The highs and lows in the career of Luis Suarez…
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Possibly one of the most talented and controversial players to ever step onto a football field, love him or hate him, the world just doesn’t stop talking about Luis Suarez. Here’s a look at the top ten moments, good and bad, that have defined his career so far…
10) Suarez joins Ajax (August 2007)
A 20-year-old Luis Suarez signed a five-year contract with Ajax in the summer of 2007. Two years later, he was named club captain by new manager Martin Jol, in place of the departed Thomas Vermaelen, and finished that season as the league’s top scorer with 35 goals in 33 games. He scored his 100th goal for the club the following year, placing him in an elite group of players to have achieved the same feat, such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Dennis Bergkamp.
9) Suarez handball sends Uruguay to World Cup semi-finals (July 2010)
Suarez became the pantomime villain of the 2010 World Cup when his handball denied Ghana a shock place in the tournament’s semi-final stage. Late in extra time, with the score at 1-1, Suarez saved Stephen Appiah’s goal-bound shot and received a straight red card. However, Asamoah Gyan hit the bar with the resulting spot-kick. The game went to penalties, Uruguay won 4-2 and Suarez was paraded as a national hero.
8) Suarez is accused of biting for the first time (November 2010)
On 20th November 2010, Suarez bit PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal on the shoulder during a 0-0 draw. Ajax suspended Suarez for two games and fined him an undisclosed amount which the club promised to donate to a “good cause”. The Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf branded Suarez the “Cannibal of Ajax”. The Dutch Football Association later increased his suspension to seven games.
7) Suarez joins Liverpool (January 2011)
On one of the most shocking deadline day’s in transfer history, Liverpool signed both Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll in January 2011, while Fernando Torres departed for Chelsea. He officially signed a five-and-a-half-year deal, with the Reds paying Ajax £22.8 million, making him Liverpool’s most expensive signing in history… until Carroll arrived several hours later.
6) Suarez helps Uruguay win the Copa America (July 2011)
Suarez guided Uruguay to their 15th Copa America title in the summer of 2011, netting four goals and being voted the player of the tournament. He scored the opening goal in his country’s 3-0 victory over Paraguay in the final, while he netted both the goals in the 2-0 semi-final win against Peru.
5) Suarez is accused of racism (October 2011)
Suarez endured a difficult 2011-12 season, most memorable for his eight-game suspension and £40,000 fine handed out by the FA, after they found him guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Suarez denied the charges, and refused to shake Evra’s hand when the team’s next met in February 2012.
4) Suarez bites again (April 2013)
During a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield, Suarez bit opposing defender Branislav Ivanovic, an offense that went unnoticed by officials. He ironically went on to score the vital stoppage time equaliser, in what was his last contribution to the 2012-13 season. Suarez did not appeal the ten-game ban handed to him by the FA, while he was also charged an undisclosed fine.
3) Suarez becomes Uruguay’s top goalscorer (June 2013)
Suarez scored three times in Uruguay’s 2013 Confederations Cup campaign, which saw the South American champions finish in fourth place behind Italy, Spain and hosts Brazil. His two goals against minnows Tahiti took his international tally to 35 goals, making him his country’s all-time top-goalscorer.
2) Suarez voted PFA Player of the Year (April 2014)
Suarez returned from suspension to score 31 league goals for Liverpool in the 2013-14 season, with the Reds narrowly missing out on their maiden Premier League title. In the eyes of many, his sparking form had helped him turn around his troubled reputation. His accomplishments were acknowledge with the PFA Player of the Year Award, as he became the first player from outside of Europe to win the honour.
1) Suarez bites again… again (June 2014)
Less than a week after his two goals all but knocked England out of the World Cup, Suarez was involved in biting an opposition player for the third time – on this occasion, Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. Suarez was banned for nine international matches, ending his World Cup, while he was also given a four-month suspension from all football related activity.
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