Víctor Sánchez (footballer, born 1987)

Víctor Sánchez Mata (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbiktoɾ ˈsantʃeθ]; born 8 September 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol. A versatile player, he can act as central or defensive midfielder, and is also adaptable to all the defensive positions.[1][2]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name 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
Place of birth	Terrassa, Spain
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s)	Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current team	Espanyol
Number	4
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–	Espanyol	236	(10)
National team^‡
2013–	Catalonia	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 March 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 for 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]

Career statistics

As of 21 January 2019[11][12]

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
	Total		36	7	0	0	0	0	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		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
	Total		25	2	2	0	0	0	27	2
Getafe (loan)	2010–11	La Liga	29	1	3	0	5	0	37	1
	Total		29	1	3	0	5	0	37	1
Neuchâtel	2011–12	Swiss Super League	14	2	2	0	–		16	2
	Total		14	2	2	0	0	0	16	2
Espanyol	2011–12	La Liga	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	2012–13		33	1	2	0	0	0	35	1
	2013–14		33	4	4	0	0	0	37	4
	2014–15		34	3	5	1	0	0	39	4
	2015–16		29	1	2	0	0	0	31	1
	2016–17		26	1	1	0	0	0	27	1
	2017–18		30	0	3	0	0	0	33	0
	2018–19		14	0	3	0	0	0	17	0
	Total		205	10	20	1	0	0	225	11
Career total			362	27	30	1	8	0	400	28

Honours

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2008–09
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09
• UEFA Champions League: 2008–09

References

1. García Planas, Yaca (18 March 2008). "El comodín de Guardiola" [Guardiola's joker]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
2. 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.
3. "Biografia" [Biography] (in Spanish). Official website. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
4. "Regalo del Barça al Alcoyano en Copa" [Barça gift to Alcoyano in Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 January 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
5. "Almeria 2–2 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
6. "Barcelona: Víctor Sánchez fue cedido al Xerez" [Barcelona: Víctor Sánchez was loaned to Xerez] (in Spanish). Fichajes. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
7. "Xerez romp to victory". ESPN Soccernet. 28 March 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
8. "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.
9. "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.
10. "Víctor Sánchez ficha por el Espanyol" [Víctor Sánchez signs for Espanyol]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 January 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
11. "Víctor Sánchez". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
12. "Víctor Sánchez » Club matches". Worldfootball. Retrieved 3 July 2018.

External links

• Espanyol official profile
• Víctor Sánchez at BDFutbol
• Víctor Sánchez at Futbolme (in Spanish)