Mario Suárez (footballer)

Mario Suárez Mata (born 24 February 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

He amassed La Liga totals of 236 matches and 14 goals over 13 seasons, representing mainly in the competition Atlético Madrid and winning six major titles with the club, including the 2014 national championship and the 2012 Europa League.

Suarez played 38 times for Spain at youth level, making his debut for the full side in 2013.

Atlético Madrid
A product of Atlético Madrid's youth system, Suárez was born in Alcobendas, Madrid. He first appeared with the first team on 6 November 2005, playing four minutes in a 0–0 draw at Sevilla FC and going on to make a further three La Liga appearances during the season, including two 90-minute games.

From 2006 to 2008, Suárez served two Segunda División loan stints, being an important element in Real Valladolid's 2007 top-flight return and spending his second year at RC Celta de Vigo. In August 2008 he was purchased by RCD Mallorca, signing a four-year deal that left Atlético the possibility of reacquiring the player.

After two seasons appearing regularly – in the second, he scored five goals in 34 matches to help the Balearic Islands side qualify for the UEFA Europa League – the rebuy clause was activated and Suárez returned to the Colchoneros. In his debut campaign in his second spell, he battled for first-choice status at holding midfielder with Brazilian Paulo Assunção. He netted his first official goal for the club on 10 April 2011, in a 3–0 home win against Real Sociedad.

On 10 August 2014, Suárez was knocked unconscious in a friendly against VfL Wolfsburg, after teammate Cristian Ansaldi's hip hit his head. He suffered a "traumatic brain injury" and stayed for treatment in Germany, while the rest of the team returned to Spain. However, on 19 August, he played the entire first leg of the Supercopa de España, a 1–1 draw away to Real Madrid.

Suárez scored his second competitive goal of 2014–15 on 17 March 2015, through a 27th-minute deflected effort for the only goal against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League's round-of-16. He also converted his penalty shootout attempt, in an eventual 3–2 win.

Fiorentina
On 24 July 2015, Suárez signed for Serie A club ACF Fiorentina, with Stefan Savić moving in the opposite direction. He appeared in only 13 competitive games during his six-month tenure, his maiden league appearance occurring on 23 August in a 2–0 home victory over AC Milan (23 minutes played).

Suárez's sole goal for the Viola came on 1 November 2015, in a 4–1 rout of Frosinone Calcio.

Watford
On 30 January 2016, after weeks of negotiations, Watford announced the signing of Suárez on a four-and-a-half-year contract, for a €4 million transfer fee. His first Premier League appearance occurred four days later, as he came on as an 87th-minute substitute for Étienne Capoue in a 0–0 home draw against Chelsea.

Suárez signed for Valencia CF on a season-long loan deal on 16 August 2016, with an option of a subsequent purchase. He scored his first brace as a senior on 16 October, in a 2–1 victory at Sporting de Gijón.

Later years
On 11 July 2017, Suárez transferred to Chinese Super League side Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC. He returned to Spain on 31 January 2019, joining Rayo Vallecano on a six-month contract. He helped the latter to achieve top-tier promotion at the end of the 2020–21 campaign, contributing 30 games and two goals (110 and 12 during his spell).

Suárez announced his retirement from football in October 2023, aged 36.

International career
Suárez played for Spain in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. He scored a penalty in the match against Zambia, in a 2–1 win. Subsequently, he appeared for the under-21s at the 2009 UEFA European Championship in Sweden, in an eventual group stage exit.

On 6 February 2013, Suárez earned his first cap for the full side, playing the last 20 minutes of the 3–1 friendly win over Uruguay in Doha, Qatar.

Personal life
In June 2017, Suárez married model Malena Costa Sjögren.

Honours
Valladolid
 * Segunda División: 2006–07

Atlético Madrid
 * La Liga: 2013–14
 * Copa del Rey: 2012–13
 * Supercopa de España: 2014
 * UEFA Europa League: 2011–12
 * UEFA Super Cup: 2010, 2012
 * UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14

Spain U19
 * UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2006