Modern footballers are often automatically described as a 'journeyman' as soon as they have played for six clubs or more; but ex-Uruguay international striker Sebastian Abreu has taken the definition to a whole new level, after recently making the 28th move of his quietly extraordinary career.
Abreu, who scored 26 times in 70 senior international appearances for his country and went to two World Cup and three Copa Americas, has just signed with Brazilian club Bangu.
He will start playing for his new team, based in Rio de Janeiro, in January having turned out for Sol de America (Paraguay) and Santa Tecla (El Salvador) already in 2016 - FIFA rules limit players to only playing official matches with two clubs per season, except in certain specific circumstances.
Bangu is the 40-year-old's 23rd different club, while he has signed for sides in 10 different countries over the last two decades. A number of of his transfers have been loan spells, while various Mexican clubs were a common theme during the first half of his career.
His forays to Europe have been rare, though, with only unsuccessful or very short spells at Deportivo La Coruna, Beitar Jerusalem, Real Sociedad and Aris to his name.
Nicknamed 'Loco', Abreu is also in possession of a Guinness World Record for the most moves by a professional footballer. It was a record he took from cult goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel.
Although never anywhere for very long, Abreu's most successful spells have come at very different stages of his career. The Minas-native was prolific early on, scoring freely for San Loren
He was later also prolific during his time at Dorados de Sinaloa, another Mexican side, shortly after turning 30, and then enjoyed a return of 55 goals in 93 appearances for Brazilian giant Botafogo between the ages of 34 and 36 - the most games he has played for any single club.
Sebastian Abreu's Colourful 21-Year Career History:
Years |
Club”‹ |
Country”‹ |
”‹1995 - 1996 |
”‹Defensor |
Uruguay”‹ (1) |
1996 - 1998”‹ |
San Lorenzo”‹ |
Argentina”‹ (2) |
1998 - 2004”‹ |
Deportivo La Coruna”‹ |
Spain”‹ (3) |
1998”‹ |
Gremio (loan)”‹ |
Brazil”‹ (4) |
1999 - 2000”‹ |
Tecos (loan)”‹ |
Mexico”‹ (5) |
2000 - 2001”‹ |
San Lorenzo (loan)”‹ |
Argentina”‹ |
2001”‹ |
Nacional (loan)”‹ |
”‹Uruguay |
”‹2002 - 2003 |
Cruz Azul (loan)”‹ |
Mexico”‹ |
2003”‹ |
Club Ame”‹rica (loan) |
”‹Mexico |
”‹2004 |
”‹Tecos (loan) |
”‹Mexico |
”‹2004 - 2005 |
Nacional”‹ |
Uruguay”‹ |
2005 - 2006 |
”‹Dorados de Sinaloa |
”‹Mexico |
”‹2006 |
Monterrey”‹ |
Mexico”‹ |
2007 |
”‹San Luis |
”‹Mexico |
”‹2007 - 2008 |
Tigres”‹ |
Mexico”‹ |
2008”‹ |
River Plate (loan)”‹ |
Argentina”‹ |
”‹2008 |
Beitar Jerusalem”‹ |
Israel”‹ (6) |
2008 - 2009”‹ |
River Plate”‹ |
Argentina”‹ |
2009”‹ |
Real Sociedad”‹ (loan) |
Spain”‹ |
”‹2009 - 2010 |
Aris”‹ |
Greece”‹ (7) |
”‹2010 - 2012 |
Botafogo”‹ |
Brazil”‹ |
2012”‹ |
Figueirense”‹ (loan) |
Brazil”‹ |
2013 - 2015”‹ |
Nacional”‹ |
Uruguay”‹ |
2013 - 2014”‹ |
Rosario Central (loan)”‹ |
Argentina”‹ |
”‹2015 |
Aucas (loan)”‹ |
”‹Ecuador (8) |
2016”‹ |
Sol de America”‹ |
”‹Paraguay (9) |
2016”‹ |
Santa Tecla”‹ |
El Salvador”‹ (10) |
2016* |
Bangu”‹ |
”‹Brazil |
*eligible to play from January 2017
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