Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez is a professional Chilean footballer, born on 19 December 1988 in Tocopilla, Chile. He is a winger but can play other forward positions as well. He plays for English club Manchester United and the Chile national team.

Alexis is a hard working player and gives his hundred percent on the field., he is quick with his feet and has supreme technique to dribble past his opponents.

Background

Alexis played for the youth team of C.D. Cobreloa a Chilean football club, after one year at the club he advanced to the senior team.

Debut

On February 2005, Sanchez made his senior team debut for Cobreloa against Deportes Temuco.

Rise to Glory

Sanchez had an impressive run of games with Cobreloa, he got linked with Italian club Udinese and signed for them on a 21 April 2006. However he was soon loaned off to Colo-Colo for long term progress.

After Sanchez returned to Udinese, he played vital role in the clubs performances in the Coppa Italia in 2009. His display of skill and brilliance in the 2011 season was awarded by FIFA.com when he was named as the world’s most promising youngster. Alexis had 95 appearances and 20 goals for Udinese.

Spanish giants Barcelona came sniffing for young Alexis after seeing his immense presence with the Series A side. The Chilean joined Barca for a fee of €26 million and was the first Chile player of the club.

Although Alexis didn't quite get into the groove with Barca due to injuries in the first season, he came back strong in the next season with his first goal against Benfica in a 0–2 away win.

He scored eight key goals in the season and Barca also won the League title that season.

Sanchez scored his first hat-trick for Barca against Elche and won the match 4-0.

He had an amazing season in 2013-14, scoring 21 goals in all competitions.

After an outstanding spell with Barcelona, Sanchez joined English club Arsenal on a hefty but deserved transfer fee of £31.7 million. He was on the move straight away, scoring and assisting his way into the league, other cup competitions and scoring two goals in the FA Cup semi finals versus Reading. Alexis was also voted as the 2015 PFA Fans' Player of the Year.

A goal in the FA Cup finals against Aston Villa increased his goal tally to 25. Winning the cup he got deserved respect by winning the Arsenal’s player of the year award.

In the 2015-16 season, Alexis scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal against Leicester winning the game by five goals to two and ending his ten game drought.

Sanchez helped Arsenal to win the quarter finals against Lincoln City by 5-0 lead in the FA Cup of 2016-17 season. He scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

With 30 goals and 19 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions of the 2016-17 season, Alexis was bound to win the Arsenal’s player of the year award. He was one of the best in PL.

Alexis joined PL rivals Manchester United on 22 January 2018. He scored his first goal in a penalty rebound against Huddersfield Town winning the game two goals to nil.

Sanchez was promoted from Chile’s under twenty squad where he helped them in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.His first international goal came on 7 September 2007 against New Zealand, unfortunately Chile lost 2-1.

The Chilean also participated in the 2011 Copa América and helped his country reach the quarterfinals. He was also a part of 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Alexis was named the man of the match in the 2015 Copa América quarterfinals match against Uruguay. In the semis he assisted Eduardo Vargas for the first goal and helped Chile advance into the finals, they went on to defeat Argentina in the penalty shootout bagging in a major title.

Sanchez is without any doubt a major influence on his team and is an integral part of the squad, he is playing in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.