Álvaro Saborío

Infobox Football biography
playername = Álvaro Saborío
fullname = Álvaro Alberto Saborío Chacón
nickname = le Gigì Saboire


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|3|25
cityofbirth = San Carlos
countryofbirth = Costa Rica
height = height|m=1.83
currentclub = FC Sion
position = Forward
clubnumber = 9
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2001-2006 2006-
clubs = Deportivo Saprissa- FC Sion
caps(goals) = 149 (109) 079 0(39)
nationalyears = 2002-
nationalteam = Costa Rica
nationalcaps(goals) = 39 (11)
pcupdate = June 1, 2008
ntupdate = March 26, 2008

Álvaro Saborío Chacón (born March 25, 1982) is a Costa Rican football player, who currently plays striker for FC Sion of Switzerland.

Saborio began his professional career with Deportivo Saprissa in his native Costa Rica, although he played for a couple of seasons in some youth Mexico's clubs. [ [http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=1638 National-football-teams] ] Saborío was the leading goal-scorer of the 2003-2004 Costa Rican season, finishing the year with 25 goals, five above Whayne Wilson.

He is also an important player for the Costa Rica national football team at numerous levels. He represented the U-23 team at the 2004 Olympics, scoring the Qualifying goal that took them there, and subsequently starting 3 of four games for the team, scoring a goal against Portugal. He has also been capped for the full national team 22 times bagging 7 goals, playing for the team during 2006 World Cup Qualifying.

With Saprissa, he has won a national championship and a CONCACAF Champions Cup, and was part of the team that played the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup, where Saprissa finished third behind São Paulo Futebol Clube and Liverpool F.C. At the tournament, he scored two goals and ended up tied with 3 more players as the top scorers.

He moved to Switzerland outfit FC Sion after playing for Costa Rica at the 2006 World Cup. He currently has 14 goals for the match them as being partnered upfront with Poland's Zbigniew Zakrzewski.

His performances in Switzerland have caught the eye of Stoke City's manager Tony Pulis who aims to bring him to the Championship in the summer transfer window.

International career

Saborío, better known as "le Gigì", has been notably recognized for his accomplishments with Deportivo Saprissa, and the high amount of goals he has scored in a short period of time. But after a year at the club his Costa Rican Coach got a hold of him and he took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was mostly a substitute for Costa Rica national football team, behind Rónald Gómez and former Man City forward Paulo César Wanchope. Altogether he has 39 caps for Costa Rica and has managed to score 11 goals. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/cos-recintlp.html Costa Rica - Record International Players] ]

References