Marcel Sabitzer (born 17 March 1994) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays for club Borussia Dortmund and the Austria national team. Predominantly a central midfielder, he can play in a multitude of roles, including attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, winger and second striker.
Sabitzer began his professional career in Austria with Admira Wacker and Rapid Wien. He joined German club RB Leipzig in 2014 and was immediately loaned to Red Bull Salzburg for a season. Sabitzer made more than 200 appearances for RB Leipzig, before Bayern Munich signed him in August 2021 for a reported transfer fee of €16 million, winning the Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup in his first season with the club.
Sabitzer represented Austria at multiple youth international levels and made his senior international debut at the age of 18 in June 2012. He has earned over 100 caps for Austria, and played at the UEFA European Championship in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Club career Early career Sabitzer joined Admira Wacker's youth academy in July 2009, having previously played youth football for Admira Villach, Grazer AK, 1. Wiener Neustädter SC and Austria Wien.
In January 2013, Sabitzer joined Rapid Wien on a contract until the summer of 2016 for an undisclosed transfer fee.
RB Leipzig 2014–2016
On 30 May 2014, Sabitzer signed a four-year contract with RB Leipzig, and was loaned for Red Bull Salzburg for the 2014–15 season.
Sabitzer returned to RB Leipzig for the 2015–16 season, when he scored eight goals in 34 appearances. On 1 April 2016, Sabitzer extended his contract until 2021.
2016–2021
He finished the 2016–17 season with nine goals in 33 appearances. In the 2017–18 season, he scored five goals in 34 appearances.
In the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, Sabitzer scored his first two goals in the competition in back-to-back matches against Zenit Saint Petersburg. On 10 March 2020, he scored twice in a 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16, to help earn Leipzig a 4–0 aggregate victory and a place in the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in club's history. Leipzig eventually lost 0–3 to Paris Saint-Germain in a semi finals match on 18 August, and were knocked out of the tournament. Sabitzer finished the 2019–20 campaign with 16 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
Bayern Munich
On 30 August 2021, Sabitzer signed a four-year contract with Bayern Munich for a reported transfer fee of €16 million. On 2 April 2022, he scored his first goal in a 4–1 away win over Freiburg.
Loan to Manchester United
On 1 February 2023, Sabitzer signed for English side Manchester United on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut three days later, coming on as a substitute in the 2022–23 Premier League win against Crystal Palace, making him the first Austrian to ever play for the club. On 26 February, Sabitzer played in the 2023 EFL Cup final, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 victory over Newcastle United.
He scored his first goal for the club at the 2022–23 FA Cup quarter-finals against Fulham which ended 3–1 for United. On 13 April, Sabitzer scored a brace in 2–2 draw against Sevilla in the first leg of 2022–23 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. On 15 May, Manchester United announced that Sabitzer was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a meniscal injury. On 30 June, Manchester United announced the departure of Sabitzer after the expiration of his loan deal, and he effectively returned to Bayern.
Borussia Dortmund
On 24 July 2023, Sabitzer signed for Bayern's rival club Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal. On 12 August, he scored his first goal, in a 6–1 away win over Schott Mainz in the DFB-Pokal. On 16 April 2024, Sabitzer provided two assists and scored a goal in a 4–2 victory against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg, which qualified his club to the semifinals by winning 5–4 on aggregate for the first time since 2012–13. He reached the final and was eventually named in the Team of the Season in that competition.
International career
Sabitzer played youth international football for Austria at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels. He made his senior international debut for Austria at the age of 18 on 5 June 2012, in a goalless friendly against Romania. He also represented the national team at UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2020.
In June 2024, he was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2024. On 25 June, Sabitzer was awarded player of the match, scoring the decisive goal in a 3–2 victory over the Netherlands in the final group stage match of Euro 2024, ensuring his country finished at the top of their group.
On 18 May 2026, Sabitzer was selected in Ralf Rangnick's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking Austria's first appearance in the tournament since 1998. He made his 100th international appearance for Austria in a 2–0 defeat to Argentina in their second match of the World Cup.
Personal life He is a son of former Austria international Herfried Sabitzer, and the cousin of footballer Thomas Sabitzer.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAdmira Wacker2010–11Austrian First League8200———822011–12Austrian Bundesliga20510———2152012–13Austrian Bundesliga17420—40—234Total451130—40—5211Rapid Wien2012–13Austrian Bundesliga16310———1732013–14Austrian Bundesliga29710—102—409Total451020—102—5712RB Leipzig2015–162. Bundesliga32820———3482016–17Bundesliga32811———3392017–18Bundesliga22322—100—3452018–19Bundesliga30450—81—4352019–20Bundesliga32933—94—44162020–21Bundesliga27851—70—3992021–22Bundesliga2000———20Total17740187—345—22952Red Bull Salzburg (loan)2014–15Austrian Bundesliga331967—121—5127Bayern Munich2021–22Bundesliga25100—50—3012022–23Bundesliga15120—6010241Total40220—11010542Manchester United (loan)2022–23Premier League110311032—183Borussia Dortmund2023–24Bundesliga25431—121—4062024–25Bundesliga26120—110404312025–26Bundesliga16120—60—2412026–27Bundesliga3010—101060Total80681—301501238Career total431884216101051160584115
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsAustria201210201320201462201571201691201741201840201992202041202112220221022023952024103202583202674Total10227
Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sabitzer goal
+ List of international goals scored by Marcel Sabitzer No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 30 May 2014 Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria 1–0 1–1 Friendly 2. 3 June 2014 Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic 1–0 2–1Friendly 3. 9 October 2015 Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro 3–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying 4. 9 October 2016 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia 1–1 2–3 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 5. 14 November 2017 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–0 2–1 Friendly 6. 6 September 2019 Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Wals-Siezenheim, Austria 2–0 6–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying 7. 10 October 2019 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 3–1 3–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying 8. 4 September 2020 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway 2–0 2–1 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B 9. 9 October 2021 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification 10. 12 November 2021 Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria 4–2 4–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification 11. 24 March 2022 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 1–2 1–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification 12. 3 June 2022 Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek, Croatia 3–0 3–0 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A 13. 24 March 2023 Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria 1–0 4–1 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying 14. 3–0 15. 13 October 2023 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 2–3 2–3 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying 16. 16 October 2023 Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying 17. 21 November 2023 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–0 2–0 Friendly 18. 25 June 2024 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany 3–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 2024 19. 9 September 2024 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway 1–1 1–2 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B 20. 10 October 2024 Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria 3–0 4–0 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B 21. 7 June 2025 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 2–0 2–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 22. 6 September 2025 Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria 1–0 1–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 23. 9 September 2025 Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 2–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 24. 27 March 2026 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–0 5–1 Friendly 25. 31 March 2026 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–0 1–0 Friendly 26. 1 June 2026 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–0 1–0 Friendly 27. 27 June 2026 Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, United States 2–1 3–3 2026 FIFA World Cup
Honours Admira Wacker Austrian First League: 2010-11
Red Bull Salzburg Austrian Bundesliga: 2014–15 Austrian Cup: 2014–15
Bayern Munich Bundesliga: 2021–22 DFL-Supercup: 2022
Manchester United EFL Cup: 2022–23
Individual Austrian Bundesliga top assist provider: 2014–15 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 Austrian Cup top scorer: 7 Goals 2014–15 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2023–24 UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2023–24
See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
References
External links
Profile at the Borussia Dortmund website
(national team)