Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo
The one-club sweeper who captained Real Madrid for 13 years.
Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo (Spanish pronunciation: [maˈnolo sanˈtʃis]; born 23 May 1965) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a sweeper. A part of the famous La Quinta del Buitre which stemmed from the Real Madrid youth academy, he was the only one of its five members to spend his entire career with the club. His father Manuel Sanchís also played for Real Madrid, and both were Spanish internationals. Sanchís appeared in more than 700 competitive matches for his only club, and represented the national team in one World Cup and one European Championship.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 23 May 1965
- Birthplace
- Madrid, Spain
- Height
- 1.77 m / 5 ft 10 in
- Position
- Sweeper
- Total caps
- 533
- Total goals
- 35
Lore & Background
Sanchís made his debut for Real Madrid on 4 December 1983, scoring the only goal at Real Murcia. He captained the club for 13 years, from 1988 to 2001. He retired in 2001 at age 36, having played 710 official games for Real Madrid – 523 in the league.
Reader's Guide
Sanchís was a central defender known for his defensive composure, placement, agility, leadership, tactical intelligence, reading of the game, positional sense, and passing. He usually played as a sweeper.
Did You Know?
- Sanchís scored his only international goal on 14 October 1987 in a 2–0 win over Austria.
- He won eight La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions Leagues with Real Madrid.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in Real Madrid
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