Oswaldo Sánchez

Oswaldo Javier Sánchez Ibarra (Spanish: [ozˈβaldo ˈsantʃes] (listen); born September 21, 1973) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and a sports analyst for Televisa Deportes.[3] Sánchez is highly regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Mexican football history. He is the most decorated goalkeeper in the Mexican league's history, named best goalkeeper seven times and best player twice.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Ibarra.
Oswaldo Sánchez
Sánchez playing for Santos Laguna in 2012
Personal information
Full name Oswaldo Javier Sánchez Ibarra[1]
Date of birth (1973-09-21) September 21, 1973[1]
Place of birth Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1996 Atlas 81 (0)
1996–1999 América 76 (0)
1999–2006 Guadalajara 272 (0)
2007–2014 Santos Laguna 296 (0)
Total 725 (0)
National team
1993 Mexico U20 4 (0)
1996–2011[2] Mexico 100 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

At the 2005 Confederations Cup, despite finishing in fourth place, he won the Golden Glove of the tournament, becoming the second Mexican to win a FIFA Confederations Cup Award.

Club career

Early career

Oswaldo Sánchez debuted as a substitute when the starting keeper was injured with Club Atlas at the age of 20 on October 30, 1993 against CD Veracruz where the teams tied the game at 1–1. Two years after his debut, he was a starter on the team and led Atlas to the Quarterfinals where they were eliminated by CD Veracruz. In the summer of 1996, Sánchez was transferred to Club América. The following season, Sánchez was benched and replaced as goalkeeper by Hugo Pineda. Sánchez played three out of 19 games, including the quarterfinals where América was eliminated by Monarcas Morelia. The following season, Sánchez went back into the starting line-up and led América. In the summer of 1999, Sánchez left América for rival Chivas de Guadalajara.

Guadalajara

At Guadalajara, Sánchez became the teams captain. Sánchez became a key player to Chivas along with other players. This was during the time when Guadalajara were at their best. Sánchez's extraordinary goalkeeping skills and leadership helped Guadalajara reach the finals of the Clausura 2004 season, but Chivas ultimately lost to UNAM via penalty-shootout. Eventually, Sánchez captured his long-awaited league title with Guadalajara during the Apertura 2006 season. After his 2006 championship with Chivas, Sanchez left the club after not being able to reach an agreement on his contract. Sanchez decided that the club directors did not want him there anymore and chose to play with Santos Laguna over Tigres UANL. Sánchez scored a goal in the 2000 Copa Merconorte match against Club Deportivo El Nacional of Ecuador.[4]

Santos Laguna

In 2007, he signed a contract onto Santos Laguna and he has played against his ex-team and ex-team members Chivas de Guadalajara in a 3-2 loss. In the first season with Santos, Sanchez along with his teammates saved the team from relegation. He led them to the Quarterfinals of the Clausura 2007 tournament after coming back from an injury earlier that season. He also led his team to 2nd place in the both Apertura and Clausura 2010. Sanchez led the team to win the Clausura 2008 championship and Clausura 2012.

After 21 years, Sánchez retired after the Apertura 2014 season winning the Copa MX in his final season.

International career

Mexico
Sánchez playing for Mexico.

Sánchez was called up by Juan de Dios Castillo to participate at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship. He made his debut for the senior national team in 1996, against Bolivia. He has been part of three FIFA World Cups, in France 1998, 2002 and 2006. Coach Ricardo La Volpe called up Sánchez once again on April 2, 2006, to be the starting goalkeeper for Mexico in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. During preparation for the 2006 World Cup, Sánchez' father died of a heart attack on June 7, age 56. Sánchez flew home to Guadalajara, but he returned to Germany in time for the team's first game against Iran, which they won by a score of 3-1.[5]

In 2007, he was called up by coach Hugo Sánchez to play in the Gold Cup and 2007 Copa América. Sánchez was selected to represent Mexico in friendlies against Ghana national team and China national team, his first callup since the 2007 Copa América.

Sanchez was not called up to the World Cup 2010 and did not play a single match for the Mexico national team in 2010. He played his 100th and last international match for Mexico on October 11, 2011 in a 2–1 loss to Brazil. He was substituted by Alfredo Talavera in the 88th minute, marking his official national football retirement.

Honours

Club
Guadalajara
Santos Laguna

International

Individual

Personal life

He appeared on the front cover of the North American edition of the FIFA Football 2005 video game.[6]

In 2016, Santos Laguna erected a statue of Sánchez.[7]

References
  1. "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  2. "Oswaldo Javier Sachez - International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  3. "Oswaldo Sánchez será comentarista deportivo". El Siglo de Torreón.
  4. "¡Felices XV, Oswaldo Sánchez!". Televisa Deportes. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
  5. "Mexico coach hails keeper Sanchez". BBC News. 2006-06-11. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
  6. David Adams (2004-10-04). "IGN: FIFA 2005 Gets Covered". IGN. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  7. "Oswaldo Sánchez ya tiene estatua en el TSM".
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Joel Sánchez		 Guadalajara
Captain
1999–2006		 Succeeded by
Ramón Morales
Preceded by
Francisco Gabriel de Anda		 Santos Laguna
Captain
2007–2014		 Succeeded by
Carlos Izquierdoz
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