Sabella

[Grumps]

R.I.P Alex ,another great player , my best match watching Alex was away at Blackpool, r.i.p great man

 

[BladesNo9]

I doubt we shall ever see his like at BDTBL again.
A diamond in (some of!) our darkest days. If only we'd had a team with half his skills and flair!, who knows what may have been.
His last league game for us was in the 4-0 drubbing away at Grimsby (an awful day that still sticks in my mind!), BUT!!..........
His parting gift to us was a goal in the 2-1 win against the pigs in the County Cup Final
Safe journey as you jink and weave your way on another amazing dribble to that Bramall Lane in the sky Little Red and White Wizzzaaaard
R I P Alex

 

[8lade]

Bloody hell, I thought this was a thread touting him as manager.
66 no age, rest easy Alex.

 

[Stocky Blade]

What a natural talent ,in today's non tackling game he would have been sensational .r.i.p.alex was a.pleasure to see him play .he could do magic utb

Such awfully sad news. As others have said, he gave us some truly magical moments when we needed an uplift post-TC and Woody. RIP Alejandro. UTB.

 

[knowsnowt]

Slightly before my time but RIP Blades legend.

 

[kop blade]

im heartbroke of the sad news never cried so much for a sufc player in tears my hero blades legend has died ,the things he could do with the ball ,he would have been magical in todays game he would have helped us stay up , he was brilliant one of our best ever signings from river plate argentina, id put right up there in diego maradonna bracket ,hes pure class RIP pal from italian kop blade pasta man

 

[kop blade]

gutted a sufc true legend has died i remmember seeing you play it was 1978 i was 16 it rained all saturday i couldnt wait to see you play waited hours it was worth it you waved to the kop the place was buzzing you was awsome the tricky wing play blew me away you got the crowd on there feet they loved you m8 i was honoured when i watched you play you was my hero alex sabella im so sad you passed away youve got to be one of the best players ive watch in red and white on the kop my dad loved you so did i my condolances and tribute and respect to one of the blades finest ever players RiP m8 loved you alex ,,,,utb ...forza sabella a genious with the ball ,,,your a talented great sufc player which we will never have again summatt different which i loved i love wingers you will never be forgotten ...utb ,,,,sleep tight alex sabella my midfield hero i loved you pal....utb .....

 

[Bla blade]

Only saw you once, at Ewood Park, when you were playing with inferior teammates and had Haslam and Bergara screeching nonsense at you throughout the match (I was right next to the bench) and you looked lost. We lost the match 2-0 I think so not a high point in your time with us.

You brought star quality to us and you are one Argentinian we can all say we are really saddened to hear has passed. RIP Alex.

 

[Sheffsteel]

RIP Alex Sabella.

Before my time but heard a few stories over the years about how good of a player he was.

He had the skill level of Maradona....miles ahead of other players we had...very quick feet and constantly fouled.
Probably the best dribbler I’ve seen play for us....he was slow so couldn’t use speed but his close control, quick feet and balance used to help him get past men with ease. I remember a night match at home to Dundee in the Anglo Scottish cup...Sabella scored a goal dribbling past about 4 players...similiar to Ricky Villas for Spurs in the cup final. I used to be mesmerised just watching his pre match warm ups. He was a free styling ball juggler.

however Sabella was smallish, slightly built, slow and lacked the physical toughness and speed of Maradona.
He didn’t like muddy pitches or playing matches in cold windy conditions either meaning in some away games he was ineffective.

RIP Alejandro Sabella...great memories, never forgotten.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I'd just started going to games towards the end of Alex's time with us. I saw him play maybe a couple of times but I remember the fella I went to the games with used to get very giddy about him. Perhaps not suited to Div 3 in 1979.

R.I.P

 

[Gabsblade]

I'd just started going to games towards the end of Alex's time with us. I saw him play maybe a couple of times but I remember the fella I went to the games with used to get very giddy about him. Perhaps not suited to Div 3 in 1979.

R.I.P

RIP Alex, just a wizard on the ball and thanks for the memories. Been a shocking couple of weeks for Argentinian football!

 

[PaulHalfway]

Great memories of a very talented and gifted player, running at defences taking man after man on, brilliant at times

 

[Devils bump]

Once a Blade, always a Blade. RIP our Alex.

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

RIP Alex.
Privileged to have seen you pull on the red and white.
Always a Blade.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

Saw him in Sainsbury’s on The Moor pushing a shopping trolley with his missus in 79. Was only 11 so didn’t have where with all to check what he was buying.
Can you imagine a man with his talent wandering through the aisles nowadays, debating if he should go with Fray Bentos or stay with own brand??

RIP Blade

 

[iBlade.]

Was a tricky little player also a master in the dark art of diving.

 

[metalblade]

Wow this sad news makes me feel old 66 is no age these days. Alex was a stand out in the United side at the time way better than his team mates, inevitably he was sold to the scum up the M1 but didn't stay long before moving back home before the Falklands war. One of a select few Blades with the talent to move on to better things in the game ended up Argentina manager at the World Cup. 2020 has truly been a shit year.
RIP Alex.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Amazing how he’s passed away less than a fortnight after the player we initially rejected.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Very sad news, what a player Alex Sabella was. He brought a touch of South American flair to Bramall Lane and his signing was a huge news story back in 1978 following the World Cup in Argentina.

He oozed class and I hope those who were fortunate to see him play for the Blades share the same thoughts.

God bless Alex and thanks for the memories.

 

[Chingo]

Loved watching Alex play , so skilful he could make the ball talk ... 2020 what a year

 

[Chingo]

Was a tricky little player also a master in the dark art of diving.

He used to get some right kickings , similar to what Messi gets now in certain games ... one against Wendy springs to mind

 

[originaltrueblade]

An interesting read about Alex

Alex Sabella's Sheffield United story, replacing Maradona and Messi tribute

The midfielder only had a short spell at Sheffield United, but it was unforgettable and he left a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to see him play at Bramall Lane

www.examinerlive.co.uk

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

He used to get some right kickings , similar to what Messi gets now in certain games ... one against Wendy springs to mind

The game at Hillsboro ? i was in the North Stand that game the ref gave him no protection he was kicked to death could not get into a rythm,think we lost the game.

Anyway God Bless Alex

 

[Bladedog]

Remember coming up the escalator from the hole in the road and alex coming down we shook hands..didn't wash mine for days..such sad news..what a player..thanks for the memories ALEJANDRO.. RIP.

 

[VictoryBlade]

We could do with his ability to unlock a defence right now tbh!

 

[Sheffsteel]

He used to get some right kickings , similar to what Messi gets now in certain games ... one against Wendy springs to mind

I took my older cousin (female) to the Lane to watch her first ever football match....we sat in the back of the South stand,
It was at home to Blackburn on New Year’s Day....think it was 1980.

She didn’t know a thing about football.....but I remember her main comment was

”arhhhh who’s that little player?....he keeps getting fouled all the time....I feel right sorry for him...he just keeps falling down....arhhhh”

She was referring to Sabella. He had very quick feet..so even when a defender made a genuine attempt for the ball....during the challenge...Sabella would often be able to move the ball and position his leg in its place. He was also slow so couldn’t escape challenges using pace, hence he was constantly fouled.

Refs couldn’t give us constant free-kicks all the time so sometimes Sabella would receive a really heavy challenge (clear foul) and the ref would wave “play-on”.

 

[ancientblade]

He used to get some right kickings , similar to what Messi gets now in certain games ... one against Wendy springs to mind

yeah by jeff king on boxing day 79 after 20 seconds never saw alex again after that had to be big jacks orders on the day but great player 3 moves in front of our other players of the time R.I.P. alex

 

[ChezVegasBlade]

RIP you genius

 

[Booker4]

Being of a younger generation I could only wish to enjoy such a talent in the flesh at the lane. RIP Blade.

Sabella before my time also, but if you're similar in age to me you'll of witnessed the great Vas Borbokis! I've still not seen a more skilful player in a Blades shirt in my time! I hope we can sign someone with equal skill in the transfer window, maybe even a bit of foreign flair to lift the fans!

 

[BarBlade]

Although I’ve been a supporter for 50 years and member for a lot of years, this is my first post, but for the obvious reason.

I found these photos a few years ago and showed them to some of my mates, but thought that the wider audience should enjoy; some of you might even be on there?

I was a 15 year old brandishing my Kodak instamatic 110 when I went down with my mates to greet the man who was (we believed) destined to lead us back to the promised land. We just didn’t know that the 3rd division was what was promised.
(btw, whoever said ‘keep it with Kodak’ was lying; the originals have turned orange/sepia)

Who are the 2 gentlemen flanking Happy in the first pic?

On the left my guess is Keith Haslam doing a reasonable Paul Garner impression, but he could also pass as Rob Davies from Mud. I have had a suggestion that the chap on the left is Oscar Arce, but he looks a bit more Broomhill than Buenos Aires to me.

The last pic I took by jumping out in front of the national press before they got a chance, but I can’t remember how I got it signed. Did we still do proper ‘meet the players’ open days in this era?

A great talent. Sad that we only saw him in team that was on such a downward trajectory. Would he have worked in the current team?