Erwin Sánchez Freking (born 19 October 1969) is a Bolivian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, currently a manager.

Erwin Sánchez
Sánchez in 2021
Personal information
Full name Erwin Sánchez Freking
Date of birth (1969-10-19) 19 October 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8+12 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1981–1986 Tahuichi Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1988 Destroyers 67 (23)
1988–1990 Bolívar 34 (13)
1990–1992 Benfica 15 (1)
1991–1992Estoril (loan) 28 (8)
1992–1997 Boavista 105 (25)
1997–1999 Benfica 26 (6)
1998–1999Boavista (loan) 22 (0)
1999 Benfica B 3 (3)
2000–2004 Boavista 92 (19)
2004–2005 Oriente Petrolero 38 (10)
Total 430 (108)
International career
1989–2005 Bolivia 57 (15)
Managerial career
2003–2004 Boavista
2006–2009 Bolivia
2012–2013 Oriente Petrolero
2015 Blooming
2015–2016 Boavista
2018–2020 Blooming
2020–2023 Oriente Petrolero
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dubbed Platini,[1] most of his professional career was spent in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 288 matches and 59 goals over 13 seasons mainly in representation of Boavista and Benfica. Retiring in 2005, he subsequently became a coach.[2]

From 2006 to 2009, Sánchez managed the Bolivia national team after having appeared as a player in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the country's third participation.

Club career

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Born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sánchez started his career at hometown's Club Destroyers, then moved to Club Bolívar. He was signed by S.L. Benfica for the 1990–91 season, but was not very successful there, also being loaned to Lisbon neighbours G.D. Estoril Praia.[1]

Sánchez joined Boavista F.C. after being released in 1992, eventually becoming one of the team's best players. This prompted a 1997 return to Benfica, but the player again failed to settle, returning to the Axadrezados (chequereds)[3] and being crucial to the club's only league conquest in 2001, with nine goals in 33 games.[4][1]

After a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury,[5] Sánchez eventually lost importance in Boavista and left the club in 2004 after a coaching spell,[6][7] returning home for a final season with Oriente Petrolero and retiring as a player at the age of 36. In his last appearance, on 14 March 2005 against Club Blooming, he assaulted referee Wilson Aliaga, being suspended for 18 months.[8]

Sánchez had another managerial spell at Boavista,[9] as well as two each at Blooming[10] and Oriente Petrolero.[11]

International career

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Sánchez was a leading player for Bolivia, being crucial to the nation's qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The team exited the competition in the group stage, and he scored their only goal in a 3–1 loss against Spain;[12] this was also the country's first and only goal in three appearances in World Cup tournaments.

Sánchez appeared in a total of 57 matches over 16 years, netting 15 times.[13][14] He was part of their 1997 Copa América squad,[15] playing all the matches save one for the runner-up hosts and scoring three goals, including in the final with Brazil.[16]

In 2006, Sánchez was named national team manager,[17] being dismissed after the unsuccessful 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.[18]

International goals

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# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition[13]
1. 10 September 1989 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru   Peru 1–2 1–2 1990 World Cup qualification
2. 9 July 1991 Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile   Brazil 2–1 2–1 1991 Copa América
3. 18 July 1993 Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela   Venezuela 1–1 1–7 1994 World Cup qualification
4. 1–5
5. 1–7
6. 8 August 1993 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia   Uruguay 1–0 3–1
7. 22 August 1993 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia   Venezuela 3–0 7–0
8. 4 May 1994 Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Cannes, France   Saudi Arabia 1–0 1–0 Friendly
9. 27 June 1994 Soldier Field, Chicago, United States   Spain 1–2 1–3 1994 FIFA World Cup
10. 25 October 1995 Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia   Ecuador 2–0 2–2 Friendly
11. 21 June 1997 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia   Colombia 2–0 2–1 1997 Copa América
12. 25 June 1997 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia   Mexico 1–1 3–1
13. 29 June 1997 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia   Brazil 1–1 1–3 1997 Copa América Final
14. 5 July 1999 Monumental Río Parapití, Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay   Japan 1–0 1–1 1999 Copa América
15. 26 April 2000 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia   Colombia 1–0 1–1 2002 World Cup qualification

Personal life

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Sánchez's son, also called Erwin, was also a Bolivian international midfielder.[19]

Honours

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Player

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Benfica

Boavista

Oriente Petrolero

Manager

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Blooming

  • Copa Cine Center: 2015[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d RELEMBRE O JOGADOR: Erwin Sánchez, o Platini dos Andes (REMEMBER THE PLAYER: Erwin Sánchez, the Platini of the Andes); Trivela, 18 November 2011 (in Portuguese)
  2. ^ El legendario Erwin Sánchez regresa al Boavista como entrenador (Legendary Erwin Sánchez returns to Boavista as manager); Mundo Deportivo, 1 December 2005 (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Erwin Sanchez e Erivan apresentados no Bessa (Erwin Sanchez and Erivan presented at the Bessa); Record, 26 December 1999 (in Portuguese)
  4. ^ Erwin Sanchez eleito Jogador da Semana (Erwin Sanchez voted Player of the Week) Archived 17 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 22 May 2001 (in Portuguese)
  5. ^ Boavista fear Sánchez surgery; UEFA, 14 January 2003
  6. ^ Erwin Sanchez: «Já começamos a ter uma verdadeira equipa» (Erwin Sanchez: "We are starting to look like a real team"); Record, 18 August 2003 (in Portuguese)
  7. ^ Erwin Sanchez ainda sem acordo (Erwin Sanchez does not have agreement still); Record, 10 March 2004 (in Portuguese)
  8. ^ Tribunal suspende a “Platiní” Sánchez 18 meses (Court suspends "Platini" Sánchez 18 months); Bolivia.com, 14 August 2005 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ El técnico boliviano Erwin “Platini” Sánchez deja el Boavista (Bolivian manager Erwin "Platini" Sánchez leaves Boavista); Correo del Sur, 10 October 2016 (in Spanish)
  10. ^ Sánchez es el nuevo entrenador de Blooming (Sánchez is the new manager of Blooming); Goal, 24 March 2018 (in Spanish)
  11. ^ Erwin Sánchez vuelve al banquillo de Oriente tras ocho años (Erwin Sánchez returns to Oriente bench after eight years) Archived 6 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine; El Portavoz, 19 November 2020 (in Spanish)
  12. ^ World Cup '94; Bolivia scores, but will still go home; The New York Times, 28 June 1994
  13. ^ a b Erwin Sánchez – Goals in International Matches; at RSSSF
  14. ^ Bolivia – Record International Players; at RSSSF
  15. ^ Copa América 1997; at RSSSF
  16. ^ Brasil supera Bolívia na final da Copa América de 1997; relembre (Brasil best Bolivia in 1997 Copa América final; relive it); Vavel, 6 October 2016 (in Spanish)
  17. ^ Erwin Sánchez es el nuevo técnico de la Selección (Erwin Sánchez is the new national team manager); Bolivia.com, 14 October 2006 (in Spanish)
  18. ^ Villegas es el elegido para la selección (Villegas is the chosen for the national team); Eju!, 6 October 2010 (in Spanish)
  19. ^ La generación mundialista del 94 tiene a sus herederos (The 94 World Cup generation has its heirs); Página Siete, 5 April 2015 (in Spanish)
  20. ^ Erwin Sánchez, el desafío de triunfar como técnico donde lo hizo como jugador (Erwin Sánchez, the challenge of making it as a coach where he did so as player); La Vanguardia, 2 December 2015 (in Spanish)
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