He played at left midfield for over 20 years between 1953 and 1973. 17 of those 20 years were for Universidad de Chile, where he was the icon of the Ballet Azul (Blue Ballet), a team that won 6 national championships between 1959 and 1969.
Four of his 24 international goals were at the 1962 World Cup on home soil, where he was the top scorer along with five other players as Chile finished the tournament in third place. In that World Cup he is also remembered for his disputes with several Italian players in the infamous Chile – Italy match in the first round: he knocked out the Italian player Mario David with a punch in an altercation after being fouled, and was subsequently kicked in the head by David a few minutes later, resulting in the Italian defender's sending off. Sánchez later also broke Humberto Maschio's nose with a left hook; Chile won the match 2–0.[8][9] Because of his role in the match, later dubbed the "Battle of Santiago", in 2007, The Times placed Sánchez at number 6 in their list of the 50 hardest footballers in history.[10]
Sánchez remained at Universidad de Chile, although he received numerous offers from well known European clubs such as Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan. However, he played on loan for AC Milan, previous to a possible signing, in the Torneo Città di Milano (Milan City Tournament) in June 1963 against both Inter Milan and Santos, where they became champions. He coincided with Mario David, with whom he had quarreled a year before in the Battle of Santiago.[11][13] In 1969, after a contract rule was settled, Universidad de Chile was forced to sell him. He finished his career playing for Chilean clubs Colo-Colo, Palestino and Ferroviarios.[14]
Club
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club |
Season |
League |
Cup |
Continental |
Total |
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Universidad de Chile |
1953 |
Chilean Primera División |
4 | 1 | – | – | 4 | 1 |
1954 | 5 | 3 | – | – | 5 | 3 |
1955 | 33 | 14 | – | – | 33 | 14 |
1956 | 22 | 10 | – | – | 22 | 10 |
1957 | 21 | 14 | – | – | 21 | 14 |
1958 | 25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | – | 27 | 10 |
1959 | 26 | 22 | 6 | 4 | – | 32 | 26 |
1960 | 23 | 10 | – | 2 | 0 | 25 | 10 |
1961 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | 26 | 6 |
1962 | 32 | 19 | – | – | 32 | 19 |
1963 | 27 | 11 | – | 3 | 0 | 30 | 11 |
1964 | 24 | 5 | – | – | 24 | 5 |
1965 | 30 | 15 | – | 4 | 0 | 34 | 15 |
1966 | 19 | 8 | – | 5 | 2 | 24 | 10 |
1967 | 34 | 6 | – | – | 34 | 6 |
1968 | 27 | 6 | – | 1 | 0 | 28 | 6 |
1969 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 11 | 1 |
Total |
386 | 159 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 412 | 167 |
Colo Colo |
1970 |
Chilean Primera División |
31 | 2 | – | – | 31 | 2 |
Total |
417 | 161 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 443 | 169 |
Close
International
More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year[15]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
Chile |
1955 | 2 | 0 |
1956 | 9 | 2 |
1957 | 7 | 0 |
1958 | 0 | 0 |
1959 | 9 | 3 |
1960 | 10 | 2 |
1961 | 8 | 6 |
1962 | 7 | 4 |
1963 | 1 | 5 |
1964 | 2 | 0 |
1965 | 10 | 0 |
1966 | 12 | 0 |
1967 | 5 | 1 |
1968 | 3 | 1 |
Total | 85 | 24 |
Close
- Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sánchez goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Leonel Sánchez[16]
No. |
Date |
Venue |
Opponent |
Score |
Result |
Competition |
1 | 24 January 1956 | Montevideo, Uruguay | Brazil | | 4–1 | 1956 South American Championship |
2 | 9 February 1956 | Montevideo, Uruguay | Peru | | 4–3 | 1956 South American Championship |
3 | 11 March 1959 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Paraguay | | 1–2 | 1959 South American Championship (Argentina) |
4 | 26 March 1959 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Bolivia | | 5–2 | 1959 South American Championship (Argentina) |
5 | 18 November 1959 | Santiago, Chile | Argentina | | 4–2 | Friendly match |
6 | 5 June 1960 | Montevideo, Uruguay | Uruguay | | 2–2 | Friendly |
7 |
8 | 19 March 1961 | Santiago, Chile | Peru | | 5–2 | Friendly |
9 |
10 | 26 March 1961 | Santiago, Chile | West Germany | | 3–1 | Friendly |
11 |
12 | 9 December 1961 | Santiago, Chile | Hungary | | 5–1 | Friendly |
13 |
14 | 30 May 1962 | Santiago, Chile | Switzerland | | 3–1 | 1962 FIFA World Cup |
15 |
16 | 10 June 1962 | Arica, Chile | Soviet Union | | 2–1 | 1962 FIFA World Cup |
17 | 13 June 1962 | Santiago, Chile | Brazil | | 2–4 | 1962 FIFA World Cup |
18 | 16 May 1965 | Montevideo, Uruguay | Uruguay | | 1–1 | Copa Juan Pinto Durán |
19 | 21 July 1965 | Santiago, Chile | Argentina | | 1–1 | Copa Carlos Dittborn |
20 | 1 August 1965 | Santiago, Chile | Colombia | | 7–2 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification |
21 | 22 August 1965 | Santiago, Chile | Ecuador | | 3–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification |
22 | 12 October 1965 | Lima, Perú | Ecuador | | 2–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification |
23 | 13 December 1967 | Santiago, Chile | Hungary | | 4–5 | Friendly |
24 | 27 August 1968 | Ciudad de México, México | Mexico | | 1-3 | Friendly |
Close
Leonel Sanchez was the son of a professional boxer.[17]
Sanchez studied at República Argentina, a prestigious public primary school of Santiago; and at Manuel Barros Borgoño, a traditional public secondary school of the capital.
Universidad de Chile
- Chilean League: 1959, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969
- Metropolitan Tournament of Chile: 1968, 1969
- Copa Francisco Candelori: 1969
AC Milan
- Torneo Città di Milano: 1963
Colo-Colo
Individual
Estadio Magazine, publication N⁰ 688 of 2 March 1956