Erwin Sánchez


Erwin Sánchez Freking is a Bolivian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder with scoring range, and a current manager.
Dubbed Platini, most of his professional career was spent in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 288 matches and 59 goals over 13 seasons mainly in representation of Boavista and Benfica. Retiring in 2005, he subsequently became a coach.
From 2006 to 2009, Sánchez managed the Bolivia national team after having appeared as a player in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the country's third participation.

Club career

Born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sánchez started his career at hometown's Club Destroyers, then moved to Club Bolívar. He was signed by S.L. Benfica for the 1990–91 season, but was not very successful there, also being loaned to Lisbon neighbours G.D. Estoril Praia.
Released in 1992, Sánchez signed with Boavista FC, eventually becoming one of the team's best players. This prompted a 1997 return to Benfica, but the player again failed to settle, returning to the Axadrezados and being crucial to the club's only league conquest in 2001, with nine goals in 33 games.
After a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, Sánchez eventually lost importance in Boavista and left the club in 2004 after a coaching spell, returning home for a final season with Oriente Petrolero and retiring as a player at the age of 36. In his last appearance, on 14 March 2005 against Club Blooming, he assaulted referee Wilson Aliaga, being suspended for 18 months.
Also as a manager, Sánchez had another spell at Boavista as well as two at Blooming.

International career

Sánchez was a leading player for Bolivia, being crucial to the nation's qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The team exited the competition in the group stage, and he scored their only goal in a 1–3 loss against Spain; this was also the country's first and only goal in three appearances in World Cup tournaments.
Sánchez appeared in a total of 57 matches over 16 years, netting 15 times. He was part of their 1997 Copa América squad, playing all the matches save one for the runner-up hosts and scoring three goals, including in the final with Brazil.
Sánchez was named national team manager in 2006, being sacked after the unsuccessful 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.10 September 1989Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru1–21–21990 World Cup qualification
2.9 July 1991Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile2–12–11991 Copa América
3.18 July 1993Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela1–11–71994 World Cup qualification
4.18 July 1993Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela1–51–71994 World Cup qualification
5.18 July 1993Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela1–71–71994 World Cup qualification
6.8 August 1993Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia1–03–11994 World Cup qualification
7.22 August 1993Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia3–07–01994 World Cup qualification
8.4 May 1994Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Cannes, France1–01–0Friendly
9.27 June 1994Soldier Field, Chicago, United States1–21–31994 FIFA World Cup
10.25 October 1995Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia2–02–2Friendly
11.21 June 1997Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia2–02–11997 Copa América
12.25 June 1997Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia1–13–11997 Copa América
13.29 June 1997Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia1–11–31997 Copa América Final
14.5 July 1999Monumental Río Parapití, Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay1–01–11999 Copa América
15.26 April 2000Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia1–01–12002 World Cup qualification

Honours

Player

Benfica
Boavista
Oriente Petrolero
Blooming