Isaías Sánchez

Isaías Sánchez Cortés (Spanish pronunciation: [isaˈi.as ˈsantʃeθ koɾˈtes]; born 9 February 1987), known simply as Isaías, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Australian club Adelaide United.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Cortés.

Isaías
Isaías being presented by Adelaide United in 2013
Personal information
Full name Isaías Sánchez Cortés
Date of birth (1987-02-09) 9 February 1987[1]
Place of birth Sabadell, Spain[1]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Adelaide United
Number 8
Youth career
1993–2001 Damm
2001–2004 Mercantil
2004–2006 Badalona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Badalona 84 (0)
2010–2011 Espanyol B 23 (0)
2011–2013 Espanyol 4 (0)
2011–2013 → Ponferradina (loan) 55 (1)
2013–2019 Adelaide United 158 (10)
2019–2021 Al-Wakrah 37 (0)
2021– Adelaide United 50 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 May 2023

He spent most of his career in Australia with Adelaide United after signing in 2013, winning several team honours. In La Liga, he played four matches with Espanyol.

Club career

Early years and Espanyol

Born in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Isaías was a CF Badalona youth graduate, and started playing professionally with that club in the Segunda División B while also working as a part-time plumber.[2] In 2010 he signed for RCD Espanyol, but spent the majority of his first year with the reserves in the Tercera División.[3]

On 10 April 2011, Isaías made his first-team and La Liga debut, playing the last 22 minutes of a 0–0 away draw against Hércules CF.[4] He spent the following two seasons on loan to SD Ponferradina,[5] contributing 27 games and one goal[6] in his second to help the side to return to Segunda División.[7]

Adelaide United

In July 2013, Isaías signed for Adelaide United FC, penning a two-year contract.[8] He won the Player of The Year award for his team in his debut campaign in the A-League.[9]

Isaías scored his first goal for the club on 24 January 2015, netting from 25 meters in a 7–0 win over the Newcastle Jets FC.[10] He repeated the feat in the 2016 A-League Grand Final in an eventual 3–1 defeat of Western Sydney Wanderers FC, through a 34th-minute free kick.[11]

On 23 September 2017, Isaías was announced as captain at Adelaide United's season launch, taking over from Eugene Galekovic who transferred to Melbourne City FC.[12] In January 2019, the 32-year-old became an Australian citizen.[13]

Isaías left Adelaide United in May 2019, in order to explore overseas opportunities.[14][15]

Later career

On 4 July 2019, recently promoted Al-Wakrah SC announced on Twitter the transfer of Isaías for an undisclosed fee.[16][17] The 34-year-old returned to Adelaide United on 23 August 2021, signing a three-year contract.[18]

Style of play

Playing as a defensive midfielder for Adelaide United, Isaías can switch between defensive and offensive positions and also drops into defence, allowing the full-backs to push forward.[19][20][21] He is known for his ability to control the pace and intensity of the game, keep possession of the ball and launch attacks when his team plays from defence to attack.[22][23]

Isaías was described by Adelaide manager Josep Gombau as his "foot soldier", being a complete footballer with technique, speed and controlled aggression.[24][25][26]

Career statistics
As of 21 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Badalona 2006–07[27] Segunda División B 12040—160
2007–08[27] Segunda División B 18010—190
2008–09[27] Segunda División B 320——320
2009–10[27] Segunda División B 220——220
Total 84050—890
Espanyol 2010–11[27] La Liga 4000—40
Ponferradina (loan) 2011–12[27] Segunda División B 271406[lower-alpha 1]0371
2012–13[27] Segunda División 28040—320
Total 5518060691
Adelaide United 2013–14[28] A-League 270——270
2014–15[28] A-League 27150—321
2015–16[28] A-League 274301[lower-alpha 2]0314
2016–17[28] A-League 221103[lower-alpha 2]0261
2017–18[28] A-League 2605000310
2018–19[28] A-League 2945000344
Total 158101904018110
Al-Wakrah 2019–20[28] Qatar Stars League 2204000260
2020–21[28] Qatar Stars League 150511[lower-alpha 3]0211
Total 3709110471
Adelaide United 2021–22[28] A-League Men 2502000270
2022–23[28] A-League Men 2503000280
Total 5005000550
Career total 3881146011044512
  1. Appearance in Promotion playoff
  2. Appearances in AFC Champions League
  3. Appearance in Emir of Qatar Cup

Honours

Adelaide United

Individual

References
  1. "Isaías". Eurosport. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  2. Greco, John (21 March 2019). "Spanish plumber to Adelaide legend: Isaias' journey to the Reds". A-League. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  3. "Fútbol.– El centrocampista del filial Isaías Sánchez, principal novedad en la convocatoria del Espanyol ante el Hércules" [Football.– Reserve-team midfielder Isaías Sánchez, main novelty in Espanyol call-up against Hércules] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  4. "Hercules falter on home soil". ESPN Soccernet. 10 April 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  5. Santiago, J. (6 July 2012). "Llega Roberto Santamaría y renueva Isaías" [Roberto Santamaría arrives and Isaías renews]. La Crónica de León (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  6. "La Ponferradina se lleva de calle el derbi frente a la Segoviana" [Ponferradina take derby against Segoviana with flying colours]. La Opinión de Zamora (in Spanish). 23 January 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. Otero, F.R. (27 June 2012). "Claudio seguirá en el banquillo del club berciano" [Claudio to remain in bench of Bercian club]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. "Reds Spanish Armada about to arrive". Football Australia. 8 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  9. Bednall, Jai (23 April 2014). "Adelaide United's Mr Fix-it, Isaias Sanchez, has won the Reds' club champion award for his brilliant debut season". The Advertiser. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  10. "Adelaide United thrash Newcastle Jets 7–0 in one-sided A-League affair". ABC. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  11. Hassett, Sebastian (1 May 2016). "A-League grand final 2016: Adelaide United beat Western Sydney Wanderers to claim first title". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  12. Migliaccio, Val (23 September 2017). "Isaias is officially the heart and soul of Adelaide United". The Advertiser. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  13. Thomas, Josh (9 January 2019). "Socceroos a goal for Aussie Isaias". Goal. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  14. Larkin, Steve (27 May 2019). "Adelaide United captain departs A-League". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  15. Windon, Jacob (27 May 2019). "Reds blow: Skipper Isaias leaves Adelaide United". Football Australia. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  16. Manchón, Martín (4 July 2019). "El Al Wakrah catarí hace oficial el fichaje de Isaías Sánchez" [Qatar's Al Wakrah make signing of Isaías Sánchez official] (in Spanish). Migrantes del Balón. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  17. Lewis, Dave (15 July 2019). "Saudis pounce for Goodwin in likely blow to Adelaide". The World Game. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  18. Andy, Adelaide (26 August 2021). "Matador Isaias Sanchez returns to the A-League bullfight". The Roar. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  19. Migliaccio, Val (7 October 2013). "Reds are building on a theme". Perth Now. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  20. "Isaias Sanchez returns from suspension to provide options for Adelaide United". News.com. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  21. Parkin, Richard (28 October 2013). "A-League tactical round-up: how injuries deplete systems". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  22. Elkerton, Matthew (30 September 2013). "A-League's new kids on the block". Back Page Lead. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  23. "Adelaide United recruit Isaias Sanchez sets his sights on early Glory". Herald Sun. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  24. "Sanchez happy to fly under the radar". Football Australia. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  25. "Adelaide United – Season preview". Leopold Method. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  26. "Adelaide United's Isaias Sanchez has the class and flair to keep fans coming back". The Daily Telegraph. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  27. "Isaías Sánchez: Isaías Sánchez Cortés". BDFutbol. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  28. "Isaías". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  29. Kemp, Emma (1 May 2016). "Isaias awarded Joe Marston Medal". The Roar. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  30. Harrington, Anna (20 May 2022). "ALM young guns get shot against Barcelona". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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