View source for Alejandro Sabella

{{Short description|Argentine footballer and manager (1954–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
 | image = Alejandro Sabella 2012.jpeg
 | caption = Sabella during a press conference in 2012
 | alt= 
 | name = Alejandro Sabella
 | fullname = Alejandro Javier Sabella
 | height = {{convert|1.71|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
 | birth_date  = {{Birth date|1954|11|5|df=y}}
 | birth_place = [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
 | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|12|8|1954|11|5|df=yes}}
 | death_place = Buenos Aires, Argentina
 | position = [[Midfielder]] 
 | currentclub = 
 | youthyears1=
 | youthclubs1=
 | years1 = 1974–1978  | years2 = 1978–1980  | years3 = 1980–1981  | years4 = 1982–1987  | years5 = 1985 | years6 = 1987–1988 | years7 = 1988–1989
 | clubs1 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]  | clubs2 = [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]  | clubs3 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]  | clubs4 = [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes (LP)]]  | clubs5 = → [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] ([[Loan (sports)|loan]]) | clubs6 = [[Ferro Carril Oeste]]  | clubs7 = [[Irapuato FC|Irapuato]]
 | caps1 = 117 | goals1 = 11  | caps2 = 76 | goals2 = 8  | caps3 = 23 | goals3 = 2  | caps4 = 149 | goals4 = 10 | caps5 = 10 | goals5 = 0 | caps6 = 27 | goals6 = 2 | caps7 = 31 | goals7 = 0
 | totalcaps           = 433 |totalgoals = 33
 | nationalyears1      = 1983–1984
 | nationalteam1       = [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]
 | nationalcaps1= 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1= 1995 |managerclubs1= [[Qatar national under-20 football team|Qatar U20]]
| manageryears2= 2009–2011 |managerclubs2= [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]]
| manageryears3= 2011–2014 |managerclubs3= [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]
| medaltemplates = {{medalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ARG}}}} <small>(as manager)</small>
{{MedalComp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 Brazil]]|}}
}}

'''Alejandro Javier Sabella''' ({{IPA|es|saˈβela|local}}; 5 November 1954{{spnd}}8 December 2020) was an Argentine [[Association football|football]] [[Association footballer|player]] and [[Manager (association football)|manager]]. Born in [[Buenos Aires]], he began his playing career with [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] in his home country before moving to England in 1978 to play for [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]. He then had a spell with another English side, [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], before returning to South America and representing [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]], [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]], [[Ferro Carril Oeste]] and [[Irapuato FC|Irapuato]].

After retiring from playing, Sabella became a coach and began a long association with fellow countryman and close friend [[Daniel Passarella]], serving as his assistant manager during Passarella's spells managing [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], Italian club [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]], [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]], Mexican club [[Club de Fútbol Monterrey|Monterrey]] and [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]] in Brazil. The duo finally returned to River Plate for whom they had both played before Sabella struck out on his own to become manager of Estudiantes in his own right, winning the [[2010–11 Argentine Primera División season#Torneo Apertura|Argentine Primera División Apertura championship]] and the [[2009 Copa Libertadores]]. Sabella resigned from Estudiantes in February 2011 and was subsequently appointed as the coach of the Argentina national team, coaching them to the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] [[2014 FIFA World Cup Final|Final]] against [[Germany national football team|Germany]], where they lost 1–0 in extra time. Sabella had scheduled his resignation to take effect after the conclusion of the World Cup.

Sabella died on 8 December 2020, due to an infection caught during a stay in hospital.

==Playing career==

===Early life and career===
[[File:Sabella river.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Sabella playing for River Plate in the mid-1970s]]
Alejandro Sabella was born to a middle-class family in Buenos Aires' well-off Palermo neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://442.perfil.com/noticias/seleccion/2010-07-29-12978-un-muchacho-de-palermo.phtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212120902/https://442.perfil.com/noticias/seleccion/2010-07-29-12978-un-muchacho-de-palermo.phtml |archive-date=12 December 2020 |title=442 {{!}} Sabella, un muchacho de Palermo}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ambito.com/deportes/peronismo/sabella-un-militante-peronista-una-familia-antiperonista-n5153855 |title = Sabella, un militante peronista en una familia antiperonista}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://es-us.deportes.yahoo.com/noticias/alejandro-sabella-peronismo-infancia-boca-133400258.html|title = Alejandro Sabella: El peronismo, su infancia de Boca y las cábalas más extrañas| date=9 December 2020 }}</ref><ref name="america.aljazeera.com">{{Cite news|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/20/argentina-sabellasoccer.html|title=For Alejandro Sabella and Argentina, a tangled political past looms large|access-date=2018-06-01}}</ref> He was an excellent student at school, and was admitted to the Faculty of Law of the [[University of Buenos Aires]], but his career as a football player eventually forced him to abandon his studies.<ref name="america.aljazeera.com"/> As a young man Sabella was politically active in the left-wing [[Peronism|Peronist]] Youth and worked to aid the urban poor in the slums. He stated, "I felt a growing need to be always on the side of solidarity and of the distribution of wealth for a fairer, more egalitarian society, in which we can all have equal opportunities."<ref name="america.aljazeera.com"/>

As a footballer, Sabella rose through the junior divisions of [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] in the early 1970s, when his position of [[attacking midfielder]] was covered by [[Norberto Alonso]]. His style reflected Alonso's, with emphasis on individual technique and short passes. His slow pace gained him the nickname of ''Pachorra'' (''[[lunfardo]]'', Spanish for "slowcoach").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/newsid=1082131.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106073513/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/newsid=1082131.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2012 |title=Sabella joins Pincha pantheon |publisher=FIFA |access-date=16 December 2011}}</ref> In 1975, River Plate won their first title after an 18-year drought, and Alonso became the fans' undisputed hero. Sabella got his break in 1976, when Alonso was transferred to [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]. He played a key role when River won the [[1977 Argentine Primera División#Campeonato Metropolitano|1977 ''Metropolitano'' championship]]. Nevertheless, when Alonso returned to River Plate, Sabella was again relegated to the bench.

===Sheffield United===
[[File:Sabella sheffield.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Sabella with Sheffield United in 1978.]]
Second Division side [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] had tried to sign [[Diego Maradona]] from [[Argentinos Juniors]]. However, the club decided that Maradona was too expensive,<ref name="england alex" /> and instead turned to Sabella, whom they signed for £160,000 on 19 July 1978.<ref name="blades whos who">{{cite book|author=Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham|title=Sheffield United Who's Who|publisher=Hallamshire Press|year=2008|page=279|isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> Known as Alex while in England,<ref name="england alex">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28069978|title=World Cup 2014: Alejandro Sabella – Bramall Lane to Brazil|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 July 2014|access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> Sabella made his debut for the Blades in a 2–1 defeat against [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] on 19 August 1978.<ref name="blades whos who" />

Sabella played for United until 1980, scoring eight league goals in 76 appearances. After relegation to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]], manager [[Harry Haslam (footballer, born 1921)|Harry Haslam]] agreed a fee of £600,000 with [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] club [[Sunderland A.F.C|Sunderland]].<ref name="blades whos who" /> However, Sabella had ambitions to play in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] and refused to go.<ref name="blades whos who" /> His last appearance for United came with a goal in the final of the [[Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup]], (a regional competition between [[South Yorkshire]] teams) giving victory over [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] on 8 May 1980.<ref name="blades whos who" />
{{Clear}}

===Leeds United and return to Argentina===
[[File:Sabella estudiantes.jpg|thumb|right|150px|At his return to Argentina, Sabella signed with [[Estudiantes de La Plata]] in 1981]]
During the close season, Sabella was sold to [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] for £400,000. He played for Leeds without much success between 1980 and 1981, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals.<ref name="blades whos who" /> [[John Lukic]] used to give him a lift to training and matches from Sabella's digs in Sheffield.

In December 1981, Sabella started looking for an Argentine club and was eventually sold to [[Estudiantes de La Plata]]. Under coach [[Carlos Bilardo]], the team reached the semi-finals of the [[1982 Argentine Primera División#Campeonato Nacional|1982 Nacional]] tournament (Sabella was injured in the first semi-final match against [[Quilmes Atlético Club|Quilmes]]). Subsequently, Sabella, together with [[Marcelo Trobbiani]], [[José Daniel Ponce]] and [[Miguel Ángel Russo]], made up the solid midfield of the Estudiantes team that went on to win two back-to-back championship titles.

When Bilardo was put in charge of the [[Argentina national football team|Argentina national team]], Sabella competed for his place with veterans [[Norberto Alonso]] and [[Ricardo Bochini]], as well as younger players like [[Carlos Daniel Tapia]], [[Jorge Burruchaga]] and [[Diego Maradona]]. Sabella played eight times for the national team, playing in all four games in the [[1983 Copa América]] and in four friendlies; against Chile in May 1983 (as substitute), Paraguay in July 1983, Brazil in June 1984 and Uruguay in July 1984.<ref>Soccer: The International Line-ups & Statistics Series – Argentina 1971-1997; Statistics – RG Hope-Smith; Editor Michael Robinson {{isbn|9781862230156}}</ref>

===Later career===
The Argentine midfielder then moved to [[Brazil]]ian [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]], where he played from 1985 to 1986. He subsequently returned to Estudiantes, but retired after a short spell in the Mexican league with [[Irapuato FC|Irapuato]] in 1989.

== Managerial career ==
[[File:Sabella2009.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Sabella managing [[Estudiantes de La Plata]] in 2009]]

===Early career===
After retirement, Sabella became a coach, but worked mostly as field assistant for [[Daniel Passarella]]. The duo coached the Argentina national team, Italian side [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]], the [[Uruguay national football team]], Mexican [[Club de Fútbol Monterrey|Monterrey]], and Brazilian [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]]. In 2006, they were hired back by River Plate, that finished in third place in the ''Apertura'' tournament.

On 15 March 2009, Sabella became coach of Estudiantes de La Plata, where he won the [[2009 Copa Libertadores]]. On 2 February 2011, he announced his resignation. Due to protestations from the team's players and management, he agreed to reconsider his decision,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldia.com.ar/edis/20110202/20110202124812.htm |title=Sabella: "Me voy a tomar hasta mañana para decidir si sigo", Estudiantes, Sabella, Country, Pachorra, Copa Libertadores. Deportes, 02 de febrero de 2011, Diario El Día, La Plata, Argentina |publisher=Eldia.com.ar |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=16 December 2011}}</ref> but made it final the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldia.com.ar/edis/20110204/deportes0.htm |title=Sabella dijo adiós y quedan muchos interrogantes abiertos, Sabella, Estudiantes, Pincha, Mar, Plata. Deportes, 04 de febrero de 2011, Diario El Día, La Plata, Argentina |publisher=Eldia.com.ar |access-date=16 December 2011}}</ref> He officially resigned on 3 February 2011.

===Argentina===

After Argentina's early exit at the [[2011 Copa América]], Sabella was appointed as the manager of the [[Argentina national football team|Argentina national team]].<ref name="google2">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hlkZc6lvye_2VKDest2sUnDozVlA?docId=CNG.257ca886195e82c183202f64ad9ed6e5.e71 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226122451/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hlkZc6lvye_2VKDest2sUnDozVlA?docId=CNG.257ca886195e82c183202f64ad9ed6e5.e71 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2014 |title=AFP: Argentina appoint Sabella as new coach |date=28 July 2011 |access-date=16 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="Argentina confirm Sabella appointment">{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/939181/argentina-confirm-alejandro-sabella-appointment?cc=5739|title=Argentina confirm Sabella appointment|date=2 August 2011|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|access-date=30 August 2011|archive-date=2 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102064958/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/939181/argentina-confirm-alejandro-sabella-appointment?cc=5739|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sabella was originally set to be the new coach of [[UAE League]] team [[Al-Jazira Club]] but backed out of the agreement after the [[Argentine Football Association]] (AFA) had shown interest in him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/937637/ex-estudiantes-boss-alejandro-sabella-tipped-for-argentina-job?cc=5901 |title=Ex-Estudiantes boss Alejandro Sabella tipped for Argentina job – ESPN Soccernet |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=27 July 2011 |access-date=16 December 2011 |archive-date=26 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026121454/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/937637/ex-estudiantes-boss-alejandro-sabella-tipped-for-argentina-job?cc=5901 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After his appointment in August 2011, Sabella named [[Lionel Messi]] as Argentina's new captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/950982/alejandro-sabella-names-lionel-messi-as-argentina-captain?cc=5739|title=Messi named Argentina captain|date=30 August 2011|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|access-date=30 August 2011|archive-date=2 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102064936/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/950982/alejandro-sabella-names-lionel-messi-as-argentina-captain?cc=5739|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his debut in charge of the Argentina in a 1–0 victory against [[Venezuela national football team|Venezuela]] at [[Salt Lake Stadium]] in [[Kolkata]], India.

====2014 World Cup====
In the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]], Sabella coached Argentina to the [[2014 FIFA World Cup Final|final]]. The last time Argentina had advanced beyond the quarter-finals was when they made the final in [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] where they lost 1–0 to [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]].

Argentina never trailed during the whole tournament until the final. They won all three of their group games, where Lionel Messi scored all four of his goals against [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (2–1), [[Iran national football team|Iran]] (1–0) and [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] (3–2). They defeated [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] 1–0 in extra time during the Round of 16, and then dispatched [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] 1–0 in the quarter-finals. Reaching their first semi-final since 1990, Argentina eliminated the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw. Argentina finished the tournament as runners-up after losing the final to [[Germany national football team|Germany]] 1–0 through an extra time goal scored by [[Mario Götze]]. Sabella's substitutions in the final, notably [[Sergio Agüero]] for [[Ezequiel Lavezzi]] and [[Rodrigo Palacio]] for [[Gonzalo Higuaín]], were said to have blunted the team's attacking threat against the Germans,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tighe |first=Sam |title=Germany vs. Argentina: Sabella's Substitutes Surrender the Match to Low |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2128243-germany-vs-argentina-sabellas-substitutes-surrender-the-match-to-low |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sargeant |first=Jack |date=2014-07-13 |title=Argentina's coach screwed up the World Cup final |url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/7/13/5896509/world-cup-2014-final-argentina-alejandro-sabella-ezequiel-lavezzi |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}</ref> although many managers, such as [[Atlético Madrid]]'s [[Diego Simeone]], praised Sabella's tactical performance throughout the World Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fan.football.sony.net/us/blog/2014/07/17/simeone-sabella-made-right-moves-germanys-time/ |title=Simeone – Sabella made all the right moves but it was Germany's time &#124; Fan Ambassadors &#124; ONE STADIUM |website=fan.football.sony.net |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226222503/http://fan.football.sony.net/us/blog/2014/07/17/simeone-sabella-made-right-moves-germanys-time/ |archive-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Sabella officially resigned on 30 July 2014.<ref name="Alejandro Sabella resigns as Argentina manager following World Cup final defeat">{{cite news|last1=Rothwell|first1=Eliot|title=Alejandro Sabella resigns as Argentina manager following World Cup final defeat|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/alejandro-sabella-resigns-argentina-manager-3933066|access-date=14 November 2014|work=The Mirror|date=30 July 2014}}</ref>

===Managerial statistics===
{{updated|14 November 2014}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Team
!rowspan="2"| From
!rowspan="2"| To
!colspan="9"| Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Matches managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]]
| 15 March 2009<ref name="Estudiantes » Manager history">{{cite web|title=Estudiantes » Manager history|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/estudiantes/9/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref>
| 3 February 2011<ref name="Estudiantes » Manager history"/>
{{WDL|97|58|21|18|for=151|against=69|diff=yes}}
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Estudiantes » Fixtures & Results 2008/2009|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/estudiantes/2009/3/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Estudiantes » Fixtures & Results 2009/2010|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/estudiantes/2010/3/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Estudiantes » Fixtures & Results 2010/2011|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/estudiantes/2011/3/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]
| 2 August 2011<ref name="Argentina confirm Sabella appointment"/>
| 30 July 2014<ref name="Alejandro Sabella resigns as Argentina manager following World Cup final defeat"/>
{{WDL|40|25|10|5|for=74|against=32|diff=yes}}
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Argentina » Fixtures & Results 2011|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/argentinien-team/2011/3/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Argentina » Fixtures & Results 2012|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/argentinien-team/2012/3/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Argentina » Fixtures & Results 2013|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/argentinien-team/2013/3/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Argentina » Fixtures & Results 2014|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/argentinien-team/2014/3/|publisher=Worldfootball.net|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="3"| Total
{{WDLtot|137|83|31|23|for=225|against=101|diff=yes}}
!—
|}

==Political views and public image==
[[File:Cristina Fernández y la Selección Argentina de fútbol 2014 ,2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Sabella (right) with [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] and [[Lionel Messi]] in 2014]]
Sabella was interested in politics and history and had strong political views. He was a [[left-wing politics|left-wing]] [[peronism|Peronist]], and believed that "the state needs to be present to regulate politics and mark the path. We can't wait for the trickle-down effect to overflow, because that is a lie."<ref name="america.aljazeera.com"/> In an interview he gave to La Garganta Poderosa, an Argentine alternative media outlet, he posed before a chalkboard with a "Dream Team" made up not of football players, but left-wing activists who have been killed or have gone missing since the return of democracy in 1983, many of them young victims of police violence.<ref name="america.aljazeera.com"/>

==Death==
Sabella was admitted to hospital on 25 November 2020 with cardiac problems. He caught a virus in hospital, and died on 8 December 2020. He was 66 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/deportes/murio-alejandro-sabella-simbolo-sobriedad-jerarquia-elite-futbol_0_h4cjw6U8Y.html|title=Murió Alejandro Sabella, un símbolo de la sobriedad y la jerarquía en la elite del fútbol|date=8 December 2020 }}</ref>

==Honours==
[[File:Sabella-Estudiantes Campeón 2010.JPG|thumb|alt=Sabella pitchside dramatically celebrating Estudiantes victory in the Argentine Primera División in 2010|right|170px|Sabella celebrates after winning the [[2010–11 Argentine Primera División season#Torneo Apertura|Apertura]] title with [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]] in 2010.]]

===Player===
'''River Plate'''
*[[Primera División Argentina|Primera División]]: [[Primera División Argentina 1975#Metropolitano Championship|1975 Metropolitano]], [[Primera División Argentina 1975#Nacional Championship|1975 Nacional]], [[Primera División Argentina 1977#Metropolitano Championship|1977 Metropolitano]]
*[[Copa Libertadores]] runner-up: [[1976 Copa Libertadores finals|1976]]

'''Estudiantes (LP)'''
*[[Primera División Argentina|Primera División]]: [[Primera División Argentina 1982#Metropolitano Championship|1982 Metropolitano]], [[Primera División Argentina 1983#Nacional Championship|1983 Nacional]]

'''Grêmio'''
*[[Campeonato Gaúcho]]: [[1985 Campeonato Gaúcho|1985]], [[1986 Campeonato Gaúcho|1986]]

===Manager===
'''Estudiantes (LP)'''
*[[Copa Libertadores]]: [[2009 Copa Libertadores|2009]]
*[[Argentine Primera División|Primera División]]: [[2010–11 Argentine Primera División season#Torneo Apertura|2010 Apertura]]
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]] runner-up: [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|2009]]
*[[Recopa Sudamericana]] runner-up: [[2010 Recopa Sudamericana|2010]]

'''Argentina'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]] runner-up: [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}

* [http://globoesporte.globo.com/platb/futebolargentino/2011/08/01/conheca-alejandro-sabella-novo-treinador-da-selecao-argentina/ Profile and tactical analysis] in {{in lang|pt}}

{{Navboxes
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{{1979–80 Football League Third Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Copa Libertadores winning managers}}
{{Argentine Primera División winning managers}}
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{{Navboxes
|title= Argentina squads
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{{Argentina Squad 1983 Copa América}}
{{Argentina squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Alejandro Sabella managerial positions
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{{Estudiantes de La Plata managers}}
{{Argentina national football team managers}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabella, Alejandro}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Buenos Aires]]
[[Category:Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Argentine men's footballers]]
[[Category:Argentina men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Argentine football managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Liga MX players]]
[[Category:1983 Copa América players]]
[[Category:Club Atlético River Plate footballers]]
[[Category:Sheffield United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Estudiantes de La Plata footballers]]
[[Category:Grêmio FBPA players]]
[[Category:Ferro Carril Oeste footballers]]
[[Category:C.D. Irapuato footballers]]
[[Category:Estudiantes de La Plata managers]]
[[Category:Al Jazira Club managers]]
[[Category:Argentina national football team managers]]
[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Copa Libertadores–winning managers]]
[[Category:University of Buenos Aires alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Argentine sportsmen]]