Joaquín Sánchez

football player infobox
playername = Joaquín


fullname = Joaquín Sánchez Rodríguez
height = height|m=1.79
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|7|21
cityofbirth = El Puerto de Santa María
countryofbirth=Spain
currentclub = Valencia
clubnumber = 17
position = Right Winger
youthyears = 1994–1999
youthclubs = Real Betis B
years = 1999–2006
2006–
clubs = Real Betis
Valencia
caps(goals) = 216 (32)
066 0(8)
nationalyears = 2002–
nationalteam = Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 051 0(4)
pcupdate = April 29 2008
ntupdate = April 29 2008

Joaquín Sánchez Rodríguez, (born July 21, 1981 in El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz) is a Spanish footballer, who plays for Valencia CF. He is a right winger well known for his pace and dribbling.

Career

Real Betis

During the 1999-00 season, Joaquín played 26 games for Real Betis B, scoring 2 goals. He then played 38 games, scoring 3 goals, in the Real Betis first team in the Segunda División during the 2000-01 season. Betis were promoted the same season.

Joaquín made over 180 appearances in La Liga and scored 29 goals in his following five seasons with Real Betis. He also scored 3 goals in the Copa del Rey. He was a consistent assister of goals for Real Betis, assisting over 50 goals in five La Liga seasons. Joaquín played in two third round qualifying Champions League matches, as well as 6 group stages matches in 2005, including a 1-0 triumph over Chelsea and a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield. Joaquín also made 9 UEFA Cup appearances in his career, scoring one goal.

Joaquín won his first and only medal for Real Betis during the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón stadium, on June 11 2005. Joaquín played the full ninety minutes plus thirty minutes of extra time as Betis won 2-1.

On July 27, 2006 following a discussion with Joaquín, Real Betis chairman José León stated that Joaquin had convinced him that he would stay at Real Betis for another year. "It has surprised me a lot,” he admitted. “I came to convince him and on the contrary, he has convinced me", stated José León. [ [http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/betis/es/desarrollo/674923.html León dice que Joaquín se entregará al Betis - Marca.com ] ] Then, during mid-August, Joaquín shocked "los béticos" by declaring in a press conference his intentions to leave Real Betis.

Valencia CF

Joaquín was meant to move to Valencia CF in early August 2006 for €15.0 million, along with a swap deal that included Regueiro. However, some difficulties in the payment appeared, along with Regueiro's insistence in staying at Valencia, which meant that the transfer was delayed. A bid of €25.0 million was later accepted. Joaquín was loaned to Albacete as punishment by Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, due to Joaquín taking a certain percentage of the transfer fee. Manuel Ruiz de Lopera used a clause in Joaquín's contract whereby he could be loaned to any club if it was decided by Real Betis. Joaquín went to Albacete using his own transport and to prove that he went to the club he had himself photographed by operatives working nearby. The switch to Albacete was then canceled. Joaquín officially moved to Valencia in late August 2006 for €25.0 million, making him Valencia's most expensive signing. Having sorted out financial dealings with Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, signing a five year contract, with the choice of a further one year extension.

International team

Joaquín was a member of the Spanish squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Although he was injured, he took but missed the crucial penalty which led to their elimination from the competition against South Korea in the quarter-finals. However, he played again for Spain at Euro 2004 and also at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Joaquín was one of the surprise exclusions from the UEFA Euro 2008 Spanish squad, which Spain would end up winning.

Honours

Club

* Real Betis
** Copa del Rey: 2005

* Valencia
** Copa del Rey: 2008

tatistics

International goals

References

External links

*FIFA player|186619
*es icon [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7001 Player stats at www.lfp.es]
* [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/Players/Player=50788/index.html Profile At UEFA.com]
* [http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/fo/profiles/25000000000000000000019965.html Yahoo! Sport Statistics]