Alejandro Sánchez Gómez

Alejandro Sánchez Gómez (born 10 September 1970) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a left back and later worked as a coach.

He played for a variety of clubs in Spain's top three divisions, including 41 appearances in La Liga with Atlético Madrid and Albacete Balompié in the mid-1990s.

Playing career Pegaso

Sánchez was born in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and began his career with local minnows Pegaso. However, he couldn't prevent Pegaso's relegation, as they finished two points shy of safety in 17th place, which was confirmed following a 1–0 home loss to Lugo on the final day of the season.

Atlético Madrid

Sánchez's performances for Pegaso did not go unnoticed, and he joined one of Madrid's biggest teams, Atlético Madrid, in 1991. Initially, he played for the newly renamed Atlético Madrid B (formerly Atlético Madrileño), who were erstwhile rivals of Pegaso in Segunda División B.

The following season, he made 31 appearances for Atlético B, and also scored his first goal for the club, in a 1–1 away draw against As Pontes. He added two more goals before the end of the year: in 3–2 away loss to Racing de Ferrol on 18 April, and six days later in a 3–2 home win over Real Aranjuez CF. He received his first call-up to the first team on 14 March, making his La Liga debut in a 2–1 loss to Sporting de Gijón at El Molinón. He also featured a week later, coming on for Manolo with sixteen minutes to play at home to Rayo Vallecano, and helping Atleti hold on for a 1–0 victory.

Towards the end of the season, it was decided that Sánchez, while not yet ready for a more permanent role with the first team, needed experience at a higher level than the B team could provide. He therefore joined Atlético Marbella of the Segunda División on loan in May 1993. He made his Marbella debut on 29 May, His full debut, and only other appearance before the end of the season, came a week later at home to Real Madrid B.

Sánchez spent the entirety of the 1993–94 season with Marbella, making 35 appearances. He scored his first La Liga goal at home to Sevilla on 29 January: having come on early in the second half for Toni Muñoz, he scored a 75th-minute equaliser, and helped nine-man Atlético to a 2–2 draw.

He played the last four minutes of the return fixture at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on 18 June, which also ended 2–2, this time as a replacement for José Luis Caminero. However, this was to be his last appearance for Los Rojiblancos, This meant he wasn't present for the relegation playoff games against Extremadura, which Albacete lost.

He didn't play again for Albacete after their relegation,

The following year, his first full season with Toledo, he made 17 appearances, and also netted his only goal for the club. This came in a 2–1 win over Leganés at their new stadium, Estadio Municipal de Butarque, on 2 May 1999. His final match for Toledo was the 2–1 home defeat at the hands of champions Málaga on 12 June, as he left the club at the end of the season. The Albacete game would transpire to be Sánchez's last as a professional, as he retired at the end of the season, just shy of his 30th birthday.

Coaching career

After retirement, Sánchez returned to Atlético Madrid as a coach for their C team.

Career statistics