|
|
Name: Joaquín Sánchez Rodríguez
Birth Date: 21 July 1981
Birth Place: El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.79 m (5'10'')
Weight: 75 kg (165 lbs)
Position: Right Winger
Number: 7
Contract Expires: 30 June 2012
|
Real Betis
During the 1999/2000 season, Joaquín played 26 games for Real Betis B, scoring two goals. He then played 38 games, scoring three goals, in the Real Betis first team in the Segunda División during the 2000/2001 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 three 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 nine 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 CA Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón stadium, on 11 June 2005. Joaquín played the full 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time as Betis won 2-1.
On 27 July 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. 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 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 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 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.
Joaquín has had some good seasons with Valencia, but so far, nothing worth justifying his ¤25 million price tag. For the 2010/2011 season, Joaquín was given the #7 shirt.
International Career
Joaquín made his debut for the Spanish national team on 13 February 2002 against Portugal in a 1-1 Friendly.
Brilliant form for Real Betis saw him get called up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was involved in a couple of debatable decisions during the controversial quarter-final match against South Korea, including one incident where the linesman raised his flag for a goal kick as Joaquín was crossing a ball to Fernando Morientes who was denied an arguably legitimate golden goal. The argument was that the ball had crossed the line; however, replays clearly show that it never did. The game went to penalties where Joaquín was chosen to take Spain's fourth penalty which was controversially blocked by Lee Woon-Jae, who stepped off his line before the ball was actually touched, breaking the rules. There was, however, no action taken. After the match, there was international condemnation of the refereeing conduct and decisions.
He played again for Spain in two out of three (once as a starter) games through their premature exit at UEFA Euro 2004 and as the team's first choice right winger at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
During the early stages of Spain's campaign to qualify for Euro 2008, they lost 3-2 to Northern Ireland, after the match, Joaquín told Spanish radio, "Right now, the national team is a mess, chaos and Luis doesn't know how to handle it in these difficult moments. I know that what I'm saying is not going to help me get back into the national team, but it's what I feel." He later commented, "The only thing I wanted to say is that these are not clear times for the national squad after losing to Northern Ireland .... but it was not my intention to attack the team or Luis Aragonés". Since making the comments, Joaquín has failed to be called up again for the Spain team. Spain subsequently went on to record 35 consecutive matches without defeat, winning a record 15 consecutive times as well as lifting the Euro 2008 trophy.
|
|
