.jpg) Saja in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Diego Sebástian Saja | ||
| Date of birth | (1979-06-05)5 June 1979 (age 46) | ||
| Place of birth | La Plata, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Inter Miami (assistant) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2008 | San Lorenzo | 145 | (11) |
| 2003 | →Brescia (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2004 | →Rayo Vallecano (loan) | 20 | (0) |
| 2004 | →Club América (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | →Córdoba (loan) | 23 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | →Grêmio (loan) | 30 | (1) |
| 2008–2011 | AEK Athens | 95 | (0) |
| 2011–2016 | Racing Club | 169 | (7) |
| 2016 | Gimnàstic | 10 | (0) |
| 2017 | Zaragoza | 6 | (0) |
| Total | 500 | (19) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997–1999 | Argentina U20 | 24 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | Argentina | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Guaraní | ||
| 2018 | Agropecuario | ||
| 2019 | Inter Miami (academy coach) | ||
| 2020–2025 | Inter Miami (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Diego Sebastián Saja (born 5 June 1979) is an Argentinefootball coach and former player who is an assistant coach forMajor League Soccer sideInter Miami CF.
He spent most of his professional career withSan Lorenzo,Racing Club andAEK Athens, being one of the most prolificgoal-scoringgoalkeepers in history. He represented four clubs in the SpanishSegunda División, and also competed in Italy, Mexico and Brazil.
Born inLa Plata,Buenos Aires Province, Saja had nearly 200 overall appearances forSan Lorenzo de Almagro, being voted South America's best goalkeeper in 2002. In 2001, he helped the team win theClausura and theCopa Mercosur, addingthe following year'sCopa Sudamericana.
Saja split the 2003–04 season withBrescia Calcio andRayo Vallecano, being first-choice anddropping down a level with the latter. Moving to another club in Spain and in thesecond division forthe following campaign, he would also be relegated withCórdoba CF.
After a brief spell in Mexico withClub América, Saja returned to San Lorenzo for2005–06: he made 33 appearances and scored five goals in thePrimera División, but was eventually sent out on loan for the fifth time, this time toGrêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense after falling out of favour with new managerRamón Díaz.[1][2]
Released in 2008, Saja signed a three-year contract withAEK Athens, earning approximately €400.000. He appeared in 29 games inhis first year to help his team finish fourth in theleague, but they was alsoquickly eliminated fromUEFA Cup contention.[3]
On 31 May 2009, Saja agreed to a new three-year deal with the Greek side,[4] continuing to be first-choice and winning theGreek Cup in2011.
On 29 June 2011, Saja and AEK agreed to terminate his contract one year before it expired.[5] Shortly after, the 32-year-old returned to his homeland and joinedRacing Club de Avellaneda,[6] netting his first goal for his new team on 29 September of the following year, through apenalty against former club San Lorenzo in a 4–0 win;[7] he was also the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded in the2011 Apertura, breaking a club record for a short tournament held byCarlos Roa since 1992.[8]
On 9 June 2013, again from the penalty spot, Saja scored againstBoca Juniors (2–0 home triumph, whichqualified the team for theCopa Sudamericana).[9] On 18 October 2015, against the same opponent but forthe league, he repeated the feat to help the hosts win it 3–1.[10]
On 16 August 2016,free agent Saja signed a one-year deal withGimnàstic de Tarragona, returning to Spain and its second tier after 11 years.[11] Due to the injury ofManolo Reina, he was made a starter during the first matches ofthe season.[12]
On 21 December 2016, after being overtaken by another new signing,Stole Dimitrievski, Saja leftNàstic by mutual consent.[13] The following 24 January, he joined fellow league teamReal Zaragoza until the end of the campaign.[14]
On 9 June 2017, Saja announced his retirement at the age of 38.[15]
Saja earned fourcaps forArgentina, making his debut againstWales on 13 February 2002 (1–1 inCardiff).[16] In the following year he appeared in a further threefriendlies, withHonduras (3–1),Mexico (1–0) and theUnited States (1–0).[17]
San Lorenzo
Grêmio
AEK
Racing Club
Individual