Víctor Sánchez (footballer, born 1987)
Víctor Sánchez Mata (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbiktoɾ ˈsantʃeθ]; born 8 September 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer playing for Western United in the Australian A-League. A versatile player, he can act as central or defensive midfielder, and is also adaptable to all the defensive positions.[1][2]
 Sánchez playing for Espanyol in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Víctor Sánchez Mata | ||
| Date of birth | 8 September 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Terrassa, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder / Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Western United | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1998 | Rubí | ||
| 1998–2004 | Jàbac Terrassa | ||
| 2004–2005 | Europa | ||
| 2005–2006 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005 | Europa | 5 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Barcelona C | 36 | (7) |
| 2007–2009 | Barcelona B | 45 | (5) |
| 2008–2011 | Barcelona | 8 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | → Xerez (loan) | 25 | (2) |
| 2010–2011 | → Getafe (loan) | 29 | (1) |
| 2011 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 14 | (2) |
| 2012–2020 | Espanyol | 240 | (10) |
| 2020– | Western United | 3 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2013– | Catalonia | 4 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 December 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 March 2019 | |||
Club career
Born in Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia, and raised in neighbouring Rubí, Sánchez began playing football with local UE Rubí, followed by spells with UFB Jàbac Terrassa and CE Europa, before joining FC Barcelona's youth ranks in 2005.[3] In the 2006–07 season, while still with the C side, he played 36 games and scored seven goals. The following campaign he was promoted to the reserves under Pep Guardiola, helping them promote to Segunda División B by contributing with 31 games and two goals, although he was unable to appear in the play-offs because of injury.
On 2 January 2008, Sánchez made his debut for Barcelona's first team, appearing as a right back in the 2–2 home draw against CD Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey, at the age of 20.[4] His maiden appearance in La Liga took place on 18 March, at UD Almería (2–2 draw, one minute played).[5]
With Guardiola in charge of Barça's main squad, Sánchez played in the club's 2008 pre-season. He also appeared in a further seven league matches for the treble champions, but played mainly for the B's.
On 12 August 2009, Sánchez was sent on loan to newly promoted Xerez CD on a season-long loan.[6] He scored his first goal for the team on 28 March 2010, in a 3–0 home victory against Real Valladolid.[7] For 2010–11 he was loaned again, joining Madrid's Getafe CF in a season-long move;[8] again, he was put to use in several defensive positions, as the latter narrowly avoided top-flight relegation.
In late June 2011, Sánchez and Barcelona mutually agreed to terminate the contract that linked the player to the club. On the 29th, he signed a two-year contract in Swiss Super League's Neuchâtel Xamax.[9]
In the last minutes of the 2012 winter transfer window Sánchez returned to his country, penning a three-and-a-half-year deal with Barcelona neighbours RCD Espanyol.[10] On 18 August 2020, following the team's relegation from the top tier, the 33-year-old left the RCDE Stadium.[11]
Sánchez would eventually sign for Western United FC on 27 November 2020, joining the Australian club on a two year deal.[12] He made his debut on the 28th December 2020, as Western United drew 0-0 with Adelaide United in the opening game of the season.[13] He scored his first goal for the club, opening the scoring in Western's 5-4 thriller with Perth Glory on 23 January 2021.[14]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona C | 2006–07 | Tercera División | 36 | 7 | – | – | 36 | 7 | ||
| Barcelona B | 2007–08 | Tercera División | 31 | 2 | – | – | 31 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | Segunda División B | 14 | 3 | – | – | 14 | 3 | |||
| Total | 45 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 5 | ||
| Barcelona | 2007–08 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | La Liga | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Xerez (loan) | 2009–10 | La Liga | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 27 | 2 | |
| Getafe (loan) | 2010–11 | La Liga | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel Xamax | 2011–12 | Swiss Super League | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 16 | 2 | |
| Espanyol | 2011–12 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | La Liga | 33 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 4 | |
| 2014–15 | La Liga | 34 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 4 | |
| 2015–16 | La Liga | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2016–17 | La Liga | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2017–18 | La Liga | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | La Liga | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | La Liga | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| Total | 240 | 10 | 22 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 270 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 397 | 27 | 32 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 445 | 28 | ||
References
- García Planas, Yaca (18 March 2008). "El comodín de Guardiola" [Guardiola's joker]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- Martínez, Alberto (19 February 2017). "Plantilla versátil: el 64% ha jugado en varias posiciones" [Versatile squad: 64% of them have played in several positions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- "Biografia" [Biography] (in Spanish). Official website. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- "Regalo del Barça al Alcoyano en Copa" [Barça gift to Alcoyano in Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 January 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- "Almeria 2–2 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- "Barcelona: Víctor Sánchez fue cedido al Xerez" [Barcelona: Víctor Sánchez was loaned to Xerez] (in Spanish). Fichajes. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- "Xerez romp to victory". ESPN Soccernet. 28 March 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- "Victor Sanchez será presentado el viernes por el Getafe" [Víctor Sánchez will be presented by Getafe on Friday]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 26 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- "Neuchâtel Xamax engage le milieu défensif espagnol Víctor Sánchez Mata" [Neuchâtel Xamax hire Spanish defensive midfielder Víctor Sánchez Mata] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- "Víctor Sánchez ficha por el Espanyol" [Víctor Sánchez signs for Espanyol]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 January 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- "Acord amb Víctor Sánchez" [Agreement with Víctor Sánchez] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "Western United sign experienced midfielder Víctor Sánchez". Western United FC. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- "Western United FC vs Adelaide United, A-League, Round 1, 28th Dec 2020". A-League. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- "Western United FC vs Perth Glory, A-League, Round 5, 23rd Jan 2021". A-League. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- "Víctor Sánchez". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- "Víctor Sánchez » Club matches". Worldfootball. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Víctor Sánchez Mata. |
- Espanyol official profile
- Víctor Sánchez at BDFutbol
- Víctor Sánchez at Futbolme (in Spanish)