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 nameMarcel Sabitzer[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-17) 17 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birthWels, Austria
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s)Midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
Borussia Dortmund
Number20
Youth career
2000–2001Admira Villach [de]
2001–2008Grazer AK
2008–20091. Wiener Neustädter SC
2009Austria Wien
2009–2010Admira Wacker
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2010–2011Admira Wacker II34(15)
2010–2013Admira Wacker45(11)
2013–2014Rapid Wien45(10)
2014–2021RB Leipzig177(40)
2014–2015Red Bull Salzburg (loan)33(19)
2021–2023Bayern Munich40(2)
2023Manchester United (loan)11(0)
2023–Borussia Dortmund25(4)
International career
2009–2010Austria U167(1)
2010–2011Austria U179(3)
2011Austria U182(0)
2012–2013Austria U194(5)
2012–2013Austria U217(1)
2012–Austria82(18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:07, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:07, 2 July 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 FC 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 1 June 2024[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Admira Wacker
Mödling
2010–11First League820082
2011–12Austrian Bundesliga20510215
2012–13Austrian Bundesliga174204[c]0234
Total451130405211
Rapid Wien2012–13Austrian Bundesliga1631000173
2013–14Austrian Bundesliga2971010[c]2409
Total4510201025712
RB Leipzig2014–152. Bundesliga000000
2015–162. Bundesliga32820348
2016–17Bundesliga32811339
2017–18Bundesliga2232210[d]0345
2018–19Bundesliga304508[c]1435
2019–20Bundesliga329339[e]44416
2020–21Bundesliga278517[e]0399
2021–22Bundesliga20000020
Total1774018734522952
Red Bull Salzburg (loan)2014–15Austrian Bundesliga33196712[f]15127
Bayern Munich2021–22Bundesliga251005[e]000301
2022–23Bundesliga151206[e]01[g]0241
Total4022011010542
Manchester United (loan)2022–23Premier League11031103[c]2183
Borussia Dortmund2023–24Bundesliga2543112[e]1406
Career total37686371610871110501113

International

As of match played 2 July 2024[41]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Austria201210
201320
201462
201571
201691
201741
201840
201992
202041
2021122
2022102
202395
202451
Total8218
As of match played 25 June 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.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.30 May 2014Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria  Iceland1–01–1Friendly
2.3 June 2014Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic  Czech Republic1–02–1Friendly
3.9 October 2015Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro  Montenegro3–23–2UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
4.9 October 2016Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia  Serbia1–12–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.14 November 2017Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria  Uruguay1–02–1Friendly
6.6 September 2019Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Wals-Siezenheim, Austria  Latvia2–06–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
7.10 October 2019Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria  Israel3–13–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
8.4 September 2020Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Norway2–02–12020–21 UEFA Nations League B
9.9 October 2021Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands2–02–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.12 November 2021Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria  Israel4–24–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification
11.24 March 2022Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales1–21–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification
12.3 June 2022Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek, Croatia  Croatia3–03–02022–23 UEFA Nations League A
13.24 March 2023Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria  Azerbaijan1–04–1UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
14.3–0
15.13 October 2023Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria  Belgium2–32–3UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
16.16 October 2023Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan1–01–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
17.21 November 2023Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria  Germany1–02–0Friendly
18.25 June 2024Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany  Netherlands3–23–2UEFA Euro 2024

Honours

Admira Wacker Mödling

Red Bull Salzburg

RB Leipzig

Bayern Munich

Manchester United

Borussia Dortmund

Individual

References