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Víctor Sánchez (footballer, born 1987)

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Mata.

Víctor Sánchez
Sánchez playing for Espanyol in 2019
Personal information
Full name Víctor Sánchez Mata
Date of birth (1987-09-08) 8 September 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Terrassa, Spain[1]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder, defender
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)
2020–2021 Western United 18 (3)
2022 Girona 5 (0)
Total 425 (30)
International career
2013–2019 Catalonia 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Víctor Sánchez Mata (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbiɣtoɾ ˈsantʃeθ]; born 8 September 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer. A versatile player, he could act as central or defensive midfielder, and was also adaptable to all the defensive positions.[2][3]

He made 302 La Liga appearances and scored 13 goals, starting his career with Barcelona and having loans at Xerez and Getafe. He spent 81⁄2 years at Espanyol, for whom he played 270 games in all competitions.[4]

Club career

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Barcelona

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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.[5] 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 return to Segunda División B by contributing 31 matches and two goals,[6] although he missed most of the play-offs because of an injury.[7]

Sánchez made his debut for the first team on 2 January 2008, appearing as a right-back in the 2–2 home draw against CD Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey, at the age of 20.[8] His maiden appearance in La Liga took place on 18 March, at UD Almería (2–2 draw, one minute on the field).[9]

With Guardiola in charge of Barça's main squad, Sánchez took part in their 2008 pre-season.[10] He made a further seven league appearances for the treble champions, but was mainly associated to the B's.

On 12 August 2009, Sánchez was sent to newly promoted Xerez CD on a season-long loan.[11] He scored his first goal for the team on 28 March 2010, in a 3–0 home victory over Real Valladolid.[12] For 2010–11 he was loaned again, joining Madrid's Getafe CF in a season-long move;[13] again, he was put to use in several defensive positions, as the latter narrowly avoided top-flight relegation.[14]

Sánchez and Barcelona mutually agreed to terminate the contract that linked the player to the club in late June 2011. On the 29th, he signed a two-year deal with Swiss Super League's Neuchâtel Xamax FCS.[15]

Espanyol

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In the last minutes of the 2012 winter transfer window, Sánchez returned to his country, penning a three-and-a-half-year contract with Barcelona neighbours RCD Espanyol.[16] Signed by Mauricio Pochettino, he played irregularly for the rest of the season before becoming a mainstay in the side.[17] He scored his first goal on 10 February 2013, in a 4–0 away defeat of Athletic Bilbao.[18] On 11 May, he was sent off for a foul on Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuaín in a 1–1 draw that gave the league title to his former club.[19]

Sánchez scored twice in a 3–2 home win over Athletic on 23 September 2013 as the Pericos remained unbeaten in five games.[20] He was sent off twice later in the campaign, as their form dipped.[21][22]

In January 2017, with 18 months remaining of his contract, Sánchez signed a new deal to keep him at the RCDE Stadium until the summer of 2021.[23] On 18 August 2020, following the team's relegation from the top tier, the 33-year-old successfully negotiated a release from his last year.[17]

Western United

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Sánchez joined Western United FC on 27 November 2020 on a two-year deal.[24] He made his A-League debut on 28 December, in a 0–0 home draw with Adelaide United FC in the opening game of the season.[25] He scored his first goal the following 23 January, opening a 5–4 defeat of Perth Glory FC.[26]

In early September 2021, Sánchez quit the Melbourne-based club, having felt alienated by the strict COVID-19 lockdowns in the state of Victoria.[27]

Girona

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Sánchez returned to both Spain and his native region on 1 February 2022, joining Girona FC on a six-month contract.[28] After dealing with some injury problems, he made his Segunda División debut aged nearly 35, as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 win at Almería on 27 March.[29][30]

In March 2023, Sánchez announced his retirement.[31]

International career

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Uncapped by Spain at any level, Sánchez played for the unofficial Catalonia team. He made his debut on 29 December 2013 as a substitute in a 4–1 win against Cape Verde.[32]

Career statistics

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As of 19 July 2020[33][34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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

Honours

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Barcelona

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Víctor Sánchez". Eurosport. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. ^ García Planas, Yaca (18 March 2008). "El comodín de Guardiola" [Guardiola's joker]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Rodríguez, Roberto (18 August 2020). "Víctor Sánchez, en su adiós: "Para los que no me han respetado no tendré ni respeto ni tiempo"" [Víctor Sánchez, in his farewell: "To those who have disrespected me I will have neither respect nor the time"]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Biografia" [Biography] (in Spanish). Official website. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Los tres ascensos recientes" [The three latest promotions] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  7. ^ Núñez, H. (29 May 2008). "Toribio: "Guardiola destaca el buen juego del Langreo"" [Toribio: "Guardiola highlights good performance by Langreo"]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Regalo del Barça al Alcoyano en Copa" [Barça gift to Alcoyano in Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 January 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Almeria 2–2 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 18 March 2008. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Víctor Sánchez, un jugador total para Guardiola" [Víctor Sánchez, a total player for Guardiola]. Sport (in Spanish). 10 September 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Barcelona: Víctor Sánchez fue cedido al Xerez" [Barcelona: Víctor Sánchez was loaned to Xerez] (in Spanish). Fichajes. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Xerez romp to victory". ESPN Soccernet. 28 March 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "El Getafe decide no renovar a Míchel" [Getafe decide against renewing Míchel] (in Spanish). RTVE. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  15. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  16. ^ "Víctor Sánchez ficha por el Espanyol" [Víctor Sánchez signs for Espanyol]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 January 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Víctor Sánchez se desvincula del Espanyol" [Víctor Sánchez cuts ties with Espanyol]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 18 August 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  18. ^ Cuenca, Nika (10 February 2013). "El Espanyol castiga con dureza al Athletic de un Iraizoz negado" [Espanyol gave out a tough punishment to hopeless Iraizoz's Athletic]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  19. ^ "La Liga: Barcelona are Spanish champions after Real Madrid draw". BBC Sport. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Victor Sanchez enjoying 'best form'". Football España. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  21. ^ "El Elche de Carlos Sánchez ganó 2–1 de local ante el Espanyol" [Carlos Sánchez' Elche won 2–1 at home to Espanyol] (in Spanish). Fútbol Red. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Con golazo de Carlos Bacca, el Sevilla derrotó 1–3 al Espanyol" [With wondergoal from Carlos Bacca, Sevilla defeated Espanyol 1–3] (in Spanish). Fútbol Red. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  23. ^ "El Espanyol renueva a Víctor Sánchez hasta el 2021" [Espanyol renew Víctor Sánchez until 2021]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 26 January 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Western United sign experienced midfielder Víctor Sánchez". Western United FC. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  25. ^ Green, Samuel (28 December 2020). "Western United and Adelaide share spoils in pulsating curtain raiser". A-League. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Lustica wins record-breaking nine goal classic as chaos reigns in Geelong". A-League. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  27. ^ "COVID lockdowns see Spanish import leave A-League's Western United". FTBL. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Víctor Sánchez se incorpora al Girona FC" [Víctor Sánchez joins Girona FC] (Press release) (in Spanish). Girona FC. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  29. ^ Biescas, Álex (22 March 2022). "¿Llegó la hora de Víctor Sánchez?" [Has Víctor Sánchez's time come?]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  30. ^ Brugués, Marc (29 March 2022). "Víctor Sánchez, el jugador número 33 utilizado por Michel" [Víctor Sánchez, 33rd player used by Michel]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  31. ^ Molero, Iván (9 March 2023). "Se retira Víctor Sánchez, "un perico para siempre y para todo"" [Retirement of Víctor Sánchez, "a budgie for always and everything"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Catalunya golea a Cabo Verde" [Catalonia thrash Cape Verde]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 30 December 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  33. ^ a b c d Víctor Sánchez at Soccerway
  34. ^ Víctor Sánchez at WorldFootball.net
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