Despite being 36-years old, Tagliabue has shown he has still very much got it

About to mark on his eighth full season, Sebastian Tagliabue is amongst the longest serving foreign professional in the Arabian Gulf League.

The Argentinian has netted 165 goals in 195 appearances, to become the second-highest scorer in the history of UAE top flight. Ten behind Fahad Kamees.

He started his career with Primera C side Club Atletico Colegiales and spent five years with the club, finding it difficult to attract top teams in other divisions.

Surprisingly, he was picked up by Primera Divison League side Everton where he made 13 appearances and scored six goals for the club.

After a one year spell with the Chilean outfit, Tagliabue moved to Deportes La Serena and netted in 13 times in 27 matches before moving on to Colombian side Once Caldas were he started just five times.

The striker made his way to Saudi Arabia in 2010 after being approached by Ittifaq and was with the side for two years, scoring 21 goals in 44 matches. His goal record got the attention of fellow Saudi team Al-Shabab who signed him in 2012. He went on to become the Saudi Professional League top scorer with the White Lions, scoring 19 goals in his first season.

The Emirati-Argentine arrived at Al Wahda in 2013 and he introduced himself by scoring 28 goals in 25 games. From then on, it’s history, scoring 158 goals and winning the 2017 President’s cup, the UAE League Cup in 2018, followed by back-to-back UAE Super cups in 2017 and 2018.

He became one of the club’s biggest icons, but after seven years with the club, his contract was not renewed by the Abu Dhabi giants, leading to the veteran joining Al Nassr.

In his first full season with the club, he has so far contributed to seven goals in 18 games, also assisting two as Al Nassr remain fourth in the table with 36 points, eight points from leaders Al Jazira at the top. The striker will look to guide his side to the AFC Champions League qualifiers, currently four points from Sharjah FC who currently occupy that spot in third place.

He is known for his hard work and his goal scoring and was given a Emirati passport along with Al Ain’s Caio Cancedo and Al Wasl’s Fabio de Lima making them eligible for the UAE National team. He made his debut against Uzbekistan in October and scored his first international goal in a 2-1 defeat.

The Argentinian had a difficult time before arriving in the UAE, but now looks to be enjoying himself with a late-career bloom.

Al Nassr appointed Ruben Dias in February after Croatian coach Krunslav Jurcic left the club and since his arrival, the International Najd’s have booked their place in finals of the Etisalat Cup and the UAE President Cup after knocking out Al-Ittihad Kalba on penalties defeating Sharjah 3-0.