Álex Sánchez (footballer, born 1989)

Alejandro 'Álex' Sánchez López (born 6 June 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker.

Álex Sánchez
Sánchez with Sydney Olympic in 2018
Personal information
Full name Alejandro Sánchez López
Date of birth (1989-06-06) 6 June 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Zaragoza, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
El Salvador
2004–2008 Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Universidad Zaragoza 23 (23)
2008–2011 Zaragoza B 79 (42)
2009–2010 Zaragoza 3 (0)
2011–2012 Teruel 25 (5)
2012–2015 Tudelano 100 (34)
2015–2016 Osasuna 4 (0)
2016Tudelano (loan) 10 (1)
2016–2017 Osasuna B 19 (6)
2017 Tudelano 10 (4)
2018–2019 Sydney Olympic 44 (34)
2020–2021 Tudelano 18 (5)
2021–2023 Ejea 46 (23)
2023 Utebo 17 (7)
2023–2024 Gokulam Kerala 22 (19)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:00, 12 April 2024 (UTC)

He came to fame in 2009, when he became the first player to appear in a professional game with just one hand whilst representing Real Zaragoza.[1]

Club career

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Born in Zaragoza, Aragon, Sánchez started his football career with local Colegio Jesús-María El Salvador, joining Real Zaragoza's youth system aged 15. In 2008, he began playing as a senior in both the national and regional leagues, with its B and C teams.[2]

On 8 November 2009, Sánchez made his professional debut for the club, playing 20 minutes in the 3–1 La Liga away loss against Valencia CF after having come on as a substitute for Ángel Lafita.[3] He became the first player to appear in a professional game with only one hand,[1] but continued to be mainly registered with the reserves, however.

Sánchez rejected the offer to continue playing with Zaragoza B in mid-June 2011,[4] going on to resume his career in the Segunda División B with CD Teruel[5] and CD Tudelano.[6] On 2 July 2015, after scoring 15 goals the previous campaign, he signed a two-year deal with Segunda División side CA Osasuna.[7]

In January 2018, after representing in quick succession Tudelano (two spells)[8] and Osasuna's second team,[9] the 28-year-old Sánchez moved abroad for the first time and joined Sydney Olympic FC in the Australian National Premier Leagues NSW.[10]

Sánchez subsequently competed in the Spanish lower leagues, with Tudelano,[11] SD Ejea and Utebo FC.[12] He went abroad again in July 2023, signing for I-League club Gokulam Kerala FC.[13] On 5 November, he scored twice in a 4–1 home win over NEROCA FC.[14] He added a hat-trick four days later, as the hosts defeated Rajasthan United FC 5–0.[15]

Career statistics

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As of match played 12 April 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Universidad Zaragoza 2008–09 Regional Preferente 23 23 23 23
Zaragoza B 2008–09 Tercera División 79 42 79 42
2009–10
2010–11
Total 79 42 0 0 79 42
Zaragoza 2009–10 La Liga 3 0 3 0
Teruel 2011–12 Segunda División B 25 5 25 5
Tudelano 2012–13 Segunda División B 32 10 32 10
2013–14 Segunda División B 31 9 2 0 33 9
2014–15 Segunda División B 37 15 37 15
Total 100 34 2 0 102 34
Osasuna 2015–16 Segunda División 4 0 1 0 5 0
Tudelano (loan) 2015–16 Segunda División B 10 1 10 1
Osasuna B 2016–17 Segunda División B 19 6 19 6
Tudelano 2017–18 Segunda División B 10 4 10 4
Sydney Olympic 2018[17] NSW NPL1 24 21 24 21
2019[18] NSW NPL1 20 13 20 13
Total 44 34 44 34
Tudelano 2019–20 Segunda División B 6 1 6 1
2020–21 Segunda División B 12 4 12 4
Total 18 5 18 5
Ejea 2021–22 Segunda RFEF 32 13 32 13
2022–23 Tercera Federación 14 10 14 10
Total 46 23 46 23
Utebo 2022–23 Segunda Federación 17 7 17 7
Gokulam Kerala 2023–24 I-League 22 19 6 1 28 20
Career total 419 202 9 1 0 0 428 203

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b Debuta Álex Sánchez, el primer jugador sin mano (Debut of Álex Sánchez, first player without hand) Archived 22 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine; Marca, 9 November 2009 (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Álex Sánchez, delantero del filial que debutó en el primer equipo, deja el club (Álex Sánchez, reserves forward who made debut with the first team, leaves the club) Archived 3 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine; El Periódico de Aragón, 30 May 2011 (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Villa inspires Valencia win Archived 18 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 8 November 2009
  4. ^ Álex Sánchez rechaza la oferta para seguir en el filial (Álex Sánchez rejects offer to continue with reserves) Archived 3 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine; El Periódico de Aragón, 14 June 2011 (in Spanish)
  5. ^ El CD Teruel realiza dos nuevos fichajes (CD Teruel complete two new signings) Archived 17 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine; CD Teruel, 15 July 2011 (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Fichajes 2012/2013 (2012/2013 signings) Archived 10 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine; CD Tudelano, 13 July 2012 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Álex Sánchez, segundo fichaje de Osasuna (Álex Sánchez, second signing of Osasuna) Archived 3 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine; CA Osasuna, 2 July 2015 (in Spanish)
  8. ^ El delantero zaragozano regresa al C.D. Tudelano procedente de C.A. Osasuna B (Zaragoza-born forward returns to C.D. Tudelano from C.A. Osasuna B) Archived 12 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine; CD Tudelano, 11 July 2017 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ Álex Sánchez jugará en el Promesas (Álex Sánchez will play in Promesas) Archived 12 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine; Diario de Navarra, 1 September 2016 (in Spanish)
  10. ^ Meet the former La Liga striker who gave Spain's top leagues away for NPL move) Archived 12 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine; The World Game, 8 September 2018
  11. ^ El delantero Álex Sánchez vuelve al Tudelano (Forward Álex Sánchez returns to Tudelano) Archived 14 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine; Noticias de Navarra, 24 January 2020 (in Spanish)
  12. ^ Álex Sánchez, el nombre del gol (Álex Sánchez, the name of the goal) Archived 14 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine; Heraldo de Aragón, 17 May 2023 (in Spanish)
  13. ^ Gokulam Kerala turn to one-handed striker Alex Sanchez) Archived 14 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine; The Times of India, 31 July 2023
  14. ^ I-League 2023–24: Gokulam Kerala FC hit four past NEROCA FC Archived 7 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine; News18 India, 6 November 2023
  15. ^ Gokulam Kerala ride on Alex’s treble to dismantle Rajasthan United Archived 7 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine; I-League, 9 November 2023
  16. ^ Álex Sánchez at Soccerway
  17. ^ "Alejandro Sanchez Lopez". My Gameday. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Alejandro Sanchez". My Gameday. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  19. ^ "16 tournaments, 11,000 players: A hectic 2023–24 domestic season with class and character". All India Football Federation. 18 June 2024. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
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