Sebastián Domínguez

Sebastián Enrique Domínguez (born July 29, 1980) is an Argentine football centre back who plays for Newell's Old Boys.

Domínguez has played more than 10 years of professional football in teams of Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, winning titles with all but one.

Domínguez was born in Buenos Aires and moved to Rosario at an early age with the relocation of his parents'. There, he played in the youth system of Newell's Old Boys. His father coached Lionel Messi in the club's youth divisions.

Domínguez made his professional debut for Newell's Old Boys in 1998, at 18 years. At an early age he was purchased by a third-party and loaned to Talleres de Córdoba along with his teammate Maxi Rodríguez, but he was never authorized to play for the club and returned to Newell's shortly after. He played as a defensive midfielder until 2004, when he was moved to centre back by coach Américo Gallego and he captained the team that won the 2004 Apertura tournament, thus breaking the club's 12-year title drought. The central defender played 18 games (out of 19) during the tournament, all of them as a starter.

After winning the league championship with Newell's, Domínguez was purchased by third-party Media Sports Investment for $2.5 million (US), that loaned him along with fellow Argentine players Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to Brazilian side SC Corinthians. With his new club, he won the 2005 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

During the 2007 January transfer window, Domínguez returned to Argentina to play for Estudiantes de La Plata, under Diego Simeone's coaching. He played with the team the whole year, after which he was signed by Mexico side América in January 2008. Although he helped the team to win the 2008 InterLiga and scored in the derby against Chivas de Guadalajara, he was released from his contract at year-end.

On 27 January 2009, Vélez Sársfield signed the defender on a free transfer. He immediately established himself as a starter as center back playing along Nicolás Otamendi. Domínguez featured in all 19 games of his first tournament in Vélez, the 2009 Clausura, helping the team to claim the national championship. He was also a regular along Fernando Ortiz as centre back in Vélez' 2011 Clausura winning campaign (playing 16 games), as well as the team's 2011 Copa Libertadores semi-finalist campaign (playing all 12 games and scoring one goal). Domínguez also helped Vélez to win the 2012 Inicial, starting 18 games and scoring two goals. In that year he was also selected by the fans of Vélez on an online poll as the club's best player of the year.

In 2013, the defender obtained two further titles with Vélez: the 2012–13 Superfinal (defeating his former team Newell's Old Boys) and the 2013 Supercopa Argentina (defeating Arsenal de Sarandí), in both of which he was a starter for his team. During that year Domínguez also played his 200th official game with the club in a 1–1 draw with All Boys.

On 31 August 2009 Domínguez was called by coach Diego Maradona for the Argentine national team, along fellow Vélez Sársfield teammates Nicolás Otamendi and Emiliano Papa. With Argentina, the defender started the World Cup qualifier games against Brazil and Paraguay (both defeats for Argentina).

Domínguez was later called by coach Alejandro Sabella for the 2011 and 2012 editions of the friendly competition Superclásico de las Américas, in which he captained the national team. He was also called by Sabella for 2014 World Cup qualifying matches, including the last two against Peru and Uruguay. However, he did not take part of the squad for the World Cup.

Domínguez studied architecture, but did not get far in his career. He plays guitar and harmonica and enjoys Argentine and British rock.

In 2014, Domínguez graduated as a football coach in Argentina.

• Argentine Primera División (1): 2004 Apertura

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (1): 2005

• InterLiga (1): 2008

• Argentine Primera División (4): 2009 Clausura, 2011 Clausura, 2012 Inicial, 2012–13 Superfinal
• Supercopa Argentina (1): 2013