Marcel Sabitzer

Marcel Sabitzer (born 17 March 1994) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and captains the Austria national team. Predominantly a central midfielder, Sabitzer can play in a multitude of roles, including attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, winger and second striker.^[3][4]

Marcel Sabitzer

Sabitzer with RB Leipzig in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Marcel Sabitzer[1]
Date of birth	(1994-03-17) 17 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Wels, Austria
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team	Borussia Dortmund
Number	20
Youth career
2000–2001	Admira Villach [de]
2001–2008	Grazer AK
2008–2009	1. Wiener Neustädter SC
2009	Austria Wien
2009–2010	Admira Wacker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2011	Admira Wacker II	34	(15)
2010–2013	Admira Wacker	45	(11)
2013–2014	Rapid Wien	45	(10)
2014–2021	RB Leipzig	177	(40)
2014–2015	→ Red Bull Salzburg (loan)	33	(19)
2021–2023	Bayern Munich	40	(2)
2023	→ Manchester United (loan)	11	(0)
2023–	Borussia Dortmund	34	(4)
International career‡
2009–2010	Austria U16	7	(1)
2010–2011	Austria U17	9	(3)
2011	Austria U18	2	(0)
2012–2013	Austria U19	4	(5)
2012–2013	Austria U21	7	(1)
2012–	Austria	87	(20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:26, 9 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:32, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Sabitzer began his professional career in Austria with Admira Wacker and Rapid Wien. He joined German club RB Leipzig in 2014 and was immediately loaned to Red Bull Salzburg for a season. Sabitzer made more than 200 appearances for RB Leipzig, before Bayern Munich signed him in August 2021 for a reported transfer fee of €16 million.

Sabitzer represented Austria at multiple youth international levels and made his senior international debut at the age of 18 in June 2012. He has earned over 80 caps for Austria and played at the UEFA European Championship in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

Club career

Early career

Sabitzer joined Admira Wacker's youth academy in July 2009, having previously played youth football for Admira Villach, Grazer AK, 1. Wiener Neustädter SC and Austria Wien.^[5]

In January 2013, Sabitzer joined Rapid Wien on a contract until the summer of 2016 for an undisclosed transfer fee.^[6]

RB Leipzig

2014–2016

On 30 May 2014, Sabitzer signed a four-year contract with RB Leipzig, and was loaned for Red Bull Salzburg for the 2014–15 season.^[7]

Sabitzer returned to RB Leipzig for the 2015–16 season,^[8] when he scored eight goals in 34 appearances.^[9] On 1 April 2016, Sabitzer extended his contract until 2021.^[10]

2016–2021

He finished the 2016–17 season with nine goals in 33 appearances.^[11] In the 2017–18 season, he scored five goals in 34 appearances.^[12]

In the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, Sabitzer scored his first two goals in the competition in back-to-back matches against Zenit Saint Petersburg.^[13] On 10 March 2020, he scored twice in a 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16, to help earn Leipzig a 4–0 aggregate victory and a place in the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in club's history.^[14] Leipzig eventually lost 0–3 to Paris Saint-Germain in a semi finals match on 18 August, and were knocked out of the tournament.^[15] Sabitzer finished the 2019–20 campaign with 16 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.^[16]

Bayern Munich

On 30 August 2021, Sabitzer signed a four-year contract with Bayern Munich for a reported transfer fee of €16 million.^[17][18] On 2 April 2022, he scored his first goal in a 4–1 away win over Freiburg.^[19]

Loan to Manchester United

On 1 February 2023, Sabitzer signed for Manchester United on loan until the end of the season.^[20] He made his debut three days later, coming on as a substitute in the 2022–23 Premier League win against Crystal Palace, making him the first Austrian to ever play for the club.^[21] On 26 February, Sabitzer played in the 2023 EFL Cup final, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 victory over Newcastle United.^[22] He scored his first goal for the club at the 2022–23 FA Cup quarter-finals against Fulham which ended 3–1 for United.^[23] On 13 April, Sabitzer scored a brace in 2–2 draw against Sevilla in the first leg of 2022–23 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.^[24] On 15 May, Manchester United announced that Sabitzer was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a meniscal injury.^[25] On 30 June, Manchester United announced the departure of Sabitzer after the end of the loan deal.^[26]

Borussia Dortmund

Sabitzer playing for Dortmund in 2023

On 24 July 2023, Sabitzer signed for Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal.^[27][28] On 12 August, he scored his first goal, in a 6–1 away win over Schott Mainz in the DFB-Pokal.^[29] On 16 April 2024, Sabitzer provided two assists and scored a goal in a 4–2 victory against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg, which qualified his club to the semifinals by winning 5–4 on aggregate for the first time since 2012–13.^[30] He was eventually named in the Team of the Season in that competition.^[31]

International career

Sabitzer playing for Austria in 2015

Sabitzer played youth international football for Austria at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels.^[32]

He made his senior international debut for Austria at the age of 18 on 5 June 2012, in a goalless friendly against Romania.^[33]

He represented the national team at UEFA Euro 2016,^[34] UEFA Euro 2020,^[35] and UEFA Euro 2024.^[36]

On 25 June 2024, Sabitzer was awarded player of the match, scoring the decisive goal in a 3–2 victory over the Netherlands in the final group stage match of Euro 2024, ensuring his country finished at the top of their group.^[37][38]

Personal life

He is a son of former Austria international Herfried Sabitzer,^[39] and the cousin of footballer Thomas Sabitzer.^[40]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 November 2024^[8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Admira Wacker	2010–11	Austrian First League	8	2	0	0	—		—		—		8	2
	2011–12	Austrian Bundesliga	20	5	1	0	—		—		—		21	5
	2012–13	Austrian Bundesliga	17	4	2	0	—		4[c]	0	—		23	4
	Total		45	11	3	0	—		4	0	—		52	11
Rapid Wien	2012–13	Austrian Bundesliga	16	3	1	0	—		0	0	—		17	3
	2013–14	Austrian Bundesliga	29	7	1	0	—		10[c]	2	—		40	9
	Total		45	10	2	0	—		10	2	—		57	12
RB Leipzig	2014–15	2. Bundesliga	0	0	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
	2015–16	2. Bundesliga	32	8	2	0	—		—		—		34	8
	2016–17	Bundesliga	32	8	1	1	—		—		—		33	9
	2017–18	Bundesliga	22	3	2	2	—		10[d]	0	—		34	5
	2018–19	Bundesliga	30	4	5	0	—		8[c]	1	—		43	5
	2019–20	Bundesliga	32	9	3	3	—		9[e]	4	—		44	16
	2020–21	Bundesliga	27	8	5	1	—		7[e]	0	—		39	9
	2021–22	Bundesliga	2	0	0	0	—		0	0	—		2	0
	Total		177	40	18	7	—		34	5	—		229	52
Red Bull Salzburg (loan)	2014–15	Austrian Bundesliga	33	19	6	7	—		12[f]	1	—		51	27
Bayern Munich	2021–22	Bundesliga	25	1	0	0	—		5[e]	0	0	0	30	1
	2022–23	Bundesliga	15	1	2	0	—		6[e]	0	1[g]	0	24	1
	Total		40	2	2	0	—		11	0	1	0	54	2
Manchester United (loan)	2022–23	Premier League	11	0	3	1	1	0	3[c]	2	—		18	3
Borussia Dortmund	2023–24	Bundesliga	25	4	3	1	—		12[e]	1	—		40	6
	2024–25	Bundesliga	9	0	2	0	—		4[e]	0	0	0	15	0
	Total		34	4	5	1	—		16	1	0	0	55	6
Career total			385	86	39	16	1	0	91	11	1	0	516	113

1. Includes Austrian Cup, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
4. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
5. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
6. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
7. Appearance in DFL-Supercup

International

As of match played 17 November 2024^[41]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Austria	2012	1	0
	2013	2	0
	2014	6	2
	2015	7	1
	2016	9	1
	2017	4	1
	2018	4	0
	2019	9	2
	2020	4	1
	2021	12	2
	2022	10	2
	2023	9	5
	2024	10	3
Total		87	20

As of match played 17 November 2024

Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sabitzer goal^[41]

List of international goals scored by Marcel Sabitzer

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	30 May 2014	Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria	Iceland	1–0	1–1	Friendly
2.	3 June 2014	Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic	Czech Republic	1–0	2–1	Friendly
3.	9 October 2015	Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro	Montenegro	3–2	3–2	UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
4.	9 October 2016	Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia	Serbia	1–1	2–3	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.	14 November 2017	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Uruguay	1–0	2–1	Friendly
6.	6 September 2019	Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Wals-Siezenheim, Austria	Latvia	2–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
7.	10 October 2019	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Israel	3–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
8.	4 September 2020	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	Norway	2–0	2–1	2020–21 UEFA Nations League B
9.	9 October 2021	Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	Faroe Islands	2–0	2–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.	12 November 2021	Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria	Israel	4–2	4–2	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
11.	24 March 2022	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	1–2	1–2	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
12.	3 June 2022	Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek, Croatia	Croatia	3–0	3–0	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
13.	24 March 2023	Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria	Azerbaijan	1–0	4–1	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
14.				3–0
15.	13 October 2023	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Belgium	2–3	2–3	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
16.	16 October 2023	Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan	Azerbaijan	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
17.	21 November 2023	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Germany	1–0	2–0	Friendly
18.	25 June 2024	Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany	Netherlands	3–2	3–2	UEFA Euro 2024
19.	9 September 2024	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	Norway	1–1	1–2	2024–25 UEFA Nations League B
20.	10 October 2024	Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria	Kazakhstan	3–0	4–0	2024–25 UEFA Nations League B

Honours

Admira Wacker

• Austrian First League: 2010-11

Red Bull Salzburg

• Austrian Bundesliga: 2014–15^[42]
• Austrian Cup: 2014–15^[42]

RB Leipzig

• DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2018–19, 2020–21

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 2021–22^[43]
• DFL-Supercup: 2022^[44]

Manchester United

• EFL Cup: 2022–23^[22]
• FA Cup runner-up: 2022–23^[45]

Borussia Dortmund

• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2023–24^[46]

Individual

• Austrian Bundesliga top assist provider: 2014–15^[47]
• Austrian Footballer of the Year: 2017^[48]
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2019–20^[49]
• Bundesliga Goal of the Month: February 2021^[50]
• Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2019–20^[51]
• kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2019–20^[52]
• Austrian Cup top scorer: 7 Goals 2014–15
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2023–24^[31]
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2023–24

References

1. "Updated Premier League squad lists for 2022/23". Premier League. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
2. "Marcel Sabitzer". Borussia Dortmund. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
3. "Marcel Sabitzer: Who is the Bayern Munich midfielder with shades of David Beckham?". Bundesliga. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
4. "Marcel Sabitzer: 10 things on Bayern Munich's new Austrian midfielder". Bundesliga. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
5. "Marcel Sabitzer". oefb.at. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
6. "Sabitzer wechselt zu Rapid". noe.orf.at. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
7. "NEUVERPFLICHTUNG: NATIONALSPIELER MARCEL SABITZER WIRD EIN ROTER BULLE!". dierotenbullen.com (in German). RB Leipzig. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
8. "Marcel Sabitzer". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
9. "Marcel Sabitzer". kicker.de (in German). Retrieved 28 August 2018.
10. "VORZEITIGE VERTRAGSVERLÄNGERUNG MIT MARCEL SABITZER BIS 2021!" (in German). RB Leipzig. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
11. "Marcel Sabitzer". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
12. "Marcel Sabitzer". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
13. "Leipzig strebt dem Zenit entgegen". faz.net (in German). 5 November 2019.
14. "RB Leipzig 3–0 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
15. "Leipzig 0-3 Paris: Tuchel's side reach first Champions League final". UEFA. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
16. "Marcel Sabitzer | RB Leipzig | Bundesliga | 2019/20 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Nuremberg: Olympia-Verlag [de]. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
17. "Bayern agree deal to sign RB Leipzig captain Marcel Sabitzer". Bulinews.com. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
18. "Bayern Munich confirm signing of Sabitzer from RB Leipzig in €16m deal until 2025". www.msn.com. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
19. "SC Freiburg 1–4 Bayern Munich". BBC Sport. 2 April 2022.
20. "United sign Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
21. Stone, Simon (4 February 2023). "Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace: Marcus Rashford helps hosts to 13th straight home win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
22. McNulty, Phil (26 February 2023). "Manchester United 2–0 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
23. Stone, Simon (19 March 2023). "Manchester United 3-1 Fulham: Bruno Fernandes double seals comeback against nine-man Cottagers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
24. "Manchester United 2-2 Sevilla: Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia own goals transform Europa League quarter-final". Sky Sports. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
25. Marshall, Adam (15 May 2023). "SABITZER OUT FOR REST OF THE SEASON". Manchester United. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
26. "Squad update". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
27. "BVB sign Marcel Sabitzer". Borussia Dortmund. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
28. "Marcel Sabitzer: Midfielder joins Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich". BBC Sport. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
29. "BVB-Neuzugang Sabitzer mahnt nach 6:1 im DFB-Pokal „Das darf uns nicht passieren"". Ruhr Nachrichten (in German). 12 August 2023.
30. Liew, Jonathan (16 April 2024). "Borussia Dortmund's Sabitzer sinks Atlético Madrid in seesaw thriller". The Guardian.
31. "2023/24 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
32. "M. Sabitzer". besoccer.com. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
33. "National football team player Marcel Sabitzer". eu-football.info. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
34. "Austria-Hungary | Line-up | UEFA Euro". UEFA. com. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
35. "Franco Foda fixiert 26 Spieler umfassenden EURO-Kader" [Franco Foda fixes the 26-player Euro squad]. Austrian Football Association (in German). 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
36. "Nationalteam-Kader für UEFA EURO 2024 fixiert" [Final national team squad for UEFA EURO 2024] (in German). Austrian Football Association. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
37. Ames, Nick (25 June 2024). "Austria top group with Netherlands in third after Sabitzer strike settles thriller". The Guardian.
38. "Netherlands 2-3 Austria: Sabitzer seals top spot for Rangnick's men". UEFA. 25 June 2024.
39. "Im Namen des Vaters (4) – Die Drechsels, die Fodas, die Drazans und viele mehr! " abseits.at". 21 October 2013.
40. "Bestätigt: LASK gewinnt Rennen um Thomas Sabitzer". www.spox.com. 17 June 2019.
41. "Marcel Sabitzer". National Football Teams. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
42. Critchley, Mark (1 February 2023). "Sabitzer has always wanted to prove people wrong - Eriksen's stand-in eager for United chance". The Athletic. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
43. "FC Bayern loan Marcel Sabitzer to Manchester United". FC Bayern Munich. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
44. "Sadio Mane debut goal helps Bayern Munich to Supercup win over RB Leipzig". Bundesliga. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
45. McNulty, Phil (3 June 2023). "Manchester City 2–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
46. McNulty, Phil (1 June 2024). "Real Madrid 2–0 Borussia Dortmund". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
47. "Assists". Weltfussball (in German). Retrieved 1 March 2015.
48. Ford, Matt (1 February 2023). "Marcel Sabitzer: What Manchester United can expect – DW – 02/01/2023". Deutsche Welle (DW). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
49. "UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season". UEFA.com. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
50. "Marcel Sabitzer's long-range thunderbolt wins February Goal of the Month!". Bundesliga. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
51. "Bundesliga Fantasy Manager Team of the Season 2019/20". Bundesliga. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
52. "Sechsmal Bayern, einmal Gladbach: Die kicker-Elf der Saison (2019/20)" (in German). kicker. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.

External links

• Profile at the Borussia Dortmund website
• Marcel Sabitzer at OEFB Austria (in German)
• Marcel Sabitzer – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Marcel Sabitzer – UEFA competition record (archive)