 2001–02 | 33 | 5 | 33 | 5 | ||||||
| 2002–03 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 3 | ||||||
| 2003–04 | 37 | 1 | 37 | 1 | ||||||
| 2004–05 | 20 | 3 | 20 | 3 | ||||||
| 2005–06 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| USA | League | Open Cup | North America | Total | ||||||
| 2006 | Chivas USA | Major League Soccer | 20 | 6 | 20 | 6 | ||||
| 2007 | 25 | 3 | 25 | 3 | ||||||
| 2008 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||||||
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | Mexico | 491 | 44 | 491 | 44 | |||||
| USA | 64 | 9 | 64 | 9 | ||||||
| Career total | 555 | 53 | 555 | 53 | ||||||
International goals
- Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | November 8, 1992 | Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent |  Saint Vincent | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification | |
| 2. | November 22, 1992 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico |  Costa Rica | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification | |
| 3. | December 14, 1994 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico |  Hungary | 3–1 | 5–1 | Friendly | |
| 4. | October 11, 1995 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States |  Saudi Arabia | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly | |
| 5. | January 31, 2001 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States |  Colombia | 1–0 | 2–3 | Friendly | |
| 6. | May 1, 2001 | Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico |  Brazil | 1–0 | 3–3 | Friendly |
Honours
Club
- UNAM
- Mexican Primera División: 1990–91
- Guadalajara
- Mexican Primera División: Verano 1997
- UANL
- InterLiga: 2005
International
- Mexico
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1999
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: 1993, 1996, 1998