Samuel Sáiz

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sáiz and the second or maternal family name is Alonso.

Samuel Sáiz Alonso (born 22 January 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a forward for Turkish club Eyüpspor.^[3][4]

Samuel Sáiz

Personal information
Full name	Samuel Sáiz Alonso[1]
Date of birth	(1991-01-22) 22 January 1991 (age 33)[2]
Place of birth	Madrid, Spain
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team	Eyüpspor
Number	10
Youth career
	Omega CF
1999–2008	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Real Madrid C	35	(5)
2009–2010	Real Madrid B	23	(5)
2010–2011	→ Sevilla B (loan)	15	(3)
2011–2012	Melilla	16	(1)
2012–2013	Getafe B	44	(11)
2012	Getafe	1	(0)
2013–2014	Almería B	9	(0)
2014–2015	Atlético Madrid B	45	(13)
2015–2016	Atlético Madrid	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ Huesca (loan)	29	(3)
2016–2017	Huesca	40	(12)
2017–2019	Leeds United	53	(5)
2019	→ Getafe (loan)	10	(1)
2019–2023	Girona	104	(10)
2023–2024	Sivasspor	31	(9)
2024–	Eyüpspor	15	(4)
International career
2009	Spain U19	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:04, 23 September 2024 (UTC)

He spent most of his career in the Spanish lower leagues, amassing Segunda División totals of 165 games and 23 goals with Huesca and Girona after signing with the former club at the age of 24. In La Liga, he appeared in 11 matches for Getafe over two separate spells and eight for Girona, and also spent one and a half years in the English Championship with Leeds United.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Madrid, Sáiz arrived in Real Madrid's youth system at the age of eight. He made his senior debut late into 2008–09 – one game – as the B team competed in the Segunda División B. In the following season, spent in the same level, he contributed more solidly, but they could only rank in eighth position, thus failing to reach the promotion playoff stage.^[5]

For the 2010–11 campaign, Sáiz was loaned to Sevilla FC's reserves also in division three, in a season-long move. In the following transfer window, however, he returned to Real Madrid, being assigned to its C side in the Tercera División.^[6]

Melilla and Getafe

On 17 August 2011, Sáiz returned to the third tier and joined UD Melilla, with Real retaining a buyback option on the player.^[7] Late into the following transfer window, however, he terminated his contract and signed with Getafe CF's reserves in the same league.^[8] He made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 1 April 2012, coming on as a substitute for Jaime Gavilán for the last 12 minutes of a 3–0 away loss against Atlético Madrid.^[9]

Almería and Atlético

Sáiz signed with UD Almería B on 8 July 2013.^[10] In January of the following year he moved teams again, joining Atlético Madrid B also in the third division.^[11][12]

Occasionally called for training with Atlético's main squad under manager Diego Simeone, Sáiz was also an unused substitute in a league match against Villarreal CF.^[13][14]

Huesca

On 5 August 2015, Sáiz joined SD Huesca from Segunda División in a season-long move.^[15][16] He scored his first professional goal 17 days later, but in a 3–2 home defeat to Deportivo Alavés.^[17] He netted a further two times in his first year, from 30 overall appearances.^[18]

Sáiz signed a permanent contract with the Aragonese club in late March 2016, until June 2018.^[19] In the following campaign he scored a career-best 12 goals,^[20] as his team was ousted in the promotion play-offs.^[21]

Leeds United

On 10 July 2017, Huesca and Leeds United reached an agreement for the transfer of Sáiz.^[22] Three days later, the latter club announced the signing of a four-year contract after a successful medical.^[23] He made his competitive debut on 9 August, scoring a hat-trick in a 4–1 victory over Port Vale in the EFL Cup;^[24] in doing so, he became their first player to achieve the feat in his first game since Carl Shutt in 1989.^[25] His first Championship appearance took place three days later, in a 0–0 home draw against Preston North End.^[26]

Sáiz opened his league scoring account on 19 August 2017, contributing to the 2–0 win at Sunderland.^[27] The following 7 January, he was involved in an off-the-ball incident and was shown a red card for allegedly spitting at an opposition player during the 2–1 defeat to Newport County in the FA Cup.^[28] He returned from his six-match suspension on 21 February in a 2–2 draw against Derby County, providing an assist for Ezgjan Alioski.^[29]

After ending the season with nine goals and seven assists,^[30] Sáiz was nominated as one of four players for Leeds' Player of The Year award on 16 April 2018.^[31] For the following campaign, he was given the number 14 shirt.^[32]

On 17 December 2018, Sáiz was loaned to his former club Getafe for six months.^[33] He made his debut on 6 January 2019, playing 16 minutes in a 2–1 home loss against FC Barcelona.^[34] He scored his first goal in the Spanish top flight on 28 April, but in a defeat at Real Sociedad by the same scoreline.^[35]

Girona

Sáiz joined Girona FC on 18 July 2019, for an undisclosed fee.^[36] He contributed three goals from 40 games in the 2021–22 season, in a return to the top tier after three years;^[37] on 1 April 2022, however, as he was being replaced in the first half of the league fixture against Málaga CF (eventual 1–0 home win), he called manager Míchel a "clown" and threw away his shirt.^[38]

On 27 January 2023, Sáiz left the Estadi Montilivi after 120 official matches and 12 goals.^[39]

Sivasspor

Sáiz signed a year-and-a-half contract with Sivasspor of the Turkish Süper Lig immediately after leaving Girona.^[40]

International career

Sáiz represented Spain at under-19 level.^[41]

Career statistics

Club

As of 7 January 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Real Madrid Castilla	2008–09[42]	Segunda División B	1	0	—		—		0	0	1	0
	2009–10[42]		22	5	—		—		0	0	22	5
	Total		26	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	26	5
Sevilla Atlético	2010–11[42]	Segunda División B	15	3	—		—		0	0	15	3
Melilla	2011–12[42]	Segunda División B	16	1	1	0	—		0	0	17	1
Getafe	2011–12[42]	La Liga	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
Getafe B	2011–12[42]	Segunda División B	13	2	—		—		0	0	13	2
	2012–13[42]		31	9	—		—		0	0	31	9
	Total		44	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	44	11
Almería B	2013–14[42]	Segunda División B	9	0	—		—		0	0	9	0
Atlético Madrid B	2013–14[42]	Segunda División B	12	5	—		—		2[lower-alpha 1]	2	14	7
	2014–15[42]		33	8	—		—		0	0	33	8
	Total		45	13	0	0	0	0	2	2	47	15
Huesca	2015–16[42]	Segunda División	29	3	1	0	—		0	0	30	3
	2016–17[42]		40	12	2	0	—		2[lower-alpha 2]	0	44	12
	Total		69	15	3	0	0	0	2	0	74	15
Leeds United	2017–18[43]	Championship	34	5	1	0	2	4	0	0	37	9
	2018–19[44]		19	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	21	1
	Total		53	5	1	0	4	5	0	0	58	10
Getafe (loan)	2018–19[42]	La Liga	10	1	2	0	—		0	0	12	1
Girona	2019–20[42]	Segunda División	30	2	1	0	—		4[lower-alpha 2]	1	35	3
	2020–21[42]		30	3	2	0	—		1[lower-alpha 2]	0	33	3
	2021–22[42]		36	3	3	1	—		4[lower-alpha 2]	0	43	4
	2022–23[42]	La Liga	8	2	1	0	—		0	0	9	2
	Total		104	10	7	1	0	0	9	1	120	12
Career total			392	64	14	1	4	5	13	3	423	73

1. Appearances in Segunda División B relegation play-offs
2. Appearances in La Liga play-offs

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Leeds United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 21. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
2. "Samuel Sáiz". Diario AS. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
3. Evans, Alex (23 June 2017). "VIDEO: Potential Leeds United signing Samuel Sainz [sic] in action". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
4. Escar, Antonio (24 June 2017). "Samu Sáiz y el Leeds United, muy cerca de llegar a un acuerdo" [Samu Sáiz and Leeds United, very close to reaching an agreement] (in Spanish). Sport Huesca. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
5. "Getafe: Samu Saiz, el jugador de las cinco canteras" [Getafe: Samu Saiz, the player of the five youth systems]. Marca (in Spanish). 19 December 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
6. Bernad Suelves, Marc (18 July 2019). "Samu Saiz: "El objetivo es volver a Primera"" [Samu Saiz: "The goal is to return to Primera"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 January 2023.
7. "Samuel Saiz ficha por el Melilla" [Samuel Saiz signs for Melilla] (in Spanish). Best!. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
8. "El delantero Samu rescinde contrato con Melilla para firmar por el Getafe B" [Forward Samu terminates contract with Melilla to sign for Getafe B]. ABC (in Spanish). 20 January 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
9. "Diego enjoys Atleti return". ESPN Soccernet. 1 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
10. "Samu Saiz, primer fichaje del Almería B" [Samu Saiz, first signing of Almería B] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 8 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
11. Barrios Merillas, Adrián (31 January 2014). "Samu Sáiz firma por el Atlético B" [Samu Sáiz signs for Atlético B] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
12. "Samu Sáiz vuelve a Madrid" [Samu Sáiz returns to Madrid] (in Spanish). El Gol de Madriz. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
13. "El Atleti defenderá el liderato sin Costa, Arda ni Gabi" [Atleti will defend first place without Costa, Arda or Gabi]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 April 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
14. Casáñez, Juan (16 July 2014). "El Cholo Simeone trabaja con el futuro Atlético de Madrid" [Cholo Simeone works with future Atlético de Madrid]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2017.
15. "Samuel Sáiz, nuevo fichaje" [Samuel Sáiz, new signing] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 5 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
16. "Samu Sáiz llega cedido a Huesca" [Samu Sáiz arrives to Huesca on loan]. Marca (in Spanish). 5 August 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
17. Laz, Alberto (22 August 2015). "El Deportivo Alavés amarga la vuelta a Segunda del Huesca" [Deportivo Alavés bitter Huesca's Segunda return]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 September 2016.
18. Cambridge, James (1 July 2016). "Leeds and Leicester transfer battle for striker: Spaniard has bargain release clause". Daily Express. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
19. "Samu Sáiz renueva hasta el 2018" [Samu Sáiz renews until 2018]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
20. Díaz, Rafa (20 June 2017). "La Primera División espera a Samu Sáiz" [Primera División awaits Samu Sáiz]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2017.
21. Millar, Colin (14 June 2017). "Hierro departs Real Oviedo". Football España. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
22. "Deal agreed for Sáiz". Leeds United F.C. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
23. "Sáiz deal complete". Leeds United F.C. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
24. "Leeds United 4–1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
25. Hay, Phil (9 August 2017). "Leeds United: Hat-trick hero Saiz's 'spit' spat overshadows outstanding debut". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
26. "Leeds United 0–0 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
27. "Sunderland 0–2 Leeds United". Sky Sports. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
28. Harris, Alex (7 January 2018). "Samuel Saiz: Why Leeds star was sent off against Newport County". Daily Express. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
29. "Derby County 2–2 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
30. "Leeds United top scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
31. "Cast your vote for the Player of The Year awards". Leeds United F.C. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
32. "2018/19 squad numbers announced". Leeds United F.C. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
33. "Samu Saiz nuevo futbolista azulón" [Samu Saiz new blue footballer] (in Spanish). Getafe CF. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
34. "Getafe 1–2 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
35. Navacerrada, Juancar (29 April 2019). "Samu Saiz, la mejor noticia en Anoeta" [Samu Saiz, the best news at Anoeta]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 April 2019.
36. "Samuel Saiz joins Girona". Leeds United F.C. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
37. "Girona return to La Liga after winning promotion playoff". Get Spanish Football News. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
38. ""Payaso, que eres un payaso", el insulto de Samu Saiz a Míchel tras ser sustituido en la primera parte" ["Clown, what a clown you are", Samu Saiz's insult to Míchel after being replaced in the first half]. La Razón (in Spanish). 2 April 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
39. "Samu Sáiz deixa el Girona FC" [Samu Sáiz leaves Girona FC] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
40. "Samu Saiz Demir Grup Sivasspor'umuzda" [Samu Sáiz joins Demir Grup Sivasspor] (in Turkish). Sivasspor. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
41. "España sub 19, con Óscar Sielva de titular, comenzó el minitorneo con goleada (5–1) ante Macedonia" [Spain under 19s, with Óscar Sielva as starter, begin minitournament by thrashing (5–1) Macedonia] (in Spanish). Sport Cartagena. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
42. Samuel Sáiz at BDFutbol
43. "Games played by Samuel Sáiz in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
44. "Games played by Samuel Sáiz in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2020.

External links

• Samuel Sáiz at BDFutbol
• Samuel Sáiz at Futbolme (in Spanish)
• Samuel Sáiz at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
• Samuel Sáiz at Soccerway