PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Updated through June 29, 2019
2019 (Columbus): Gaston Sauro has made 13 regular-season appearances (13 starts as a centerback) in 2019. He made his 2019 regular-season debut in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (March 2). He recorded his 25th regular-season appearance and recorded his first regular-season goal in that match. His performance against New York earned him a spot on MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. Sauro recorded his second goal of the 2019 regular-season as he headed in a corner kick in from Pedro Santos and a game winning goal in a home contest against FC Dallas (March 16). Sauro helped the club record consecutive shutouts on the road against the New England Revolution (March 9) and in a home match against FC Dallas (March 16). Following his efforts against Dallas, Sauro was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for the second time this season. Sauro has made six consecutive starts for Crew SC since starting in a home match against the LA Galaxy (May 8). He made two appearances (two starts) during the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (June 11) and Atlanta United (June 18).
2018 (Columbus): Gaston Sauro made seven appearances (six start as a centerback) for Crew SC this season. He missed Crew SC’s matches against Toronto FC (March 3) through D.C. United (April 14) after being listed as out with a left knee injury. Sauro missed a home match against the New England Revolution (April 21) after being listed as questionable with a left knee injury. Sauro made his 2018 MLS regular-season debut during a road match against Sporting Kansas City (May 27), coming on as a substitute for Cristian Martinez in the 77th minute. Sauro started his first match of the season against Real Salt Lake (June 30). Sauro made a substitute appearance in an international friendly at home against Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa (July 3). He returned to the starting lineup in MLS regular-season action in a home match against the Houston Dynamo (August 11) and helped the team keep a clean sheet. He also started in a road match against the Chicago Fire (August 23). He also started in road matches against the Chicago Fire (August 23) and the Portland Timbers (September 19). Sauro returned to the starting lineup in a road match against Orlando City SC (October 21) and also started in a home contest against Minnesota United FC )October 28). He made two appearances (both starts as a centerback) in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Sauro started in an Eastern Conference Knockout Round match against D.C. United (November 1) and in Leg 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Red Bulls (November 11). He made one appearance (one start as a central defender) in a 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round home match against the Chicago Fire (June 6).
2017 (Columbus): Sauro was added to the Season-Ending Injury List on March 4, 2017 and missed the 2017 MLS Season. Sauro was added to the Season-Ending Injury List on March 4, 2017 and missed the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
2016 (Columbus): Sauro made 13 appearances (12 starts) for Crew SC at centerback. He started in the season opener at Portland (March 6) and again vs. Philadelphia (March 12). He continued in the starting lineup for every match through the tilt at Montreal (April 9). He started against Colorado (May 14) and at Toronto (May 21), exiting the match with a left knee injury. He returned to the lineup with a start at LA (September 3) and continued there for every match through the contest vs. New England (September 25). He started and helped Crew SC keep a 3-0 shutout vs. Chicago (October 1). Sauro did not make an appearance in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2015 (Columbus): Sauro made four appearances (four starts) at centerback for Crew SC after being signed as a Discovery Signing on August 6 after last playing for Italy’s Calcio Catania, where he spent the 2014-15 season on-loan from Switzerland’s FC Basel. The Argentine made his club and League debut with a start against FC Dallas (September 6). He helped Crew SC keep a clean sheet with a start in a 2-0 win at Toronto (October 17) and was part of back-to-back shutout efforts after starting against D.C. United on Decision Day (October 25), a 5-0 win for Columbus. In the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sauro made four additional starts for Crew SC. He did not make an appearance in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, having joined the club following the conclusion of its tournament run.
2014-15 (Calcio Catania): Sauro spent the 2014-15 campaign on loan from FC Basel to Italy's Calcio Catania, where he made 27 Serie B appearances (21 starts), scoring one goal, on October 28, 2014 against Virtus Entella. He also made one appearance in the Coppa Italia.
2013-14 (FC Basel): In his second season with FC Basel, Sauro made 34 appearances across all competitions. In the Swiss Super League, he made 18 appearances, assisting the club to the title with a 19-2-15 record. Sauro helped Basel emerge from qualification to make the Group Stage of the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League, where he made a substitute appearance against Chelsea in Group E. He made six appearances in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League (all starts).
2012-13 (FC Basel): Ahead of the 2012-13 season, Sauro moved to Europe to join Swiss giant FC Basel. In his debut season with the club, he made 16 Swiss Super League appearances, scoring one goal and adding one assist as Basel finished the season as champions with a 21-6-9 record. He also made four 2012-13 UEFA Europa League appearances, including a start in the second leg of the Semifinal against Chelsea, as well as six UEFA Champions League qualification appearances.
2011-12 (Boca Juniors): In his final season at Boca Juniors, Sauro was a part of the squad that won the Apertura with an unbeaten 12-0-7 record. He made three appearances for the season as a whole, with two coming in the Clausura and one in the Copa Libertadores. He scored his first professional goal on June 24, 2012 against All Boys.
2010-11 (Boca Juniors): Sauro made two appearances in the 2010-11 Argentine Primera Division Apertura and one in the Clausura. Both Apertura appearances were as a second-half substitute, and the defender helped Boca Juniors finish off clean sheets in both occurrences.
2009-10 (Boca Juniors): The defender made five appearances (all starts) in the 2009-10 Apertura, with Boca Juniors going 2-1-2 over the span.
2008-09 (Boca Juniors): In his debut professional season, Sauro made five appearances in the 2008-09 Argentine Primera Division Clausura, with his debut coming on April 12, 2009 against Estudiantes.
Re-signed by Crew SC on January 11, 2018; originally signed on August 6, 2015.
Name: Gaston Sauro
Pronunciation: GAS-tone sOW-roh
Position: Defender
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185
Born: February 23, 1990 in Rosario, Argentina
Hometown: Rosario, Argentina
Citizenship: Argentina
Acquired: Signed by Crew SC on August 6, 2015. Targeted Allocation Money was used to acquire the player. He will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
Previous Experience: Calcio Catania (2014-15), FC Basel (2012-15), Boca Juniors (2008-12)
PERSONAL
Sauro is married and has two children. He is a fan of Argentine rock and roll and also lists the movie Men of Honor as his favorite. He speaks Spanish, Italian, and English. Growing up, he was a fan of Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys from Rosario, his hometown. His favorite soccer player as a kid was Walter Samuel, who played for Newell's Old Boys from 1996-1997 before moving on to play at Boca Juniors, Roma, Real Madrid, Inter and Basel. If he were not a soccer player, he would like to be a lawyer.
