Erwin Sánchez
Encyclopedia
Erwin Sánchez Freking is a retired Bolivia
n footballer.
Dubbed Platini
, he played as an attacking midfielder, with scoring range. Most of his professional career was spent in Portugal
, after which he became a coach.
From 2006–09, Sánchez managed the Bolivian national team
, after having appeared as a player in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
, the country's third participation.
, Sánchez started his career at hometown side Club Destroyers
, then moved to Club Bolívar
. He became the first Bolivian to play professionally in Europe
, when he was signed by Sport Lisboa e Benfica in 1990–91, but was not very successful there, also being loaned to Lisbon
neighbours G.D. Estoril Praia.
Released in 1992, Sánchez signed with Boavista Futebol Clube, eventually becoming one of the side's best players. This prompted a 1997 return to Benfica, but the player again failed to settle, returning to the Axadrezados (chequereds) and being crucial to the club's only league conquest, in 2000–01, with nine goals in 33 contests.
After a serious ACL
injury, Sánchez eventually lost importance in Boavista and left the club in 2004, after a short coaching spell, returning home for a final season with Oriente Petrolero
.
, being crucial to the nation's qualification
for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. Bolivia exited the competition in the group stage, Sánchez scored the nation's only goal of the tournament in a 1–3 loss against Spain
. This was also Bolivia's first and only goal in three appearances in World Cup
tournaments.
He appeared in a total of 57 international matches over 16 years, scoring 15 goals. In 2006, Sánchez was named national team manager, being sacked after the unsuccessful 2010 World Cup qualification campaign
.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n footballer.
Dubbed Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
, he played as an attacking midfielder, with scoring range. Most of his professional career was spent in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, after which he became a coach.
From 2006–09, Sánchez managed the Bolivian national team
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
, after having appeared as a player in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, the country's third participation.
Club career
Born in Santa Cruz de la SierraSanta Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
, Sánchez started his career at hometown side Club Destroyers
Club Destroyers
Club Destroyers is a football club from Santa Cruz, Bolivia currently playing in both the Nacional B second division and in Santa Cruz Primera A, one of the third division regional leagues....
, then moved to Club Bolívar
Club Bolívar
Club Bolívar, a football team from Bolivia, was founded in La Paz on April 12, 1925, with the name Atletico Bolívar Literario Musical later changed to "Club Atlético Bolívar"...
. He became the first Bolivian to play professionally in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, when he was signed by Sport Lisboa e Benfica in 1990–91, but was not very successful there, also being loaned to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
neighbours G.D. Estoril Praia.
Released in 1992, Sánchez signed with Boavista Futebol Clube, eventually becoming one of the side's best players. This prompted a 1997 return to Benfica, but the player again failed to settle, returning to the Axadrezados (chequereds) and being crucial to the club's only league conquest, in 2000–01, with nine goals in 33 contests.
After a serious ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury, Sánchez eventually lost importance in Boavista and left the club in 2004, after a short coaching spell, returning home for a final season with Oriente Petrolero
Oriente Petrolero
Club Deportivo Oriente Petrolero is a Bolivian football club based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Founded on November 5, 1955 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia by workers of the Bolivian oil company . They play at the 38,000-capacity Estadio Tahuichi Aguilera. Oriente have been Bolivian champions four times, Copa...
.
International career
Sánchez was a leading player for BoliviaBolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
, being crucial to the nation's qualification
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the South American zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification....
for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. Bolivia exited the competition in the group stage, Sánchez scored the nation's only goal of the tournament in a 1–3 loss against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
. This was also Bolivia's first and only goal in three appearances in World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
tournaments.
He appeared in a total of 57 international matches over 16 years, scoring 15 goals. In 2006, Sánchez was named national team manager, being sacked after the unsuccessful 2010 World Cup qualification campaign
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL...
.
Player
- Bolivian LeagueLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano-List of champions:*Torneo adecuacion was celebrate to adequate seasons to European style -Titles by team :-List of all-time topscorers:...
: 1988 - Portuguese League: 1990–91, 2000–01
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 1996–97 - Aerosur Cup: 2005