1. Personal Information
Luis Manuel Seijas Gunther's personal background includes details about his birth, nationality, and family.
1.1. Early Life and Background
Seijas was born on 23 June 1986, in Valencia, Venezuela. He holds Venezuelan, Colombian, and German nationalities. He stands at 69 in (174 cm) tall and weighs 154 lb (70 kg).
1.2. Family
Luis Manuel Seijas has a brother, Luis Roberto Seijas, who is also a professional footballer.
2. Player Career
Luis Manuel Seijas's career spanned various clubs and included significant international appearances for his home country.
2.1. Youth Career
Seijas began his football development in the youth academy of Caracas FC in Venezuela.
2.2. Club Career
Seijas's professional club career began in Venezuela before moving to Argentina, and then seeing multiple stints in Colombia, Belgium, Ecuador, and Brazil, before concluding in the United States.
2.2.1. Caracas FC
After progressing through the youth ranks, Seijas played for the senior team of Caracas FC from 2004 to 2006, making 10 appearances and scoring 2 goals.
2.2.2. Banfield
Following his time in Venezuela, Seijas moved to Argentina to play for Banfield for the 2006-07 season, where he made 4 appearances.
2.2.3. Deportivo Táchira
Seijas returned to Venezuela to join Deportivo Táchira for the 2007-08 season. He made a significant impact, appearing in 16 matches and scoring 4 goals during his tenure.
2.2.4. Independiente Santa Fe
Seijas had three distinct periods with the Colombian club Independiente Santa Fe, where he achieved considerable success. His first stint was from 2008 to 2011, during which he made 103 appearances and scored 14 goals. He rejoined the club in 2014 for a second period until 2016, adding 70 appearances and 13 goals. During this time, he was a key part of the squad that won the Categoría Primera A in 2014 and the Copa Sudamericana in 2015. His third spell with Santa Fe was from 2018 to 2021, where he played 57 matches and scored 4 goals.
2.2.5. Standard Liège
On 30 August 2011, Seijas signed a three-year contract with Belgian club Standard Liège. He played for the club until 2 May 2013, when he terminated his contract. During his time in Belgium, he made 46 league appearances and scored 8 goals.
2.2.6. Deportivo Quito
On 16 July 2013, Seijas joined Ecuadorian club Deportivo Quito, where he made 6 appearances.
2.2.7. Internacional
On 23 May 2016, Seijas moved to Brazil to sign with Internacional. He played for the club from 2016 to 2018, making 23 appearances and scoring 4 goals. With Internacional, he won the Campeonato Gaúcho in 2017.
2.2.8. Chapecoense (loan)
During his time with Internacional, Seijas was loaned to fellow Brazilian club Chapecoense from 2017 to 2018. He played 18 matches for Chapecoense.
2.2.9. Phoenix Rising FC
Seijas signed with Phoenix Rising FC on 8 September 2021, marking his final professional club. He played 36 matches and scored 8 goals for the American club before his retirement.
2.3. International Career
Luis Manuel Seijas represented the Venezuela national football team for over a decade, making significant contributions.
2.3.1. Debut and Goals
Seijas made his debut for the senior Venezuela national team on 18 October 2006, in a friendly match against Uruguay. He went on to make 70 appearances for his country, scoring 2 goals.
His international goals are listed below:
3. Position and Play Style
Luis Manuel Seijas primarily played as a midfielder, often in a central midfield role. He was known for his left-footed play.
4. Honours
Luis Manuel Seijas achieved several significant titles throughout his club career.
4.1. Club Honours
;Independiente Santa Fe
- Copa Colombia: 2009
- Categoría Primera A: 2014
- Copa Sudamericana: 2015
;Internacional
- Campeonato Gaúcho: 2017
5. Statistics
The following tables detail Luis Manuel Seijas's career statistics at both club and international levels.
5.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Caracas | 2004-06 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| Total | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| Banfield | 2005-06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006-07 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Deportivo Táchira | 2007-08 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | ||
| Total | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | |||
| Santa Fe | 2008 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 5 | ||
| 2009 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | |||
| 2010 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 6 | |||
| 2011 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
| Total | 103 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 111 | 15 | |
| Standard Liège | 2011-12 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 40 | 7 |
| 2012-13 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| Total | 46 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 58 | 10 | |
| Deportivo Quito | 2013 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Santa Fe | 2014 | 35 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 4 |
| 2015 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 45 | 5 | |
| 2016 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 7 | |
| Total | 70 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 29 | 1 | 114 | 16 | |
| Internacional | 2016-18 | 23 | 4 | 23 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | |
| → Chapecoense (loan) | 2017-18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Santa Fe | 2018-21 | 57 | 4 | 57 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 57 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 4 | |
| Phoenix Rising FC | 2021-22 | 36 | 8 | 36 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 36 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 8 | |
| Career totals | 366 | 56 | 21 | 3 | 43 | 4 | 433 | 63 | |
5.2. International Statistics
Luis Manuel Seijas made 70 appearances for the Venezuela national football team, scoring 2 goals.