Quique Sanchez Flores
Encyclopedia
Enrique "Quique" Sánchez Flores (born 5 February 1965 in Madrid
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a right defender, and a current manager
.
During his 13-year professional career, he played mainly for Valencia
(ten seasons, nine in La Liga
), retiring in 1997 and going on to have a lengthy managerial career, which included his main club.
Flores represented Spain
at the 1990 World Cup
.
, starting in 1984–85. However, at first, he did not enjoy his time at the Estadio Mestalla as the club were relegated in his second season, and when they got back into La Liga
, finished 14th in 1987–88. However, from that point until 1994, the team never finished lower than 7th, with Sánchez as an everpresent fixture.
In 1994, Flores moved to Real Madrid
and stayed with the capital
club for two seasons, winning the league title in the first one. Subsequently, he had a brief spell with Real Zaragoza
, retiring from professional football at the age of 32, with Spanish top flight totals of 304 games and 16 goals; in his only season in Segunda División
, as Valencia won the championship in 1987, he posted career-highs with 40 games and nine goals.
Flores made 15 appearances for the Spanish national team
, and was selected to the 1990 FIFA World Cup
squad. His debut came on 23 September 1987, in a 2–0 friendly win over Luxembourg
, in Gijón
.
, by taking charge of Real Madrid's youth teams. After winning plaudits during his time there, he was approached about the manager's job at newly-promoted top flight club Getafe CF
, also in Madrid.
After an impressive 2004–05 season
with Getafe, which managed to finish a respectable 13th place, Flores was given the opportunity to coach former club Valencia, succeeding Claudio Ranieri
. In his first season, he guided the club to the third place
, with the subsequent UEFA Champions League
qualification, where Valencia reached the quarter-finals, being knocked out by Chelsea
. In May 2007, the Che guaranteed a top-four league finish, and consequently a place in the next Champions League.
On 29 October 2007, the Valencia board of directors fired Flores after a string of average results with poor performances. He was appointed as manager of S.L. Benfica on 24 May 2008.
On 8 June 2009, Flores left Benfica through contractual termination, after a third place in the league and winning the domestic league cup. On 23 October, he was appointed at Atlético Madrid following the sacking of Abel Resino
. signing a contract until 30 June 2010.
At the end of the 2009–10 campaign, Flores led Atlético to the 9th position in the domestic competition, but also to two cup finals: the UEFA Europa League against Fulham
(2–1 win) and the Spanish Cup, lost to Sevilla FC
.
Frequently clashing with star striker Diego Forlán
during 2010–11, Flores announced his departure from Atético Madrid before the season ended, with the team finally qualifying to the Europa League. In early May 2011, he was linked with a move to FC Spartak Moscow
.
On 8 November 2011, Flores was named new coach of UAE Pro-League
team Al-Ahli Dubai, replacing Ivan Hašek
.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a right defender, and a current manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
During his 13-year professional career, he played mainly for Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
(ten seasons, nine in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
), retiring in 1997 and going on to have a lengthy managerial career, which included his main club.
Flores represented 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...
at the 1990 World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
.
Playing career
During his playing career, Flores spent ten seasons with Valencia CFValencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, starting in 1984–85. However, at first, he did not enjoy his time at the Estadio Mestalla as the club were relegated in his second season, and when they got back into La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, finished 14th in 1987–88. However, from that point until 1994, the team never finished lower than 7th, with Sánchez as an everpresent fixture.
In 1994, Flores moved to Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and stayed with the capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
club for two seasons, winning the league title in the first one. Subsequently, he had a brief spell with Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, retiring from professional football at the age of 32, with Spanish top flight totals of 304 games and 16 goals; in his only season in Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, as Valencia won the championship in 1987, he posted career-highs with 40 games and nine goals.
Flores made 15 appearances for the Spanish national team
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...
, and was selected to the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
squad. His debut came on 23 September 1987, in a 2–0 friendly win over Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
, in Gijón
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
.
Coaching career
Flores followed in the footsteps of one of his predecessors at Valencia, Rafael BenítezRafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
, by taking charge of Real Madrid's youth teams. After winning plaudits during his time there, he was approached about the manager's job at newly-promoted top flight club Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
, also in Madrid.
After an impressive 2004–05 season
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
with Getafe, which managed to finish a respectable 13th place, Flores was given the opportunity to coach former club Valencia, succeeding Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri, is an Italian football manager, currently in charge as head coach of Internazionale.He has also managed many other well-known clubs in Europe, including Cagliari, Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Parma, Juventus and Roma.-Early life:Ranieri attended St...
. In his first season, he guided the club to the third place
2005–06 La Liga
* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Betis* Cádiz CF* Celta de Vigo* Deportivo Alaves* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Málaga CF* RCD Mallorca* CA Osasuna* Racing de Santander* Real Madrid* Real Sociedad* Sevilla FC...
, with the subsequent UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualification, where Valencia reached the quarter-finals, being knocked out by Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. In May 2007, the Che guaranteed a top-four league finish, and consequently a place in the next Champions League.
On 29 October 2007, the Valencia board of directors fired Flores after a string of average results with poor performances. He was appointed as manager of S.L. Benfica on 24 May 2008.
On 8 June 2009, Flores left Benfica through contractual termination, after a third place in the league and winning the domestic league cup. On 23 October, he was appointed at Atlético Madrid following the sacking of Abel Resino
Abel Resino
Abel Resino Gómez , sometimes just Abel, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current coach....
. signing a contract until 30 June 2010.
At the end of the 2009–10 campaign, Flores led Atlético to the 9th position in the domestic competition, but also to two cup finals: the UEFA Europa League against Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
(2–1 win) and the Spanish Cup, lost to Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
.
Frequently clashing with star striker Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.Forlán was born...
during 2010–11, Flores announced his departure from Atético Madrid before the season ended, with the team finally qualifying to the Europa League. In early May 2011, he was linked with a move to FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
.
On 8 November 2011, Flores was named new coach of UAE Pro-League
UAE Pro-League
The UAE Pro-League is the First Division of the UAE Football League, commonly known as Etisalat Pro-League for sponsorship reasons, since 2008, is the top professional association football league in United Arab Emirates...
team Al-Ahli Dubai, replacing Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager....
.
Player
- ValenciaValencia CFValencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
:- Segunda DivisiónSegunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
: 1986–87
- Segunda División
- Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
:- La LigaLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
: 1994–95
- La Liga
Manager
- Benfica:
- Taça da Liga: 2008–09
- Atlético Madrid:
- UEFA Europa League: 2009–10
- UEFA Super Cup: 20102010 UEFA Super CupThe 2010 UEFA Super Cup was the 35th UEFA Super Cup organised by the European football governing body UEFA. It took place at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 27 August 2010. It was contested by Internazionale, who won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, and Atlético Madrid, who won the 2009–10 UEFA...
- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: Runner-up 2009–10
Managerial statistics
correct as of 25 November 2011| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | +/− | Win % | ||||
| Valencia Valencia CF Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the... |
 |
31 May 2005 | 29 October 2007 |
||||||||
| Benfica |  |
24 May 2008 | 8 June 2009 |
||||||||
| Atlético Madrid | |
23 October 2009 | 22 May 2011 |
||||||||
| Al-Ahli |  |
11 November 2011 | Present |
||||||||
Personal life
- Flores is the nephew of FlamencoFlamencoFlamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
singerSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
-danceDanceDance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r Lola FloresLola FloresMaría Dolores "Lola" Flores Ruiz was a Spanish singer, dancer, and actress.- Professional career :Flores was born in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz . Although thought to be only part gypsy, she strongly identified with the Spanish gypsy culture...
.
- His father, Isidro Sánchez García-Figueras, was also and footballer and a defender. He played for Real BetisReal BetisReal Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, Real Madrid and CE Sabadell FC, winning four leagues in a row for the second.