Sebastián Eguren Ledesma (born 8 January 1981) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.

Sebastián Eguren
Eguren with Uruguay in 2013
Personal information
Full name Sebastián Eguren Ledesma
Date of birth (1981-01-08) 8 January 1981 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Montevideo Wanderers 36 (6)
2002–2003 Danubio 27 (6)
2003–2004 Nacional 39 (5)
2005 Montevideo Wanderers 23 (3)
2005–2006 Rosenborg 23 (0)
2006–2008 Hammarby IF 36 (13)
2008Villarreal (loan) 15 (0)
2008–2010 Villarreal 46 (1)
2010 AIK 7 (0)
2010–2012 Sporting Gijón 49 (3)
2012–2013 Libertad 26 (4)
2013–2014 Palmeiras 17 (2)
2015 Colón 8 (0)
2015–2016 Nacional 11 (0)
Total 363 (43)
International career
2001–2013 Uruguay 54 (7)
Managerial career
2016–2017 Nacional (assistant)
2018–2019 Al Ahly (assistant)
2020–2021 Atenas de San Carlos
2021–2022 Chile (assistant)
2022 Montevideo City Torque
Medal record
Representing  Uruguay
Copa América
Third place 2004 Peru Team
Winner 2011 Argentina Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Eguren started his career with Montevideo Wanderers in 1999, and went on to play professionally in Norway, Sweden, Spain, Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina before retiring in 2016. He earned 57 caps for Uruguay between 2001 and 2013, representing his country at the 2010 World Cup and two Copa América tournaments, winning the 2011 edition.

From 2016 he worked as a coach, mainly as an assistant to Martín Lasarte.

Playing career

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Club

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Early years

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Born in Montevideo, Eguren started his career in native country, playing for Montevideo Wanderers FC (twice) and Club Nacional de Football. With the latter, after the 0–0 Copa Libertadores game against Club Deportivo El Nacional on 12 February 2004, he tested positive for cocaine, being suspended from football for six months. He blamed the coca tea, widely drunk in the Andean countries as a medicine which alleviates the effects of altitude, and got the shortest suspension for this kind of cases (this specific match was played at 2,800 meters above sea level, in Quito).[2]

Eguren arrived at Hammarby IF from Norwegian club Rosenborg BK, on loan during the later part of the 2006 season and, on 5 December 2006, signed a three-year contract with the Swedish side.

Villarreal

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On 30 January 2008, Eguren joined Villarreal CF of La Liga, on loan until the end of the campaign.[3] Almost immediately cast into the starting XI, he partnered Marcos Senna in centre midfield as the Yellow Submarine obtained its best position ever in the top flight by finishing second; in May the Spaniards decided to make the move permanent, and the player penned a three-year deal.[4]

During 2008–09, more of the same: Eguren was, alongside Senna, an everpresent fixture, and the Uruguayan scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 home draw against Getafe CF (with the Madrid side leading 3–0 at the half-hour mark).[5] He played 32 league matches in his first full season.

In late January 2010, as he had lost his defensive midfielder position to youth graduate Bruno, Eguren was loaned to S.S. Lazio.[6] However, the move was cancelled days later, after the player did not pass his medical.[7]

AIK / Sporting Gijón

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Anxious for playing time in order to secure a spot on the national squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Eguren signed with reigning Swedish champions AIK Fotboll on 19 February 2010. According to their director of football Björn Wesström, the agreement was technically not a loan deal as the player had no contractual obligations with Villarreal until 1 July 2010 – however, he was due to return to Spain since he still had 12 months left of his contract.[8] In early March, it was decided by the club to put the player under police protection, after he was harassed while training by fans of former side Hammarby, a fierce rival to AIK;[9] he usually operated as a defensive midfielder previously, but manager Mikael Stahre preferred using him in an attacking midfielder or deep-lying forward role.

In late July 2010, Eguren returned to Spain but not to Villarreal, signing a three-year contract with fellow league team Sporting de Gijón.[10] He contributed with 19 games and two goals in his second year, but the Asturians suffered relegation.

Return to South America

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In July 2013, Eguren signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with Brazil's Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras.[11] He confessed that his changing of club happened because he did not have enough playing time at his previous team Club Libertad in Paraguay, where he played second-fiddle to Pablo Guiñazú.[12] He scored twice in 12 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B games as the team from São Paulo won the title, including the equaliser on 23 November as they defeated Ceará Sporting Club 4–1 to lift the trophy.[13]

Having played rarely in Série A for Palmeiras in 2014, Eguren returned to Montevideo Wanderers on a one-year contract the following 27 January.[14] Days later, he was loaned for two years to Club Atlético Colón of the Argentine Primera División.[15] On 25 July, he went back to another former club in his hometown, Nacional.[16]

International

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Eguren (sky blue shirt, left) playing against Paraguay in the 2011 Copa América Final

Eguren made his debut for Uruguay during the 2001 Copa América, entering the pitch in the 63rd minute of a 1–0 win against Bolivia, and added a further two appearances in the competition.[17] On 28 May 2008, after a five-year absence, he scored his first goal for the Charrúas, netting in a 2–2 friendly with Norway in Oslo.[18]

On 6 September 2008, Eguren scored his first competitive international goal, heading Diego Forlán's corner kick for the only goal away to Colombia in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification;[19] he added his only other of the campaign just over a year later, to conclude a 3–1 win in the reverse fixture.[20] He was selected for the finals in South Africa, playing once for the semi-finalists (three minutes in the group stage 0–0 draw against France).[21]

Always as a substitute, Eguren was used regularly in the 2011 Copa América as his nation won its 15th continental tournament.[22] Manager Óscar Tabárez also took him to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where he was part of a completely changed team that beat Tahiti 8–0 in the group stage en route to finishing fourth.[23]

Coaching career

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Shortly after retiring as a player, Eguren received his first coaching job in June 2016 when he was hired as assistant to Martín Lasarte at Nacional.[24] He followed him to Al Ahly SC, where they won the Egyptian Premier League in 2018–19.[25]

In September 2020, Eguren was hired at Atenas de San Carlos in his country's second division, having previously been the sporting director.[26] He left the following February, to work beside Lasarte again on the Chile national team.[27]

Lasarte and Eguren quit the Chile national team in April 2022, having failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar; the assistant put the blame on the advanced age of the team's star players and the failure to develop replacements for them.[28] Days later, he was hired in his first top-flight job as a manager, with 12th-placed Montevideo City Torque.[29]

On his Torque debut on 6 May 2022, Eguren recorded a 2–2 draw at Club Sportivo Cerrito.[30] He resigned from the City Football Group-owned team on 20 September, having won four and lost half of 20 league matches.[31]

Personal life

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During most of his career in Europe, Eguren did not count as a foreign player, due to the fact he was married to a Swedish woman.[7]

Besides his musical preferences, ranging from Bob Dylan to Pink Floyd, and his literary ones (he is a fan of compatriots Mario Benedetti and Eduardo Galeano), Eguren spoke openly about politics, admiring president José Mujica, with whom he shared views in favour of legalising cannabis and abortion.[12][32]

Career statistics

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Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Eguren goal.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
List of international goals scored by Sebastián Eguren
1 28 May 2008 Ullevaal, Oslo, Norway   Norway 2–1 2–2 Friendly
2 20 August 2008 Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan   Japan 1–0 3–1 Friendly
3 6 September 2008 El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia   Colombia 1–0 1–0 2010 World Cup qualification
4 11 February 2009 11 June, Tripoli, Libya   Libya 1–0 3–2 Friendly
5 9 September 2009 Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay   Colombia 3–1 3–1 2010 World Cup qualification
6 8 October 2010 Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia   Indonesia 4–1 7–1 Friendly
7 10 June 2012 Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay   Peru 4–2 4–2 2014 World Cup qualification

Honours

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AIK

Palmeiras

Uruguay

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sebastián Eguren". Eurosport. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  2. ^ Casabó, Adrián (31 January 2008). "El Villarreal ficha al mediocentro Sebastián Eguren" [Villarreal sign central midfielder Sebastián Eguren]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  3. ^ "Villarreal bring in Eguren". UEFA. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Eguren commits to Villarreal". UEFA. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  5. ^ "El Villarreal sobrevive a un 0–3" [Villarreal survive a 0–3]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 6 December 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  6. ^ "El Villarreal CF cede a Eguren a la Lazio" [Villarreal CF loan Eguren to Lazio] (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Lazio's deal for Eguren isn't done". Football Italia. 28 January 2010. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  8. ^ "AIK är ett bra val för mig" [AIK is a good choice for me] (in Swedish). Svenska Fans. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  9. ^ "Eguren tendrá protección contra los hinchas rivales" [Eguren will be protected against rival fans]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 March 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Eguren se incorporó al Sporting" [Eguren added to Sporting] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  11. ^ Hazan, Marcelo (10 July 2013). "Fã de música brasileira, Eguren mira títulos no Verdão e descarta ser ídolo" [Brazilian music fan, Eguren looks for titles with Verdão and rejects idol status] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  12. ^ a b Ceccon, Bruno; Correia, William (30 July 2013). "Eguren superou doping, perseguição e 'susto cardíaco' até o Verdão" [Eguren overcame doping, persecution and ‘heart scare’ until Verdão]. Gazeta Esportiva (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Palmeiras recebe a taça de campeão com direito a goleada" [Palmeiras receive the champions' trophy with the right to a rout] (in Portuguese). Aqui Acontece. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  14. ^ "De vuelta en casa" [Back home]. El País (in Spanish). 27 January 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Rodriguez, Eguren y Emiliano García firmaron contrato con Colón" [Rodriguez, Eguren and Emiliano García signed contracts with Colón] (in Spanish). Sol Play 91.5. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Nacional: se sumó Eguren" [Nacional: Eguren is added] (in Spanish). Fútbol.com.uy. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  17. ^ Tabeira, Martín. "Copa América 2001". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ "Uruguay empató en amistoso con Noruega" [Uruguay drew in friendly with Norway]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 28 May 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Eguren silenció el estadio El Campín" [Eguren silenced the Estadio El Campín]. El Universo (in Spanish). 7 September 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Uruguay vence 3–1 a Colombia y revive" [Uruguay defeat Colombia 3–1 and are revived]. El Universo (in Spanish). 9 September 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  21. ^ Fletcher, Paul (11 June 2010). "Uruguay 0–0 France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  22. ^ a b "Uruguay, campeón de la Copa América" [Uruguay, Copa América champions] (in Spanish). RTVE. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  23. ^ "All change for Uruguay in Tahiti game". Bangkok Post. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Martín Lasarte ficha a Sebastián Eguren como ayudante en su vuelta a Nacional" [Martín Lasarte signs Sebastián Eguren as assistant on his return to Nacional]. La Tercera (in Spanish). 17 June 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Martín Lasarte fue campeón en Egipto" [Martín Lasarte was champion in Egypt]. El País (in Spanish). 24 July 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Segunda División: Sebastián Eguren fue nombrado nuevo entrenador de Atenas" [Segunda División: Sebastián Eguren was named new manager of Atenas] (in Spanish). Fútbol.com.uy. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  27. ^ Pérez, Silvia (12 February 2021). ""Machete": así se gestó la llegada de Martín Lasarte a la dirección técnica de Chile" ["Machete": how the arrival of Martín Lasarte to Chile's head coaching position was conceived]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  28. ^ Olea M., Nicolás (1 May 2022). "Ayudante de Martín Lasarte culpa al "factor biológico" de la eliminación de la selección chilena del Mundial de Qatar 2022" [Martín Lasarte's assistant blames "biological factor" for Chile national team's elimination from 2022 Qatar World Cup] (in Spanish). Red Gol. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  29. ^ "City Torque de Uruguay presenta a Sebastián Eguren como su nuevo técnico" [Uruguay's City Torque presents Sebastián Eguren as their new manager] (in Spanish). Swissinfo. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Cerrito 2–2 Montevideo City Torque: Velázquez y un cabezazo que valió un punto" [Cerrito 2–2 Montevideo City Torque: Velázquez and a header that was worth a point]. El País (in Spanish). 6 May 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  31. ^ "Sebastián Eguren renuncia al banquillo de Montevideo City Torque" [Sebastián Eguren resigns from the Montevideo City Torque bench] (in Spanish). Swissinfo. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  32. ^ Ceccon, Bruno; Correia, William (30 July 2013). "Fã de música e literatura, uruguaio defende aborto e maconha legais" [Fan of music and literature, Uruguayan champions legal abortion and marijuana]. Gazeta Esportiva (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
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