Robert Sánchez – Wikipedia
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Spanish footballer (born 1997)
Robert Lynch Sánchez (born 18 November 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Spain national team. Sánchez came through Albion’s youth academy.
Club career[edit]
Early life and career[edit]
Sánchez was born in Cartagena, Region of Murcia.[1] He was born to a Jamaican-English father and Spanish mother.[3] He spent his early career playing locally with Escuela de Fútbol de Santa Ana, Cartagena FC and Ciudad Jardín[4] before joining Levante in 2010.[5]
Brighton & Hove Albion[edit]
Sánchez moved to England to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of 15, before signing his first professional contract in June 2015.[6][7] He signed a new three-year contract with the club in April 2018.[8]
Loan spells[edit]
In June 2018, Sánchez moved on loan to Forest Green Rovers for the 2018–19 season.[9] He played in the opening game of the season making his debut away at Grimsby where Rovers won 4–1.[10] Sánchez was recalled by parent club Brighton in January 2019 to provide cover as Albion’s Mathew Ryan was called up for Australia for the Asian Cup.[11] He made 17 appearances for Forest Green that season, all coming in the league.[10]
On 24 July 2019, Sánchez joined Rochdale on loan for the 2019–20 season.[12] He made his debut for the club in a 3–2 away win over Tranmere Rovers.[13]
Return to Brighton[edit]
On 1 November 2020, Sánchez made his Brighton debut, playing in a 2–1 defeat in a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.[14][15] On 23 February 2021, Sánchez signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with Brighton, running until June 2025.[16]
Sánchez was sent off in the 1–1 home draw against Newcastle United on 6 November, in Brighton’s eleventh match of the 2021–22 season, for fouling Callum Wilson who was within a goalscoring opportunity.[17] He kept a clean sheet in the 4–0 win over Manchester United on 7 May 2022, helping Brighton earn their record top flight victory, with his long-range pass providing a crucial role in Pascal Groß’s goal.[18]
In the second half of the 2022–23 season Sánchez lost his number one spot to long standing back-up keeper Jason Steele, with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi saying that “he is sad for Robert” and that he has “one of the best relationships” with the player.[19] He was selected to play instead of Steele on 19 March, keeping a clean sheet in the 5–0 FA Cup quarter-final win over League Two side Grimsby at Falmer Stadium.[20] On 15 April, with Steele injured, Sánchez played against Chelsea in a 2–1 away win.[21]
International career[edit]
Sánchez was born in Spain to an English father and Spanish mother.[22] Sánchez received his first call-up to the Spanish national team in March 2021, for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Greece, Georgia and Kosovo.[23]
He was selected to the Spain squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in May 2021.[24] Sánchez and David de Gea remained as understudies to Unai Simón and did not make an appearance as Spain were knocked out on penalties against Italy in the semi-final at Wembley Stadium on 6 July.[25]
He made his international debut on 5 September 2021, replacing Simón in the second half of a World Cup qualifier 4–0 win against Georgia in Badajoz.[26]
Sánchez was part of Spain’s 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals squad in October.[27] He remained as back-up and did not make an appearance in either of the semi-final victory over Italy or the final loss against France as Spain finished as runners-up.[28][29]
On 11 November 2022, Sánchez was named in Spain’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[30]
Style of play[edit]
Sánchez has said that he modelled himself on Spanish goalkeepers Iker Casillas and David de Gea.[7]
Career statistics[edit]
Club[edit]
- As of match played 15 April 2023
International[edit]
- As of match played 17 November 2022[37]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
Honours[edit]
Spain
References[edit]
External links[edit]
- Profile at the Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. website
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