Alejandro Sabella
Alejandro Sabella (5 November 1954 – 8 December 2020) was an Argentine professional footballer and manager who primarily operated as an attacking midfielder during his playing career.[1][2] Born in Buenos Aires, Sabella began his club career with River Plate, where he contributed to league titles, before moving to Estudiantes and later playing in England for Sheffield United and Leeds United.[3] Internationally, he earned eight caps for the Argentina national team.[3] Transitioning to management, Sabella achieved prominence by leading Estudiantes de La Plata to victory in the 2009 Copa Libertadores, their fourth continental title.[4] He later coached the Argentina national team from 2011 to 2014, guiding them to the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where they were defeated by Germany.[2][3] Sabella's tenure emphasized disciplined tactics and team cohesion, though he battled health issues including cancer before his death at age 66.[5]
Early life
Childhood in Buenos Aires
Alejandro Javier Sabella was born on November 5, 1954, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, into a wealthy upper-middle-class family in the affluent Barrio Norte neighborhood.[6][7] His early years unfolded amid Argentina's mid-20th-century political and economic volatility, including the aftermath of Juan Perón's 1955 ouster, military dictatorships, and cycles of inflation and social unrest that characterized the 1960s and early 1970s, though Sabella's family background provided relative stability. As an excellent student, he initially pursued legal studies at the University of Buenos Aires, reflecting an intellectual bent influenced by his privileged upbringing, before redirecting his focus toward football.[6] Sabella's introduction to football occurred through the youth system of River Plate, one of Argentina's premier clubs, where he honed his skills as an attacking midfielder known for technical proficiency and precise short passing during the early 1970s. This period marked his transition from academic pursuits to professional aspirations, leveraging local street football culture prevalent in Buenos Aires neighborhoods, though specific pre-club involvement in smaller local teams remains undocumented in available records.[8] His development emphasized innate talent over formal elite training pathways atypical for the era's grassroots-to-academy progression in Argentine football.[7]Entry into professional football
Sabella progressed through the youth ranks at River Plate, one of Argentina's premier clubs, before making his senior debut in 1974 at the age of 20.[9] [6] As a midfielder, he was noted for his tenacity and technical skill, compensating for his lack of exceptional physical attributes like speed or strength, earning him the nickname "The Sloth" among peers.[2] His opportunities were initially constrained by intense internal competition, particularly from established stars such as Norberto Alonso, illustrating how club hierarchies often prioritized proven performers over emerging talent regardless of potential.[10] This empirical reality limited Sabella's appearances in his early professional years, requiring patience and persistence to secure regular play. By 1976, Alonso's departure to Olympique de Marseille opened pathways for greater involvement, coinciding with the onset of Argentina's military dictatorship under Jorge Rafael Videla, which imposed a tense socio-political backdrop on domestic football.[10]Playing career
Domestic clubs in Argentina
Alejandro Sabella began his professional playing career with River Plate in 1974, emerging from the club's youth system where he had trained since 1970.[11] As an attacking midfielder, he debuted in the Argentine Primera División around 1975 and quickly established himself with his high work rate, tactical intelligence, and ability to link play, which complemented the team's offensive style under coach Ángel Labruna. Over four seasons until his departure in 1978, Sabella featured in approximately 118 league matches, scoring 11 goals, and contributed to River Plate's successful 1975 campaign, securing both the Metropolitano and Nacional championships—the club's first domestic double in years—through his energetic midfield presence that supported key forwards and disrupted opponents.[12] After stints in England, Sabella returned to Argentine football with Estudiantes de La Plata in 1981, playing two periods from 1983 to 1985 and 1986 to 1987.[13] In over 149 league appearances, he netted 10 goals, adapting his game to a more defensive-oriented role while providing leadership and vision in midfield during Estudiantes' competitive phases in the Primera División, including participation in the 1983 Copa Libertadores where the team advanced in group stages.[10] His experience helped stabilize the squad amid transitions, though major titles eluded the club in his playing tenure there.[14] Towards the end of his domestic career, Sabella joined Ferro Carril Oeste for the 1987-1988 season, appearing in 27 matches and scoring 2 goals as a veteran midfielder.[15] At age 33, he shifted focus to mentoring younger players and maintaining possession in a team that finished mid-table, leveraging his stamina and passing accuracy to influence games despite reduced pace.[16] These later roles underscored his versatility and commitment, amassing over 290 domestic appearances across Argentine clubs with consistent contributions to team dynamics rather than prolific scoring.[17]