| Erwin Sánchez | |
| Fullname: | Erwin Sánchez Freking |
| Birth Date: | 19 October 1969 |
| Birth Place: | Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 1981–1986 |
| Youthclubs1: | Tahuichi Academy |
| Years1: | 1987–1988 |
| Years2: | 1988–1990 |
| Years3: | 1990–1992 |
| Years4: | 1991–1992 |
| Years5: | 1992–1997 |
| Years6: | 1997–1999 |
| Years7: | 1998–1999 |
| Years8: | 1999 |
| Years9: | 2000–2004 |
| Years10: | 2004–2005 |
| Clubs1: | Destroyers |
| Clubs2: | Bolívar |
| Clubs3: | Benfica |
| Clubs4: | → Estoril (loan) |
| Clubs5: | Boavista |
| Clubs6: | Benfica |
| Clubs7: | → Boavista (loan) |
| Clubs8: | Benfica B |
| Clubs9: | Boavista |
| Clubs10: | Oriente Petrolero |
| Caps1: | 67 |
| Caps2: | 34 |
| Caps3: | 15 |
| Caps4: | 28 |
| Caps5: | 105 |
| Caps6: | 26 |
| Caps7: | 22 |
| Caps8: | 3 |
| Caps9: | 92 |
| Caps10: | 38 |
| Totalcaps: | 430 |
| Goals1: | 23 |
| Goals2: | 13 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Goals4: | 8 |
| Goals5: | 25 |
| Goals6: | 6 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Goals8: | 3 |
| Goals9: | 19 |
| Goals10: | 10 |
| Totalgoals: | 108 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1989–2005 |
| Nationalteam1: | Bolivia |
| Nationalcaps1: | 57 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 15 |
| Manageryears1: | 2003–2004 |
| Manageryears2: | 2006–2009 |
| Manageryears3: | 2012–2013 |
| Manageryears4: | 2015 |
| Manageryears5: | 2015–2016 |
| Manageryears6: | 2018–2020 |
| Manageryears7: | 2020–2023 |
| Managerclubs1: | Boavista |
| Managerclubs2: | Bolivia |
| Managerclubs3: | Oriente Petrolero |
| Managerclubs5: | Boavista |
| Managerclubs6: | Blooming |
| Managerclubs7: | Oriente Petrolero |
Erwin Sánchez Freking (born 19 October 1969) is a Bolivian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, currently a manager.
Dubbed Platini,[1] 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.[2]
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.
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.[1]
Sánchez joined Boavista F.C. after being released in 1992, 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 (chequereds)[3] and being crucial to the club's only league conquest in 2001, with nine goals in 33 games.[4] [1]
After a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury,[5] Sánchez eventually lost importance in Boavista and left the club in 2004 after a coaching spell,[6] [7] 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.[8]
Sánchez had another managerial spell at Boavista,[9] as well as two each at Blooming[10] and Oriente Petrolero.[11]
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 3–1 loss against Spain;[12] 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.[13] [14] He was part of their 1997 Copa América squad,[15] playing all the matches save one for the runner-up hosts and scoring three goals, including in the final with Brazil.[16]
In 2006, Sánchez was named national team manager,[17] being dismissed after the unsuccessful 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.[18]
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 10 September 1989 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1990 World Cup qualification | |||
| 2. | 9 July 1991 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1991 Copa América | |||
| 3. | 18 July 1993 | 1–1 | align=center rowspan=3 | 1–7 | 1994 World Cup qualification | ||
| 4. | 1–5 | ||||||
| 5. | 1–7 | ||||||
| 6. | 8 August 1993 | 1–0 | 3–1 | ||||
| 7. | 22 August 1993 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | 3–0 | 7–0 | |||
| 8. | 4 May 1994 | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | |||
| 9. | 27 June 1994 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1994 FIFA World Cup | |||
| 10. | 25 October 1995 | Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia | 2–0 | 2–2 | Friendly | ||
| 11. | 21 June 1997 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1997 Copa América | ||
| 12. | 25 June 1997 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | 1–1 | 3–1 | |||
| 13. | 29 June 1997 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1997 Copa América Final | ||
| 14. | 5 July 1999 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1999 Copa América | |||
| 15. | 26 April 2000 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
Sánchez's son, also called Erwin, was also a Bolivian international midfielder.[19]
Benfica
Boavista
Oriente Petrolero
Blooming