Sergio Sánchez (footballer, born 1977)


Sergio Sánchez Sánchez is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Playing career

Sánchez was born in Carbayín Alto, Siero, Asturias. Having joined local Sporting de Gijón's youth system as an infant, he first appeared for the professionals during the 1998–99 season as the club was in the second division. Another spell in that level, with Atlético Madrid, would follow, although he played almost no part in the Colchoneros's return to La Liga in 2002 ; he was signed by the latter in October 1999, but remained on loan to the former until June of the following year.
Loaned by Atlético to RCD Espanyol in 2002–03 – making his top-flight debut on 2 September 2002 in a 0–2 away loss against Real Madrid – Sánchez would meet the same fate the following campaign, with Getafe CF. There, he would appear in exactly half of the matches as the Madrid outskirts side achieved a first ever top flight promotion, only collecting eight appearances during 2004–05.
After an unassuming stint with Hércules CF, Sánchez signed for lowly UD Melilla, leaving shortly after for personal reasons without any official appearances. He finished the season with ADO Den Haag, in the Netherlands.
Sánchez returned to Gijón for 2007–08, featuring only once in the league as his team returned to the first division after a ten-year absence. He started the following campaign as first-choice but, after conceding 19 goals in four matches, he would be relegated to the bench, being reinstated in late December following Iván Cuéllar's serious ankle injury in a 0–3 loss at Athletic Bilbao; with Iñaki Lafuente's arrival on loan from that club in January 2009 and Cuéllar's recovery, he would be demoted to third-choice, and was eventually released in July.

Coaching career

In 2010, after one year without a club, Sánchez retired from football at the age of 33. He had his first coaching experience with amateurs Candás CF as assistant to another former Sporting player, Abelardo Fernández. Simultaneously, he opened his own football school, Dorsal 13.
Sánchez returned to Gijón in 2011, being appointed reserves goalkeeper coach and youth team manager.