View source for Samuel Caballero

{{short description|Honduran footballer (born 1974)}}
{{family name hatnote|Caballero|Álvarez|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Samuel Caballero
| image = <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[File:Caballero.gif]] -->
| fullname = Jorge Samuel Caballero Álvarez
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|12|24}}
| birth_place = [[Puerto Lempira]], [[Honduras]]
| height = {{Height|m=1.84}}
| currentclub  = 
| clubnumber = 
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| youthyears1= <!--No info-->
| youthclubs1= <!--No info-->
| years1 = 1991–1994 | years2 = 1994–2001  | years3 = 2001–2004  | years4 = 2004  | years5 = 2004 | years6 = 2005 | years7 =2006–2010 | years8 =2011
| clubs1 = [[Deportivo Melgar]] | clubs2 = [[Club Olimpia Deportivo|Olimpia]] | clubs3 = [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]] | clubs4 = [[Salernitana Sport|Salernitana]] | clubs5 = [[Defensor Sporting|Defensor]] | clubs6 = [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]] | clubs7 =[[Changchun Yatai]] | clubs8 =[[CD Necaxa|Necaxa]]
| caps1 =  | goals1 =  | caps2 = 66 | goals2 = 11 | caps3 = 25 | goals3 = 2 | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | caps6 = 17 | goals6 = 1 | caps7 = 110 | goals7 = 11 | caps8 = 0 | goals8 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalyears2 =1998–2009
| nationalteam1 = [[Honduras national under-23 football team|Honduras U-23]] | nationalteam2 = [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]]
| nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalcaps2 = 71 | nationalgoals2 = 11
| pcupdate = end of 2010 season
| ntupdate = 2009-03-28
}}

'''Jorge Samuel Caballero Álvarez''' ({{IPA|es-419|saˈmwel kaβaˈʝeɾo|lang}}; born 24 December 1974) is a retired Honduran [[association football|football]] [[Defender (association football)|defender]].

He currently is the president of Honduran national league club [[Deportes Savio]].

==Club career==
Caballero began his career with hometown club Deportivo Melgar. He then joined [[Club Olimpia Deportivo|Olimpia]], playing with the team from 1996 until transferring overseas in 2001. The central defender moved to [[Serie A]] to play for [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]],<ref>[http://www.gazzetta.it/speciali/calciomercato/2002/rosa/caballero_jor.html JORGE SAMUEL CABALLERO] – Gazzetta</ref> where his second season was hampered by a long knee injury lay-off. He would remain in Udine until moving to [[Salernitana Calcio 1919|Salernitana]] in 2004. He only played in 2 cup games for them and then signed for [[Club Nacional de Fútbol|Nacional]] in [[Uruguay]],<ref>[https://archive.today/20130422011741/http://www.elpais.com.uy/04/02/15/pdepor_80363.asp Es un Caballero que vino a jugar fuerte] – El País {{in lang|es}}</ref> but the move did not materialise since Nacional had too many foreigners in their squad, so he joined [[Defensor Sporting]] instead.<ref>[http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2004/febrero/21/udeportes-la6.html Hondureño Caballero fichó por el Defensor de Montevideo] – Nacion {{in lang|es}}</ref> In Uruguay he was unlucky with injuries again.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130421222505/http://www.elpais.com.uy/04/08/13/pdepor_106371.asp "No sé qué hacer, solamente Dios sabe dónde terminaré"] – El País {{in lang|es}}</ref>

At the start of 2005, he moved to [[Major League Soccer]] and the [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]].<ref>[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3123092 Fire Signs Honduran National Team Standout Samuel Caballero] – OurSportsCentral</ref> Caballero had a disappointing 2005 with the club, and was released. He spent the 2006 preseason with the [[Colorado Rapids]].

===China===
Caballero had a lengthy spell with Chinese side [[Changchun Yatai]] and played in the [[2008 AFC Champions League]] with them.<ref>[http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=start-list&compID=218&roundID=29&groupID=35&matchId=1254 AFC Champions League 2008 START LIST] – AFC</ref>
In the 2008-2009 Winter Market it was reported that two teams from Honduras, [[Club Deportivo Marathón|Marathon]] and [[Club Deportivo Olimpia|Olimpia]], were interested in the signing of Samuel Caballero after he publicly stated his desire to return to [[Honduras]] in order to be close to family and return to the [[Honduras national football team|National Team]]. However, the player still had a contract with the Chinese Club [[Changchun Yatai]] and stated that if he did not receive any offers he would return to the club and complete his contract.

===Career end controversy===
In summer 2011 he finally returned to Honduras to sign with [[CD Necaxa|Necaxa]]<ref>[http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2011/07/05/Noticias/Samuel-Caballero-cerca-de-firmar-con-Necaxa Samuel Caballero, cerca de firmar con Necaxa] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217191332/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2011/07/05/Noticias/Samuel-Caballero-cerca-de-firmar-con-Necaxa |date=17 February 2013 }} – La Prensa {{in lang|es}}</ref> and declared the team would be his final before retiring.<ref>[http://archivo.elheraldo.hn/Zona%20Deportiva/Ediciones/2011/07/05/Noticias/Me-retirare-en-Necaxa-Samuel-Caballero “Me retiraré en Necaxa”: Samuel Caballero] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217171250/http://archivo.elheraldo.hn/Zona%20Deportiva/Ediciones/2011/07/05/Noticias/Me-retirare-en-Necaxa-Samuel-Caballero |date=17 February 2013 }} – El Heraldo {{in lang|es}}</ref> However, he would never play for the club since he was still contracted to Changchun Yatai<ref>[http://m.diez.hn/Ediciones/2011/09/08/Noticias/Necaxa-descarta-a-Samuel-Caballero Necaxa descarta a Samuel Caballero] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217180119/http://m.diez.hn/Ediciones/2011/09/08/Noticias/Necaxa-descarta-a-Samuel-Caballero |date=17 February 2013 }} – Diez {{in lang|es}}</ref> and they did not give him permission to play for Necaxa.<ref>[http://www.latribuna.hn/2012/03/15/segun-necaxa-samuel-no-es-%E2%80%9Ccaballero%E2%80%9D/ Según Necaxa, Samuel no es “Caballero”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317135301/http://www.latribuna.hn/2012/03/15/segun-necaxa-samuel-no-es-%e2%80%9ccaballero%e2%80%9d/ |date=17 March 2012 }} – La Tribuna {{in lang|es}}</ref>

==International career==
Caballero has played an important part at the national team setup for over 10 years, mostly playing alongside other Honduran greats like [[Amado Guevara]], [[Julio César de León]] and [[Carlos Pavón]].
He made his debut for [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]] in a January 1998 [[friendly match]] against [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] and has earned a total of 71 caps, scoring 11 goals. He has represented his country in 22 [[FIFA World Cup qualification]] matches<ref>{{FIFA player|177576}}</ref> and played at the [[1999 UNCAF Nations Cup]]<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam99.html UNCAF Tournament 1999] – RSSSF</ref> as well as at the [[1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup|1998]],<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/98gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1998 – Full Details] – RSSSF</ref> [[2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2000]],<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2000 – Full Details] – RSSSF</ref> [[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005]]<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/05gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2005 – Full Details] – RSSSF</ref> and [[2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]s.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/07gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2007 – Full Details] – RSSSF</ref> Also, he played at the [[2001 Copa América]].<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2001safull.html Copa América 2001] – RSSSF</ref> and was one of three of Honduras' over-age players at the [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympics]].

His final international was a March 2009 [[FIFA World Cup qualification]] match against [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad & Tobago]].

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Honduras' goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! {{tooltip|N.|Goal number}} !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| align="center" | 1. || 19 March 1999 || [[Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (1924)|Estadio Nacional]], [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], [[Costa Rica]] || {{fb|BLZ}} || align="center" | '''1'''–0 || align="center" | 5-1 || [[1999 UNCAF Nations Cup]]
|-
| align="center" | 2. || 16 December 1999 || [[Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano]], [[San Pedro Sula]], [[Honduras]] || {{fb|ZAM}} || align="center" | '''2'''–0 || align="center" | 7-1 || [[Friendly match]]
|-
| align="center" | 3. || 16 December 1999 || [[Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano]], [[San Pedro Sula]], [[Honduras]] || {{fb|ZAM}} || align="center" | '''7'''–1 || align="center" | 7-1 || [[Friendly match]]
|-
| align="center" | 4. || 14 February 2000 || [[Miami Orange Bowl]], [[Miami]], United States || {{fb|JAM}} || align="center" | '''2'''–0 || align="center" | 2–0 || [[2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]
|-
| align="center" | 5. || 3 June 2000 || [[Estadio Francisco Morazán]], [[San Pedro Sula]], [[Honduras]] || {{fb|HAI}} || align="center" | '''4'''–0 || align="center" | 4–0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center" | 6. || 17 June 2000 || [[Stade Sylvio Cator]], [[Port-au-Prince]], [[Haiti]] || {{fb|HAI}} || align="center" | '''1'''–0 || align="center" | 3–1 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center" | 7. || 16 July 2000 || [[Estadio Cuscatlán]], [[San Salvador]], [[El Salvador]] || {{fb|SLV}} || align="center" | '''1'''–1 || align="center" | 5–2 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center" | 8. || 2 September 2000 || [[Estadio Francisco Morazán]], [[San Pedro Sula]], [[Honduras]] || {{fb|SLV}} || align="center" | '''5'''–0 || align="center" | 5-0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center" | 9. || 15 November 2000 || [[Arnos Vale Stadium]], [[Kingstown]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]] || {{fb|VIN}} || align="center" | '''6'''–0 || align="center" | 7–0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center" | 10. || 25 April 2001 || [[Independence Park (Jamaica)|National Stadium]], [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]] || {{fb|JAM}} || align="center" | '''2'''–0 || align="center" | 2-0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center" | 11. || 12 July 2005 || [[Miami Orange Bowl]], [[Miami]], United States || {{fb|PAN}} || align="center" | '''1'''–0 || align="center" | 1-0 || [[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]
|-
|}

==Retirement==
In October 2011, Caballero was named president of [[Deportes Savio]].<ref>[http://tiempo.hn/cronometro/liga-nacional/9275-samuel-caballero-nuevo-presidente-del-savio Samuel Caballero, nuevo presidente del Savio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021065012/http://tiempo.hn/cronometro/liga-nacional/9275-samuel-caballero-nuevo-presidente-del-savio |date=21 October 2012 }} – Tiempo {{in lang|es}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''C.D. Olimpia'''
*[[Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras]]: [[Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras 2000-01 Apertura|2000–01]]

'''Nacional'''
*[[Uruguayan Primera División]]: [[2004 Uruguayan Primera División#Apertura|2004 Apertura]]

'''Changchun Yatai'''
*[[Chinese Super League]]: [[2007 Chinese Super League|Champion 2007]]
*[[Chinese Super League]]: [[2009 Chinese Super League|Runner-Up 2009]]
*[[Chinese Super League]]: [[2009 Chinese Super League|Footballer of the Year (MVP)]]

'''Individual'''
* [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] Best XI: [[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005]]
* [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] All-Tournament team (Honorable Mention): [[2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2007]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{NFT player|2939}}
* [https://archive.today/20130123230918/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=177576/profile.html Caballero profile] – FIFA
* {{MLS player|samuel-caballero}}
* [http://www.gazzetta.it/speciali/risultati_classifiche/2010/calcio/mondiali/giocatori/giocatore-jorge-samuel-caballero-272249276.shtml Stats] – Gazzetta

{{2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Honduras squads
| bg = blue
| fg = White
|list1=
{{Honduras Squad 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Honduras Squad 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Honduras Squad 2001 Copa América}}
{{Honduras Squad 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Honduras Squad 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Honduras Squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caballero, Samuel}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Puerto Lempira]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Honduran men's footballers]]
[[Category:Honduras men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2001 Copa América players]]
[[Category:2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Honduras]]
[[Category:C.D. Olimpia players]]
[[Category:Udinese Calcio players]]
[[Category:US Salernitana 1919 players]]
[[Category:Defensor Sporting players]]
[[Category:Chicago Fire FC players]]
[[Category:Changchun Yatai F.C. players]]
[[Category:Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Uruguayan Primera División players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Honduran expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Honduran expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Honduran expatriate sportspeople in China]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Uruguay]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China]]
[[Category:Chinese Super League players]]
[[Category:21st-century Honduran sportsmen]]