David Suazo

Óscar David Suazo Velázquez (born 5 November 1979) is a Honduran retired professional footballer turned coach who played as a striker.

Suazo played more than 300 league games and scored over 90 league goals in Italy during a span of 12 seasons.

Nicknamed La Pantera (The Panther) or El Rey David (The King David), Suazo was born in San Pedro Sula.

In his early career, he developed alongside his cousin, Maynor Suazo, who also went on to play for the Honduras national football team.

Suazo took his first steps at Olimpia Reserves and later went on to play at the Liga Bancaria.

He scored the second goal for Genoa and was eventually substituted in the 80th minute for Hernán Crespo.

His loan with Genoa proved to be highly unsuccessful, as the player scored a mere 2 goals in 16 Serie A appearances.

After his participation in 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, he was acquired by domestic club team Olimpia.

He continued to impress playing for Olimpia's youth system under the coaching of the late Angel Ramón Paz ("Mon Paz") and earned a spot on the top squad before turning 20 years old.

Óscar Tabárez, then-coach of Italian side Cagliari, was impressed by Suazo's performance and did not hesitate in bringing him to Europe, for US$2 million transfer fee and US$200,000 tax to National Autonomous Federation of Football of Honduras, as well as 15–20% of the future capital gain if Cagliari sold the player above the US$2.2M price tag.

Suazo officially joined the club ahead of the 1999–2000 Serie A season.

In his first year with the team, he scored one goal in 13 league appearances, and at the end of the 1999–2000 season, Cagliari were relegated to Serie B\ where they would remain until the 2003–04 season

Suazo played for the Honduras national under-20 football team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.

He made his senior debut for Honduras in a May 1999 friendly match against Haiti and has earned a total of 57 caps, scoring 17 goals.

He also played at the 2000 Summer Olympics and at the 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup as well as at the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

On 13 June 2007, reports arose that Suazo had agreed terms with Serie A champions Internazionale.

Six days later, however, crosstown rivals and reigning European champions Milan announced that they themselves had acquired Suazo.

While Milan claimed they had successfully negotiated with Cagliari, the deal with Inter was confirmed by Cagliari chairman Massimo Cellino.

Meanwhile, one of Suazo's agents, Carlo Pallavicino, added to the confusion by saying, "Suazo has not had any contact with Milan and he still has not given his consent to the transfer."

It was later announced that Suazo was confirmed with Inter on 26 June for €14 million fee (with about US$2.5 million was required to pay by Cagliari to Olimpia) after Milan officially withdrew their contract offer.

Since Suazo himself wanted to keep his initial agreement with Inter.

"It was an issue of respect. The Rossoneri (nickname of Milan) understood that I had a promise with coach Roberto Mancini, Marco Branca and chairman Massimo Moratti."

He scored his first Inter goal against Genoa and scored a total of eight goals throughout his first season with the Nerazzurri (the nickname of Inter).

After a less-than-impressive first season with Inter, Suazo was loaned to Portuguese club Benfica for the 2008–09 season.

Suazo however, appeared in just 12 league matches and scored just four goals during the season.

Following his return to Inter in June 2009, he was given limited squad space and failed to make any starts for his club.

On 29 December 2009 it was confirmed that Suazo had been authorized to play friendly match for Genoa, two days before the opening of the winter transfer window.

After the opening of the transfer window, Suazo officially joined Genoa on a six-month loan deal, where he replaced Sergio Floccari, who was transferred to Lazio on 4 January.

This was part of a deal that completed a three-way, three-man swap in which Inter also received Goran Pandev from Lazio on free transfer.

Suazo made his debut for Genoa against Milan in a losing effort, appearing on the scoresheet in the process.

After his Genoa loan expired, Suazo returned to Inter but, in part because of a long-term injury, he was not included in the first-team, thus failing to make a single appearance in the entire 2010–11 season.

He has represented his country in 30 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Suazo's contract with Inter expired on 30 June 2011, leaving the player without a contract.

Since then, he was linked with a comeback at Cagliari following a trial period.

This was a possibility that was later confirmed by club chairman Massimo Cellino, who, on 13 July 2011, confirmed Suazo's return to Sardinia by the end of the transfer window, and defined his signing as "a cherry on the pie".

The transfer, however, collapsed after Suazo was asked to leave Cagliari's pre-season camp after Cellino opted against the move and changed his decision about the transfer.

On 12 August 2011, Suazo signed for Catania on a one-year deal.

He was officially presented on the same day alongside new arrivals Mario Paglialunga and Davide Lanzafame.

Suazo was assigned the number 9 jersey, though only would make six appearances during his time in Sicily, which ended upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2012.

On 27 March 2013, at the age of 33, he announced his retirement from football, due to his persisting struggles with knee injuries.