Sebastian Abreu: Footballer who has played for the most clubs

• Despite being a prolific goalscorer, Sebastian Abreu is best known for being a journeyman footballer. 
• The Uruguayan forward played for 32 clubs in 11 different countries. 
• Sebastian was also a key player for Uruguay’s national team. He represented his nation for 15 years until retiring in 2012.

No professional footballer can boast of playing for many teams like former Uruguay striker Sebastian Abreu.

Despite being a prolific goalscorer, Sebastian Abreu is best known for being a journeyman footballer. He had a career that spanned over 25 years.

Sebastian Abreu. Photo/ Diario.

And during those years, the Uruguayan forward played for 32 clubs in 11 different countries. He had the nickname Loco, which is a Spanish word meaning madman.

Sebastian was also a key player for Uruguay’s national team. He represented his nation for 15 years until retiring in 2012.

He played for Uruguay in two FIFA World Cups and four Copa America tournaments, winning the latter in 2011. He scored the winning penalty that knocked Ghana out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Sebastian retired from professional football at the age of 44.

Early Life 

Sebastian Abreu was born in Minas, Uruguay, on October 17, 1976. He developed a passion for football when he was still a small boy.

He played for Olimpia de Minas and Nacional de Minas before joining Defensor’s youth team. He spent two years with the youth team before receiving a call to the first team.

Career

Sebastian Abreu played for Defensor between 1995 and 1996, scoring 13 goals in 24 matches. The following season, he joined San Lorenzo.

After four years with the Argentine club, Sebastian Abreu moved to Spain, where he joined La Liga team Deportivo La Coruna.

His only season in La Liga started in January 1998. He scored for Deportivo La Coruna as they suffered a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of FC Barcelona.

Things didn’t work out for him in Europe, as the La Liga side loaned him to several teams, including Gremio, Nacional, Tecos and his former club San Lorenzo.

Deportivo La Coruna also sent him on loan to Cruz Azul and America. He impressed the most on loan when at Tecos, as he scored 34 goals in 39 appearances.

Sebastian made just 15 appearances for La Coruna before being sold to Nacional in 2004. During the 2004-15 season, the Uruguayan forward made 31 appearances for Nacional, scoring 16 goals.

His football journey continued at Sinoloa the following season, where he made 39 appearances, scoring 22 goals.

In 2006, Sebastian Abreu was in Mexico playing for Monterrey. The following year, he joined San Luis and made 14 appearances before continuing with his football career at UANL.

Sebastian initially joined River Plate on loan. This was after he was able to rescind his contract with UANL. The Mexican Football Federation failed to recognize the transfer because of an imposed moratorium on both teams.

Sebastian secured a transfer to Beitar Jerusalem in 2008. He played in the team’s qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League.

Later in September, he returned to River Plate but was unable to play in the Primera Division because of being a late addition.

Sebastian Abreu played for 32 teams. Photo/ livefutbol.com.

In January 2009, River Plate loaned Sebastian to Real Sociedad. He scored a hat trick for the Spanish side in their fixture against Xerez, who were the top team in Segunda Division.

In June 2009, his football career continued at Aris as the Greece side signed him on a permanent deal from River Plate.

Since 2010, Sebastian Abreu has played for Botafogo, Fuguirense, Nacional, Rosario Central, Aucas, Sol de America, Santa Tecla, Bangu and Central Espanol, among others.

Sebastian announced his retirement from professional football in 2021. He had played for Athletic-MG, Sud America and Olimpia de Minas in 2021 before hanging his boots.

Coaching Career 

Sebastian Abreu’s coaching career began when he was still a player. Santa Tecla named him as their interim manager on a one-and-a-half-month deal.

Boston River appointed him as player-coach in December 2019 before the start of the Uruguayan Primera Division. He left the team in November 2020 when they were last on the table.

On January 30, 2022, he began coaching the Bolivian Primera Division team Always Ready. However, he left the team two months later by mutual consent.

Paysandu of the Uruguayan Primera Division Amateur appointed Sebastian Abreu as their head coach in May 2022.

Sebastian Abreu. Photo/ Infobae.