Quique Sánchez Flores Explained

Quique Sánchez Flores
Fullname:Enrique Sánchez Flores
Birth Date:5 February 1965
Birth Place:Madrid, Spain
Height:1.76 m
Position:Right-back
Youthclubs1:CD Pegaso
Years1:1984–1994
Caps1:272
Goals1:23
Years2:1994–1996
Caps2:63
Goals2:2
Years3:1996–1997
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:344
Totalgoals:25
Nationalyears1:1982–1983
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1984–1986
Nationalcaps2:13
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1986–1987
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1987–1991
Nationalcaps4:15
Nationalgoals4:0
Manageryears1:2001–2004
Managerclubs1:Real Madrid (youth)
Manageryears2:2004–2005
Managerclubs2:Getafe
Manageryears3:2005–2007
Managerclubs3:Valencia
Manageryears4:2008–2009
Managerclubs4:Benfica
Manageryears5:2009–2011
Managerclubs5:Atlético Madrid
Manageryears6:2011–2013
Managerclubs6:Al-Ahli
Manageryears7:2013–2014
Managerclubs7:Al-Ain
Manageryears8:2015
Managerclubs8:Getafe
Manageryears9:2015–2016
Managerclubs9:Watford
Manageryears10:2016–2018
Managerclubs10:Espanyol
Manageryears11:2018–2019
Managerclubs11:Shanghai Shenhua
Manageryears12:2019
Managerclubs12:Watford
Manageryears13:2021–2023
Managerclubs13:Getafe
Manageryears14:2023–2024
Managerclubs14:Sevilla

Enrique "Quique" Sánchez Flores (pronounced as /es/; born 5 February 1965) is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a right-back.

He began his professional career with Valencia in 1984, going on to amass La Liga totals of 304 games and 16 goals over 12 seasons and also appearing for Real Madrid and Zaragoza in the competition, retiring in 1997. Internationally, he represented Spain at under-18, under-21 and under-23 levels, appearing with the senior side at the 1990 World Cup.

In 2001, Flores began his managerial career when he took charge of Real Madrid's youth team. His first senior post came in 2004, with Getafe, and he also managed Valencia, Atlético Madrid – where he won the 2010 Europa League – and Espanyol in the top division. Abroad, he had spells at Benfica in the Primeira Liga and Watford (twice) in the Premier League, as well as stints in the United Arab Emirates and China.

Playing career

Born in Madrid, Flores spent his first ten years as a senior with Valencia, starting in 1984–85. The club was relegated in his second season, and when it returned to La Liga in the 1987–88 campaign, finished 14th. However, from that point until 1994 the team never ranked lower than seventh, with him as first-choice.[1]

Flores moved to Real Madrid in summer 1994 on a four-year contract, and stayed with the capital side for two seasons, winning the league title in the first one[2] but being deemed surplus to requirements early into the 1996 preseason after complaining to newly-arrived manager Fabio Capello of toenail pains.[3] Subsequently, he had a brief spell with Real Zaragoza, retiring from professional football at the age of 32 with Spanish top-flight totals of 304 games and 16 goals;[4] in his only season in the Segunda División, as Valencia won the championship, he posted career-highs with 40 matches and nine goals.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Flores made 15 appearances for the Spain national team, and was included in the 1990 FIFA World Cup squad. His debut came on 23 September 1987, in a 2–0 friendly win against Luxembourg in Castellón de la Plana.[13] [14]

Coaching career

Beginnings

Flores began his coaching career in 2001 by taking charge of Real Madrid's youth teams. After earning plaudits during his three seasons with the youth teams, he caught the eye of the newly promoted Getafe, also in Madrid.[15]

Valencia

After the 2004–05 campaign with Getafe, in which they finished in 13th place, Flores was given the opportunity to coach his former club Valencia, succeeding Claudio Ranieri.[16] In his first year, he guided them to third place and thus qualified for the UEFA Champions League where the team went on to reach the quarter-finals, being knocked out by Chelsea.[17]

In May 2007, the Che achieved a top-four league finish and consequently a place in the next Champions League. On 29 October, however, the board of directors dismissed Flores after a string of poor results.[18]

Benfica

Flores was appointed as manager of Benfica on 24 May 2008.[19] On 8 June of the following year he left the Primeira Liga side by mutual consent, after a third place in the league and winning the domestic league cup.[20]

Atlético Madrid

On 23 October 2009, Flores signed for Atlético Madrid following the dismissal of Abel Resino,[21] penning a contract until 30 June 2010.[22] At the end of the campaign, he led the team to the ninth position in the domestic competition, but also to two cup finals: the UEFA Europa League against Fulham (2–1 win)[23] and the Copa del Rey, lost to Sevilla.[24]

Frequently clashing with star player Diego Forlán during 2010–11,[25] [26] Flores announced his departure from the Colchoneros before the season ended, with the team finally qualifying for the Europa League.[27]

Al Ahli

In early May 2011, Flores was linked with a move to Spartak Moscow.[28] On 8 November, however, he was named new coach of UAE Pro League team Al Ahli, replacing Ivan Hašek.[29] He left on 11 June 2013.

Al Ain

On 28 September 2013, only three months after leaving the country, Flores returned to the United Arab Emirates, being appointed at Al Ain.[30] However, his tenure was brief, as he was dismissed on 8 March 2014 due to poor results.[31]

Return to Getafe

After nearly nine months without a club, Flores returned to Getafe on 5 January 2015 to succeed Cosmin Contra as the new manager, following the latter's departure to China.[32] His first match in charge took place two days later, and it ended with a 1–1 away draw against Almería in the domestic cup;[33] on 26 February, however, citing personal reasons, he resigned.[34]

Watford

On 5 June 2015, Flores was appointed the head coach of newly promoted Premier League side Watford, replacing Slaviša Jokanović and being the fifth man to hold that position in twelve months.[35] In December, the team won three and lost only one of their league matches, earning him the Premier League Manager of the Month accolade; his forward Odion Ighalo earned the equivalent award for his five-goal haul that month.[36]

However, despite going on to lead the team to a comfortable mid-table position and the semi-finals of the FA Cup, it was announced on 13 May 2016 that Flores would be leaving at the end of the season.[37]

Espanyol

On 9 June 2016, Flores returned to Spain, signing a three-year deal to replace Constantin Gâlcă as manager of Espanyol.[38] His second signing was José Antonio Reyes, with whom he had previously worked at Benfica and Atlético.[39]

Flores was dismissed on 20 April 2018, after achieving poor results towards the end of the season.[40] In July, he was on a four-man shortlist for the vacant Egyptian national team manager job.[41]

Shanghai Shenhua

On 25 December 2018, Flores was appointed as manager of Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.[42] The following July, he left.[43]

Return to Watford

Flores returned to Watford on 7 September 2019, replacing his compatriot Javi Gracia who was dismissed the same day.[44] His team completed a comeback from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 with Arsenal at Vicarage Road in his first game back on 15 September.[45] However, one week later, they were defeated 8–0 at the City of Manchester Stadium by Manchester City, with the opposition scoring five goals in the first 15 minutes for their biggest ever Premier League win.[46]

On 30 November 2019, Watford went away to Southampton and lost 2–1. The next day, Flores was sacked after securing only a single victory in his second stint in charge.[47]

Third Getafe spell

On 6 October 2021, Flores was presented as Getafe manager for the third time, after Míchel was dismissed for not winning any of the first eight games of the season.[48] His team were eliminated from the second round of the Spanish Cup on 16 December with a 5–0 loss at Atlético Baleares of the Primera Federación,[49] but seventeen days later achieved the first victory over Real Madrid in nearly nine years with a lone goal by Enes Ünal.[50]

Flores' side finished 15th in his first campaign back.[51] On 27 April 2023, he was relieved of his duties as they fought relegation with seven matches remaining, and was replaced by another returnee, José Bordalás.[52]

Sevilla

On 18 December 2023, Flores was appointed at Sevilla, signing a contract until 2025;[53] he was their third coach of the campaign after José Luis Mendilibar and Diego Alonso.[54] He won on his debut the following day, 3–0 at second-bottom Granada.[55]

During a match at Getafe on 30 March 2024, Sánchez Flores, of Spanish Gypsy ancestry, was the victim of racist abuse from behind the coaches' benches. As a result of chants against Marcos Acuña in the same game, the hosts were ordered to close sections of their stadium for three matches and fined. However, as the insults against the manager were not mentioned in the referee's report, no action was taken with regards to them.[56]

On 18 May 2024, having secured survival, Sánchez Flores announced he would be leaving the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on 30 June.[57]

Personal life

Flores is the nephew of flamenco singer and dancer Lola Flores.[58] His father, Isidro, was also a footballer and a defender,[59] and Alfredo Di Stéfano was his godfather.[60] His brother and son, named Isidro and Enrique respectively, played football at lower levels.[61] [62]

Managerial statistics

[63]

TeamFromToRecord
Getafe8 July 200431 May 2005[64] [65]
Valencia31 May 200529 October 2007[66]
Benfica24 May 20088 June 2009[67]
Atlético Madrid23 October 200922 May 2011[68]
Al-Ahli8 November 201111 June 2013[69]
Al-Ain28 September 20138 March 2014[70]
Getafe5 January 201526 February 2015
Watford5 June 201516 May 2016[71]
Espanyol9 June 201620 April 2018[72]
Shanghai Shenhua25 December 20183 July 2019[73]
Watford7 September 20191 December 2019
Getafe6 October 202127 April 2023[74]
Sevilla18 December 202330 June 2024
Career totals—

Honours

Player

Valencia

1986–87[12]

Real Madrid

1994–95[75]

Spain U21

1986[76]

Manager

Benfica

2008–09[77]

Atlético Madrid

2009–10[23]

2010[78]

Al Ahli

2011–12[79]

2012–13[79]

Al Ain

2013–14[80]

Individual

December 2015[81]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Un banquillo de autor. Writer's bench. La Vanguardia. Novo. Carlos. es. 16 September 2016. 14 June 2018.
  2. News: La banda era de Quique. The wing was Quique's. El Periódico de Catalunya. Merino. Antonio. es. 17 February 2017. 14 June 2018.
  3. News: Fabio Capello lideró el primer proyecto de Lorenzo Sanz. Fabio Capello was in charge of Lorenzo Sanz's first project. Diario AS. es. 24 March 2020. 23 February 2023.
  4. News: Quique Sánchez Flores alcanza los quinientos partidos en Primera División. Quique Sánchez Flores reaches five hundred matches in Primera División. Sport. es. 9 February 2015. 23 February 2023.
  5. News: 0–1: Un Valencia "protegido" ganó en Figueres. 0–1: "Protected" Valencia won in Figueres. Mundo Deportivo. Serra. Josep María. es. 7 September 1986. 9 June 2015.
  6. News: 1–2: El Valencia ya es líder. 1–2: Valencia have climbed to first place. Mundo Deportivo. es. 11 September 1986. 9 June 2015.
  7. News: 2–1: Este Valencia sigue sin convencer. 2–1: This Valencia still fail to convince. Mundo Deportivo. Domínguez. Miguel. es. 3 November 1986. 9 June 2015.
  8. News: 3–1: Traca del Valencia. 3–1: Valencia fireworks. Mundo Deportivo. Domínguez. Miguel. es. 17 November 1986. 9 June 2015.
  9. News: 0–1: Renació la "flor" del Valencia... en La Rosaleda. 0–1: Valencia "flower" reborn... at La Rosaleda. Mundo Deportivo. Mancera. J.. es. 18 December 1986. 9 June 2015.
  10. News: 1–0: Quique volvió a salvar al Valencia. 1–0: Quique rescued Valencia again. Mundo Deportivo. Domínguez. Miguel. es. 29 December 1986. 9 June 2015.
  11. News: 3–1: El Valencia fulminó al Logroñés. 3–1: Valencia blindsided Logroñés. Mundo Deportivo. Domínguez. Miguel. es. 6 April 1987. 9 June 2015.
  12. News: 2–0: El Valencia ya está en Primera. 2–0: Valencia are already in Primera. Mundo Deportivo. Domínguez. Miguel. es. 31 May 1987. 9 June 2015.
  13. Web site: Enrique Sánchez Flores, 'Quique' – International Appearances. RSSSF. Pla Díaz. Emilio. 11 October 2006. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930221129/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/qflores-intl.html. 30 September 2007.
  14. News: Luxemburgo nunca hizo un gol a España en los cuatro precedentes. Luxembourg never scored goal to Spain in four previous. Mundo Deportivo. es. 11 October 2014. 9 June 2016.
  15. News: Quique Sánchez Flores, el artista que dirige al Espanyol. Quique Sánchez Flores, the artist who leads Espanyol. Mundo Deportivo. Aguilar. Francesc. es. 15 December 2016. 14 June 2018.
  16. News: Quique Sánchez Flores, nuevo entrenador del Valencia. Quique Sánchez Flores, new manager of Valencia. El Mundo. es. 30 May 2005. 21 April 2018.
  17. News: Quique: "No estamos entre los cuatro mejores de Europa". Quique: "We are not among Europe's four best". 20 minutos. es. 11 April 2007. 21 April 2018.
  18. Web site: Valencia part with Sánchez Flores. UEFA. 29 October 2007. 22 April 2010.
  19. Web site: Benfica appoint Flores as coach. BBC Sport. 24 May 2008. 24 May 2008.
  20. Web site: Official: Flores leaves Benfica. PortuGOAL. 7 June 2009. 18 January 2011.
  21. Web site: Quique Sanchez Flores to become new Atletico Madrid coach. Goal. Brown. Lucas. 23 October 2009. 23 October 2009.
  22. Web site: Atletico make Flores appointment. Sky Sports. Casey. Jamie. 23 October 2009. 24 October 2009.
  23. News: Atlético Madrid's Diego Forlán strikes to beat Fulham in Europa League. The Guardian. McCarra. Kevin. 12 May 2010. 13 May 2010.
  24. News: Ganó el serio, cayó el alegre. Serious won, playful lost. El País. Besa. Ramón. es. 19 May 2010. 11 September 2015.
  25. Web site: Quique Sanchez Flores: Diego Forlan's situation at Atletico Madrid is similar to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Barcelona. Goal. Coerts. Stefan. 27 April 2011. 16 May 2011.
  26. Web site: Forlan's relationship with Atlético seems damaged beyond repair. Sports Illustrated. 11 May 2011. 16 May 2011.
  27. Web site: Fútbol/Liga BBVA.– Crónica del Atlético de Madrid – Hércules, 2–1. Football/BBVA League.– Atlético de Madrid – Hércules match report, 2–1. Europa Press. es. 15 May 2011. 21 December 2023.
  28. News: Nueva 'novia' para Quique Sánchez: el Spartak ruso. New 'bride' for Quique Sánchez: Russia's Spartak. Mundo Deportivo. G. Fuente. Chema. es. 12 May 2011. 16 May 2011.
  29. Web site: Quique Sanchez Flores takes over as Al Ahli boss after Ivan Hasek dismissal. Goal. Somerford. Ben. 8 November 2011. 8 November 2011.
  30. Web site: Al Ain appoint Quique Flores as new head coach. UAE Pro League Committee. 28 September 2013. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20131002035622/http://proleague.ae/en/news/quique-joins-alain.html. 2 October 2013.
  31. News: Quique Sanchez Flores out at Al Ain. The National. Passela. Amith. 8 March 2014. 11 November 2014.
  32. Web site: Getafe names Quique Sanchez Flores as new manager. Fox Sports. 5 January 2015. 7 January 2015.
  33. News: Verza deja todo abierto para la vuelta. Verza leaves everything open for second leg. Marca. Egea. Pablo. es. 7 January 2015. 9 January 2015.
  34. News: Quique Sánchez Flores dimite como entrenador del Getafe. Quique Sánchez Flores resigns as manager of Getafe. Marca. Giménez. José Antonio. es. 26 February 2015. 26 February 2015.
  35. Web site: Watford: Quique Sanchez Flores replaces Slavisa Jokanovic. BBC Sport. 5 June 2015. 5 June 2015.
  36. Web site: Watford's Ighalo and Flores win Premier League awards. Goal. McVitie. Peter. 15 January 2016. 15 January 2016.
  37. Web site: Watford manager to leave in summer. BBC Sport. 13 May 2016. 13 May 2016.
  38. Web site: Quique Sanchez Flores: Espanyol appoint former Watford boss. BBC Sport. 9 June 2016. 9 June 2016.
  39. News: Espanyol confirm signing of former Sevilla forward Jose Antonio Reyes. Sport. García. J. C.. 28 June 2016. 1 July 2016.
  40. Web site: Espanyol sack manager Quique Sanchez Flores after bad run. ESPN. 20 April 2018. 20 April 2018.
  41. Web site: Egypt announces four-man coaching shortlist to replace Cuper. BBC Sport. Talaat. Tarek. 25 July 2018. 25 July 2018.
  42. Web site: Quique Sanchez Flores: China's Shanghai Shenhua appoint ex-Watford boss as manager. BBC Sport. 25 December 2018. 26 December 2018.
  43. Web site: Ex-Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores leaves Shanghai Shenhua. Sky Sports. Mathews. Max. 3 July 2019. 6 July 2019.
  44. Web site: New head coach: Sánchez Flores appointed. Watford F.C.. 7 September 2019. 7 September 2019.
  45. Web site: Watford 2–2 Arsenal. BBC Sport. Mann. Mantej. 15 September 2019. 22 September 2019.
  46. Web site: Manchester City 8–0 Watford. BBC Sport. Bevan. Chris. 21 September 2019. 22 September 2019.
  47. Web site: Quique Sanchez Flores: Watford sack manager after less than three months in charge. BBC Sport. 1 December 2019. 1 December 2019.
  48. Web site: Soccer-Sanchez Flores named Getafe coach for third time. Reuters. Martin. Richard. 6 October 2021. 2 May 2023.
  49. News: Quique, hundido tras el ridículo: "Esto es inaceptable...". Quique, sunk after the humiliation: "This is unacceptable...". Diario AS. es. 16 December 2021. 2 May 2023.
  50. News: Getafe roll over Real Madrid in great escape bid inspired by Crystal Palace. The Guardian. Lowe. Sid. 4 February 2022. 2 May 2023.
  51. Web site: Quién es Quique Sánchez Flores, el entrenador del Getafe: historia, de dónde es, estadísticas, títulos, palmarés, logros y en qué equipos ha entrenado. Who is Quique Sánchez Flores, manager of Getafe: story, where is he from, statistics, titles, honours, achievements and what teams has he managed. Goal. es. 29 June 2022. 4 May 2023.
  52. Web site: El Getafe destituye a Quique Sánchez Flores; Bordalás, principal candidato para sustituirle. Getafe dismiss Quique Sánchez Flores; Bordalás, main candidate to replace him. Cadena SER. Cartagena. Luis. es. 27 April 2023. 2 May 2023.
  53. Web site: Quique Sánchez Flores announced as new head coach. Sevilla FC. 18 December 2023. 19 December 2023.
  54. Web site: Sevilla confirms Quique Sanchez Flores as first team coach until 2025. Xinhua News Agency. 18 December 2023. 19 December 2023.
  55. News: Quique se estrena con victoria en el Sevilla ante un pobre Granada (0–3). Quique with winning debut at Sevilla against poor Granada (0–3). Infobae. es. 19 December 2023. 21 December 2023.
  56. News: El Comité de Disciplina ordena el cierre parcial del estadio del Getafe por los insultos racistas a Marcos Acuña. Disciplinary Committee orders partial closure of Getafe's ground for racist insults against Marcos Acuña. El País. Pineda. Rafael. es. 3 April 2024. 4 April 2024.
  57. Web site: Quique Sánchez Flores anuncia que no seguirá en Sevilla. Quique Sánchez Flores announces he will not continue in Seville. ESPN Deportes. es. 18 May 2024. 18 May 2024.
  58. News: La otra cara de... Carmen Flores. The other face of... Carmen Flores. Las Provincias. Lluesma. Chelo. es. 16 September 2007. 25 May 2008.
  59. Web site: Quique Sánchez Flores se despide de su padre el también futbolista Isidro Sánchez García-Figueras. Quique Sánchez Flores says goodbye to his father, also footballer Isidro Sánchez García-Figueras. Europa Press. es. 4 September 2013. 27 May 2015.
  60. News: Watford's Quique Flores flourishing with a little inspiration from Di Stéfano. The Guardian. Lawrence. Amy. 13 August 2015. 29 August 2015.
  61. News: Histórico de la Tercera madrileña muy copero. Historic side from the Madrid Tercera with quite the cup pedigree. Diario AS. es. 29 February 2008. 13 April 2024.
  62. News: El hijo de Quique Flores debuta con el primer equipo del Getafe. Quique Flores' son debuts with Getafe's first team. Diario AS. Hernández. Javier. es. 12 July 2022. 13 April 2024.
  63. Web site: Enrique Sanchez Flores. Soccerbase. 24 September 2016.
  64. Web site: Quique Flores. ForaDeJogo. 3 March 2016.
  65. Web site: Quique: Enrique Sánchez Flores: Getafe. BDFutbol. 3 March 2016.
  66. Web site: Quique: Enrique Sánchez Flores: Valencia. BDFutbol. 3 March 2016.
  67. Web site: Sport Lisboa e Benfica: Squad 2008/2009. ForaDeJogo. 3 March 2016.
  68. Web site: Quique: Enrique Sánchez Flores: Atlético de Madrid. BDFutbol. 3 March 2016.
  69. Web site: Al Ahli FC Dubai: Matches. Soccerway. 3 March 2016.
  70. Web site: Al Ain SCC: Matches. Soccerway. 3 March 2016.
  71. Web site: Watford: Results/matches: 2015/16. Soccerbase. Centurycomm. 21 April 2018.

  73. Web site: Shanghai Shenhua FC: Matches. Soccerway. 8 September 2019.

  75. News: Un pasillo y muchos bostezos. Guard of honour and yawns aplenty. Mundo Deportivo. Mínguez. Antonio. es. 11 June 1995. 4 September 2015.
  76. News: ¡¡¡Campeones!!!. Champions!!!. Mundo Deportivo. Perearnau. Francesc. es. 30 October 1986. 5 June 2014.
  77. Web site: Quique Flores: "Jesus trabalhou muito para que os títulos voltassem". Quique Flores: "Jesus worked hard to make titles come back". SAPO. pt. 12 March 2015. 11 September 2015.
  78. Web site: Slick Atlético seal Super Cup success. UEFA. Harrold. Michael. 27 August 2010. 11 September 2015.
  79. News: Former Al Ahli and Al Ain coach Quique Sanchez Flores in line for Watford vacancy. The National. 27 May 2015. 11 September 2015.
  80. News: Al Ain can finally smile after a dismal AGL season. The National. Khaled. Ali. 18 May 2014. 11 September 2015.
  81. Web site: Manager profile: Enrique Sánchez Flores. Premier League. 19 September 2018.

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