OSWALDO SANCHEZ

OSWALDO JAVIER SANCHEZ IBARRA was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco on September 21st, 1973. Since he was very young, great expectations arose around him, due to the fact that he proved to be a skilled soccer player. In his early years, the activity he was more interested in was playing with a ball his father kept at home. His parents remember Oswaldo as a restless kid who only wanted to PLAY SOCCER. Oswaldo had a happy childhood; and since that time he always wanted to help his mother and siblings since his father was constantly out of town due to his work. That situation gave Oswaldo the drive he needed to reach his goals, and therefore he started working as a “bag boy” at a local department store. When he became 18, Oswaldo joined the reserve team of the soccer club “Atlas” under the command of JOSE LUIS “GÜERO” REAL, who at the time was in charge of leading the basic forces of the club. THIRD DIVISION WESTERN REGION TEAM In January 1992, Oswaldo Sanchez participated in several major playoffs such as the TORNEO DEL SOL held in Cocula, Jalisco, where his team became the third division champion... AND IT IS THEN WHEN THE HISTORY OF THE BEST GOALKEEPER THERE IS NOWADAYS BEGINS. FIRST DIVISION ATLAS (1993 – 1996) October 30th, 1993 (VERACRUZ 1 ATLAS 1) . Miguel de Jesús Fuentes suffers and injury that keeps him from finishing the match, and Oswaldo replaces him, making his debut as a professional player in first division under the direction of the coach MARCELO BIELSA, after 70 minutes of game and with a score that favored the red and black team. Then in a corner shot, the sharks evened the score 1 to 1. Oswaldo Sanchez played in Atlas for three years, participating in several important games and against important teams such as the “Clasico” Guadalajara and América. The big stars that played in these teams acknowledge the technique he displayed in his catching, diving and keeping the Goal of the red and black team. AMERICA (Winter 96 – Summer 99) In the winter of 96, Oswaldo joined Club America known as the best new player of Mexican Soccer. It is in this team where he showed great maturity both in his personal life and in his soccer skills. Even though these seasons were not good for the team that was going through a rough time, Oswaldo’s goalkeeping qualities continued being valued by other teams such as Guadalajara who decided to recruit him to play in their team. CHIVAS (Winter 99 – Opening tournament 2006) Guadalajara Club acquired him in the winter of 99 in a controversial transaction. It is in “ the Holy Flock” where Oswaldo makes history, and Chivas fans start calling him “San Oswaldo” , meaning Saint Oswaldo. It is in this institution where he lived the greatest moments of his career and was compared to the legendary Chivas goalies Ignacio Calderón and Jaime David “El Tubo” Gómez. His charisma and easy going way made him one of the preferred players of the team. He obtained great results with the team, and in the closing tournament in 2004 he played his first final in Mexican Soccer facing Pumas team (the result of the match was a tie). Unfortunately, the team lost the final in penalty shots. The final score was 5-4. FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP On December 10th, 2006, after playing the repechaje (requalifying stage) match and defeating both Cruz Azul and America in quarter finals and semi final, respectively, Chivas faced Toluca in finals where the first match score was a 1-1 tie and the second and decisive match ended with a global score of Chivas 3 Toluca 2.
The last match of the finals was played in Toluca’s stadium, “Nemesio Diez”, were Chivas defeated Toluca 2-1. After 18 minutes of the first half, Toluca scores the first Goal by Bruno Marioni, momentarily putting “the Holy Flock” in a difficult situation; however, in the second half things changed for Chivas when after 6 minutes Francisco Javier “Maza” Rodriguez ties the score on a header. In the 69th minute the fans bursted with joy when a pass of “Venado” Medina to Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista ended in the winning goal that gave Chivas the Championship. As Captain of the team, Oswaldo received the well deserved 2006 Opening Tournament Champion Cup. After 7 years in Chivas, Oswaldo decided to move on and set himself new objectives. SANTOS LAGUNA (Closing tournament 2007 to this date) In December 2006, Oswaldo joins Santos Laguna to reinforce the team bringing his experience and leadership and motivating his teammates to save the team from relegation to 1A league. MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM TORNEO DEL SOL. This tournament gave Oswaldo the projection he needed to be noticed by the National Team talent seekers and therefore he was called to play the SUB-20 playoffs in Victoria, Canada. Juan de Dios Castillo called Oswaldo Sanchez to play the CARABOBO tournament in Venezuela together with great promises of Mexican soccer such as Duilio Davino, Rafael García and Jesus Olalde among others. Australia 1993. Not being First choice Goalkeeper of Atlas, he travels to the world youth championship held in Australia playing versus Saudi Arabia, Norway, and Brazil. The team is set home by the Norwegian team after a round of penalties. Pan-American Games in mar del Plata Argentina, 1995. Lead by Guillermo Vázquez, Oswaldo has an outstanding participation obtaining the silver medal after loosing the final to Argentina in penalties. That very same year he plays the eliminatory rounds for the 2006 Atlanta Olympics, qualifying in Edmonton Canada. ATLANTA 1996 He did not have an active participation since the First Choice Goalkeeper was Jorge Campos. The team got to play quarter finals where they lost to Nigeria –eventually champions of that tournament- 2-0. 1996 USA CUP The team won the championship under the command of Bora Milutinovic, on goals of Cuauhtemoc Blanco. 1996 GOLD CUP Champion under the command of Bora Milutinovic 1997 KING FAATH CUP. Played under the direction of Manuel Lapuente in Saudi Arabia WORLD CUP FRANCE 1998. Jorge Campos was again the First Choice Goalkeeper of the team. Mexico played eight finals being eliminated by Germany by 2 goals to 1 FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP, JAPAN 2001 Oswaldo received the best reviews of the tournament being appointed as the most valuable player on three occasions during the tournament. The coach was Enrique Meza. AMERICA CUP 2001. held in Colombia WORLD CUP JAPAN 2002. Second consecutive World Cup for Oswaldo. Oscar Pérez was First Choice Goalie and the team was eliminated by the USA team in quarter finals. Coach: Javier Aguirre. PERU CUP 2003. Coach Ricardo Lavolpe. Oswaldo Sánchez played as First Choice Goalkeeper. The team lost in quarter finals to Brazil. GOLD CUP 2003. With full support of the Mexican audience, Mexico defeats the Brazilian team in an emotional match becoming champion of the tournament. OSWALDO IS APPOINTED BEST GOALKEEPER OF THE TOURNAMENT CONFEDERATIONS CUP 2005. Held in Germany. Oswaldo is appointed Best Goalkeeper of the tournament over world stars as DIDA (Brazil) and BUFON (Italy). WORLD CUP GERMANY 2006 First World Cup played by Oswaldo as First Choice Goalkeeper. México has an important participation loosing to Argentina in extra time in quarter finals. FINAL SCORE (1-1) GLOBAL SCORE (1-2) AWARDS OBTAINED DURING HIS CAREER
SEASON
TEAM
AWARD
94 ,95-96
Atlas
Citlaly ( BEST GOALKEEPER)
97-98
America
Citlaly ( BEST GOALKEEPER)
96, 97, 98, 99
America
BALON DE ORO (BEST GOALKEEPER)
2003, 2004, 2005
Guadalajara
BALON DE ORO (BEST GOALKEEPER, BEST PLAYER)
América Latina
CONMEBOL
LATIN AMERICA CONMEBOL BEST GOALKEEPER IN LATIN AMERICA (OVER THE ARGENTINEAN GOALKEEPER “PATO” ABONDANCIERI)
MUNDIAL
Ranking FIFA
WORLD CUP FIFA RANKING 12TH IN FIFA’S LIST
2006
Federación Mexicana de fútbol
(FMF)
2006 FMF (MEXICAN NOMINEE TO BEST GOALKEEPER SOCCER AND BEST PLAYER AWARDS FEDERATION) FOR THE 2006 OPENING TOURNAMENT