After spending four seasons at Chennaiyin FC, Brazilian centre-back Eli Sabiá has joined Jamshedpur FC ahead of ISL 2021-22. The 33-year-old made 19 appearances out of a possible 20 for CFC last season and started in all of those matches.
From Sao Paulo, Eli began his career at local club Paulista progressing through the youth ranks before appearing for the senior team. He had several high-profile loan spells during his time at Paulista, with one of them at Swiss top division outfit FC Lausanne in 2007-08 besides stints at Brazilian giants Santos and Atletico Paranaense. During the early part of his career, he played mostly in the top two tiers of Brazilian football – the Brasileiro Série A and Série B.
In 2016, Sabiá moved to India with Chennaiyin FC for his first stint with the club and played in the 2016 ISL. He then moved back to Brazil with Sertaozinho FC before switching to Al-Raed in Saudi Arabia. Prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, he returned to India and has been the constant in Chennaiyin FC’s defence since then. His four seasons in the ISL have seen him feature in 67 matches scoring two goals and assisting two.
Analyst’s Take
Sabia has been Chennaiyin FC’s defensive mainstay for a number of years and has all the raw attributes to be one of the best defenders in the league.
Known for his consistent, all-round performances, he now has to step into the massive shoes of Stephen Eze, who was a force at both ends of the pitch.
Jamshedpur will be hoping that Eli Sabia can continue his good form and form a dominant partnership with Peter Hartley.
Amrit
Eli Sabiá, ISL 2020-21 Stats, League Stage
| MATCHES | |
| Total played | 19 |
| Started | 19 |
| Minutes per game | 90 |
| ATTACKING | |
| Goals | 0 |
| Shots per game | 0.6 |
| Shots on target per game | 0.2 |
| PASSING | |
| Assists | 0 |
| Touches | 49.7 |
| Big chances created | 0 |
| Key passes | 0.3 |
| Accurate per game | 29.3 (74%) |
| Acc. own half | 20.4 (86%) |
| Acc. opposition half | 8.9 (56%) |
| Acc. long balls | 4.8 (46%) |
| Acc. chipped passes | 2.5 (42%) |
| Acc. crosses | 0.0 (0%) |
| DEFENDING | |
| Clean sheets | 6 |
| Interceptions per game | 1.3 |
| Tackles per game | 0.7 |
| Possession won | 0.1 |
| Dribbled past per game | 0.2 |
| Clearances per game | 3.3 |
| Penalty goals conceded | 1 |
| OTHER | |
| Succ. dribbles | 0.2 (80%) |
| Total duels won | 3.8 (57%) |
| Ground duels won | 1.5 (53%) |
| Aerial duels won | 2.3 (60%) |
| Possession lost | 11.2 |
| Fouls | 1.2 |
| Was fouled | 0.7 |
| Offsides | 0.2 |
| CARDS | |
| Yellow | 3 |
| Red cards | 0 |
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