1. Overview
Marcel Sabitzer (born March 17, 1994) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and captains the Austria national team. Predominantly a central midfielder, Sabitzer is a versatile player who can also play as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, winger, or second striker. He began his professional career in Austria with Admira Wacker and Rapid Wien. He later moved to Germany, playing for RB Leipzig, followed by a transfer to Bayern Munich, and a loan spell at Manchester United, before joining Borussia Dortmund.
2. Club career
Marcel Sabitzer's club career began in Austria, progressing through various teams before establishing himself in German football.
2.1. Early career
Born in Graz, Austria, Sabitzer started his youth football journey at various clubs including Admira Villach, Grazer AK, 1. Wiener Neustädter SC, and Austria Wien. In July 2009, he joined the youth academy of Admira Wacker. He made his professional debut for Admira Wacker, scoring 2 goals in 8 appearances during the 2010-11 Austrian Football First League season. He continued to play for Admira Wacker until January 2013, when he transferred to Rapid Wien. He signed a contract with Rapid Wien until the summer of 2016 for an undisclosed transfer fee. He played for Rapid Wien until June 2014.
2.2. RB Leipzig
Sabitzer's impactful tenure at RB Leipzig significantly shaped his career, leading to key contributions and achievements with the club.
2.2.1. 2014-2016
On May 30, 2014, Sabitzer signed a four-year contract with RB Leipzig. He was immediately loaned to Red Bull Salzburg for the 2014-15 season, where he gained valuable experience.
Sabitzer returned to RB Leipzig for the 2015-16 season, making a significant impact by scoring 8 goals in 34 appearances. On April 1, 2016, he extended his contract with RB Leipzig until 2021, demonstrating his commitment to the club's ambitions.
2.2.2. 2016-2021
Sabitzer continued to be a pivotal player for RB Leipzig in subsequent seasons. In the 2016-17 season, he scored 9 goals in 33 appearances. During the 2017-18 season, he contributed 5 goals in 34 appearances.
In the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League, Sabitzer scored his first two goals in the competition in consecutive matches against Zenit Saint Petersburg. On March 10, 2020, he scored a brace in a dominant 3 0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League Round of 16. This performance contributed to Leipzig's 4 0 aggregate victory, securing the club's first-ever place in the competition's quarter-finals. RB Leipzig's Champions League journey ended in the semi-finals on August 18, 2020, with a 0 3 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Sabitzer finished the 2019-20 campaign with an impressive 16 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.
His strong performances at Leipzig caught the attention of other major clubs. The departure of key players and even coach Julian Nagelsmann to Bayern Munich, including Dayot Upamecano, led to some criticism regarding Bayern's recruitment strategy, with former Leipzig teammate Tyler Adams notably calling it "really bad".
2.3. Bayern Munich
On August 30, 2021, Sabitzer signed a four-year contract with Bayern Munich for a reported transfer fee of 16.00 M EUR. He was assigned the number 18 shirt. On April 2, 2022, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4 1 away victory over Freiburg. Despite this, his overall performance during the season was perceived as modest, with only one league goal, leading to speculation about his future and rumors of transfers to clubs like AS Roma or Atlético Madrid.
2.4. Loan to Manchester United
On February 1, 2023, Sabitzer made a temporary move to Manchester United, joining the club on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut just three days later, coming on as a substitute in a 2022-23 Premier League win against Crystal Palace, marking him as the first Austrian player to represent the club. On February 26, he featured in the 2023 EFL Cup final, entering as a substitute in Manchester United's 2 0 victory over Newcastle United, securing his first trophy with the club. He scored his first goal for United in the 2022-23 FA Cup quarter-finals against Fulham, a match that ended in a 3 1 win for his team. On April 13, Sabitzer scored two goals in a 2 2 draw against Sevilla in the first leg of the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. However, his loan spell was cut short when, on May 15, Manchester United announced that he would be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a meniscal injury. His loan concluded on June 30, at which point Manchester United confirmed his departure.
2.5. Borussia Dortmund
On July 24, 2023, Sabitzer completed a transfer to Borussia Dortmund, signing a four-year contract with the club. He quickly made his mark, scoring his first goal for Dortmund on August 12 in a decisive 6 1 away win over Schott Mainz in the DFB-Pokal. His strong form continued into the UEFA Champions League; on April 16, 2024, he delivered a stellar performance against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, providing two assists and scoring a goal in a thrilling 4 2 victory. This result secured Dortmund's progression to the semifinals with a 5 4 aggregate win, marking the club's first semi-final appearance since the 2012-13 season. Dortmund eventually reached the final of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, and Sabitzer was named in the competition's Team of the Season for his contributions.
3. International career
Marcel Sabitzer has represented the Austria national team at various youth levels before becoming a key player for the senior squad.
3.1. Youth national teams
Sabitzer played for Austria's youth international teams across several age groups. He made 7 appearances and scored 1 goal for the U-16 team (2009-2010). For the U-17 squad (2010-2011), he appeared in 9 matches, scoring 3 goals. He also played 2 matches for the U-18 team in 2011. Between 2012 and 2013, he made 4 appearances and scored 5 goals for the U-19 team. Additionally, he played 7 matches and scored 1 goal for the U-21 team from 2012 to 2013.
3.2. Senior national team
Sabitzer made his senior international debut for Austria at the age of 18 on June 5, 2012, in a goalless friendly match against Romania. He has since earned over 80 caps for his country.
He has represented the national team in major international tournaments, including the UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Euro 2020, and UEFA Euro 2024. At Euro 2024, on June 25, he was named player of the match after scoring the decisive goal in a 3 2 victory over the Netherlands in the final group stage match, which ensured Austria finished at the top of their group.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | May 30, 2014 | Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria | Iceland | 1-0 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 2. | June 3, 2014 | Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 1-0 | 2-1 | Friendly |
| 3. | October 9, 2015 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro | Montenegro | 3-2 | 3-2 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying |
| 4. | October 9, 2016 | Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia | Serbia | 1-1 | 2-3 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5. | November 14, 2017 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | Uruguay | 1-0 | 2-1 | Friendly |
| 6. | September 6, 2019 | Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Wals-Siezenheim, Austria | Latvia | 2-0 | 6-0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 7. | October 10, 2019 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | Israel | 3-1 | 3-1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 8. | September 4, 2020 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | Norway | 2-0 | 2-1 | 2020-21 UEFA Nations League B |
| 9. | October 9, 2021 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | Faroe Islands | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10. | November 12, 2021 | Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria | Israel | 4-2 | 4-2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11. | March 24, 2022 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | Wales | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12. | June 3, 2022 | Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek, Croatia | Croatia | 3-0 | 3-0 | 2022-23 UEFA Nations League A |
| 13. | March 24, 2023 | Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria | Azerbaijan | 1-0 | 4-1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 14. | 3-0 | |||||
| 15. | October 13, 2023 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | Belgium | 2-3 | 2-3 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 16. | October 16, 2023 | Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan | 1-0 | 1-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 17. | November 21, 2023 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | Germany | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 18. | June 25, 2024 | Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany | Netherlands | 3-2 | 3-2 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 19. | September 9, 2024 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | Norway | 1-1 | 1-2 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League B |
| 20. | October 10, 2024 | Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria | Kazakhstan | 3-0 | 4-0 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League B |
4. Personal life
Marcel Sabitzer comes from a footballing family. He is the son of former Austria international footballer Herfried Sabitzer. His cousin, Thomas Sabitzer, is also a professional footballer. Marcel Sabitzer is in a relationship with Katja Kuhne.
5. Career statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Admira Wacker | 2010-11 | Austrian First League | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 8 | 2 | |||
| 2011-12 | Austrian Bundesliga | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 21 | 5 | ||||
| 2012-13 | Austrian Bundesliga | 17 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | - | 23 | 4 | |||
| Total | 45 | 11 | 3 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | - | 52 | 11 | ||||
| Rapid Wien | 2012-13 | Austrian Bundesliga | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 3 | ||
| 2013-14 | Austrian Bundesliga | 29 | 7 | 1 | 0 | - | 10 | 2 | - | 40 | 9 | |||
| Total | 45 | 10 | 2 | 0 | - | 10 | 2 | - | 57 | 12 | ||||
| RB Leipzig | 2014-15 | 2. Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2015-16 | 2. Bundesliga | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 34 | 8 | ||||
| 2016-17 | Bundesliga | 32 | 8 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 33 | 9 | ||||
| 2017-18 | Bundesliga | 22 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 0 | - | 34 | 5 | ||||
| 2018-19 | Bundesliga | 30 | 4 | 5 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | - | 43 | 5 | |||
| 2019-20 | Bundesliga | 32 | 9 | 3 | 3 | - | 9 | 4 | - | 44 | 16 | |||
| 2020-21 | Bundesliga | 27 | 8 | 5 | 1 | - | 7 | 0 | - | 39 | 9 | |||
| 2021-22 | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 177 | 40 | 18 | 7 | - | 34 | 5 | - | 229 | 52 | ||||
| Red Bull Salzburg (loan) | 2014-15 | Austrian Bundesliga | 33 | 19 | 6 | 7 | - | 12 | 1 | - | 51 | 27 | ||
| Bayern Munich | 2021-22 | Bundesliga | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| 2022-23 | Bundesliga | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| Total | 40 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 2 | |||
| Manchester United (loan) | 2022-23 | Premier League | 11 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | - | 18 | 3 | |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2023-24 | Bundesliga | 25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | 12 | 1 | - | 40 | 6 | ||
| 2024-25 | Bundesliga | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| Total | 45 | 4 | 5 | 1 | - | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 6 | |||
| Career total | 396 | 86 | 39 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 96 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 532 | 113 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | |
| Total | 87 | 20 | |
6. Honours
Marcel Sabitzer has achieved numerous team and individual accolades throughout his professional football career.
6.1. Club honours
Admira Wacker
- Austrian First League: 2010-11
Red Bull Salzburg
- Austrian Bundesliga: 2014-15
- Austrian Cup: 2014-15
RB Leipzig
- DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2018-19, 2020-21
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2021-22, 2022-23
- DFL-Supercup: 2022
Manchester United
- EFL Cup: 2022-23
- FA Cup runner-up: 2022-23
Borussia Dortmund
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2023-24
6.2. Individual honours
- Austrian Bundesliga top assist provider: 2014-15
- Austrian Cup top scorer: 2014-15 (7 Goals)
- Austrian Footballer of the Year: 2017
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2019-20
- Bundesliga Goal of the Month: February 2021
- Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2019-20
- kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2019-20
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2023-24
- UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2023-24