Oswaldo Sánchez facts for kids

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Oswaldo Sánchez

Sánchez with Santos Laguna in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Oswaldo Javier Sánchez Ibarra
Date of birth	(1973-09-21) 21 September 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth	Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993–1996	Atlas	81	(0)
1996–1999	América	76	(0)
1999–2006	Guadalajara	272	(0)
2007–2014	Santos Laguna	296	(0)
Total		725	(0)
International career
1993	Mexico U20	4	(0)
1996–2011	Mexico	99	(0)
Medal record Representing Mexico Copa América Runner-up 2001 Colombia Third 2007 Venezuela CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner 1996 United States Winner 2003 United States–Mexico Runner-up 2007 United States Pan American Games Silver 1995 Mar del Plata CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament Winner 1996 Canada
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Oswaldo Javier Sánchez Ibarra (born September 21, 1973) is a famous Mexican former football player. He was a talented goalkeeper. Many people consider him one of the best goalkeepers in Mexican football history. After retiring from playing, he became a sports analyst for TUDN.

At the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, Oswaldo Sánchez won the Golden Glove award. This award goes to the best goalkeeper in the tournament. His team finished in fourth place.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting Out with Atlas and América

Oswaldo Sánchez began his professional career at age 20. He played for Atlas on October 30, 1993. He stepped in when the main goalkeeper was injured. The game against Veracruz ended in a 1–1 tie.

Two years later, he became the starting goalkeeper for Atlas. He helped Atlas reach the Quarterfinals. In the summer of 1996, Sánchez moved to Club América. He played fewer games in his first season there. However, he soon became the starting goalkeeper again. In 1999, Sánchez left América to join their rival team, Chivas de Guadalajara.

Time with Guadalajara

At Guadalajara, Sánchez became the team's captain. He was a very important player for Chivas. His amazing goalkeeping skills and leadership helped Guadalajara reach the finals of the Clausura 2004 season. They lost that final in a penalty shootout.

Sánchez finally won a league title with Guadalajara in the Apertura 2006 season. After this championship, he left the club. He felt the team directors no longer wanted him. He decided to play for Santos Laguna. In 2000, Sánchez even scored a goal for Guadalajara. It was a header from a corner kick in a match against Club Deportivo El Nacional.

Success with Santos Laguna

In 2007, Oswaldo Sánchez joined Santos Laguna. In his first season, he helped save the team from being moved to a lower league. He also led them to the Quarterfinals of the Clausura 2007 tournament. He helped his team finish in second place in both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments in 2010.

Sánchez led Santos Laguna to win the Clausura 2008 and Clausura 2012 championships. He played for 21 years in professional football. Sánchez retired after the Apertura 2014 season. He won the Copa MX in his very last season.

International Matches for Mexico

Sánchez playing for Mexico at the 2006 World Cup

Sánchez played for Mexico's national youth team in 1993. He made his debut for the senior national team in 1996 against Bolivia. He was part of three FIFA World Cup teams: in 1998, 2002, and 2006.

For the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, coach Ricardo La Volpe chose Sánchez as the starting goalkeeper. Before the tournament, Sánchez faced a personal challenge when his father passed away. He flew home to Guadalajara but returned to Germany in time for Mexico's first game against Iran, which they won 3–1.

In 2007, coach Hugo Sánchez called him up to play in the Gold Cup and 2007 Copa América. Oswaldo Sánchez played his 99th and final international match for Mexico on October 11, 2011. It was a 2–1 loss to Brazil. He was replaced by Alfredo Talavera near the end of the game, marking his official retirement from international football.

Life Outside Football

Sánchez appeared on the cover of the North American version of the FIFA Football 2005 video game. He was featured alongside famous players Fernando Morientes and Andriy Shevchenko.

In 2016, Santos Laguna honored Sánchez by building a statue of him.

Achievements and Awards

América

• Selectivo Pre Pre-Libertadores: 1999
• Pre-Libertadores Tournament: 1998, 1999

Guadalajara

• Mexican Primera División: Apertura 2006
• InterLiga: 2005, 2006

Santos Laguna

• Mexican Primera División Clausura: 2008, 2012
• Copa MX: Apertura 2014

Mexico National Team

• FIFA Confederations Cup fourth place: 2005
• Copa América runner-up: 2001; third place: 2007
• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 1996, 2003
• Pan American Games Silver Medal: 1995
• CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament: 1996

Individual Awards

• Mexican Primera División Golden Glove: 1995–96, 2003–04, 2004–05
• Mexican Primera División Invierno Golden Glove: 2000
• Mexican Primera División Apertura Golden Glove: 2002, 2005
• Mexican Primera División Clausura Golden Glove: 2003
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Glove: 2003
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2003
• Mexican Primera División Golden Ball: 2003–04
• FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Glove: 2005
• Mexican Primera División Apertura Golden Ball: 2005
• South American Player of the Year Nomination: 2006
• CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove: 2012–13
• Santos Laguna Honorary Statue: 2016
• Salón de la Fama del Fútbol Internacional: 2020

Records

• Goalkeeper with most penalty shots saved in the Mexican Primera División: 25

See also

In Spanish: Oswaldo Sánchez para niños