Diego Sánchez (footballer, born 1987)

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

Diego Ignacio Sánchez Carvajal (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo ˈsantʃeθ], born 8 May 1987) is a Chilean footballer that currently plays for the Primera División club Coquimbo Unido as a goalkeeper.

Diego Sánchez

Sánchez with Unión Española in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Diego Ignacio Sánchez Carvajal
Date of birth	(1987-05-08) 8 May 1987 (age 38)
Place of birth	Santiago, Chile
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Coquimbo Unido
Number	13
Youth career
2003–2007	Palestino
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2009	Palestino	5	(0)
2008	→ Unión Temuco (loan)	14	(0)
2009	Deportes Temuco	19	(0)
2010	Barnechea	20	(0)
2011–2012	Unión San Felipe	43	(0)
2013–2021	Unión Española	164	(0)
2022	Deportes Antofagasta	19	(0)
2023–	Coquimbo Unido	50	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 December 2022

Club career

Early career

Born in Santiago, Sánchez joined Palestino youth ranks aged twelve thanks to his father Gustavo that played there during the 1980s and was member of the team's 1986 Primera División runner-up squad.^[1] Diego was promoted to Palestino first adult team in 2007 by Luis Musrri (club's coach), because the bad shape of Fernando Burgos in the goal, and the injury of first-choice Felipe Núñez. On 8 August, he made his debut against Universidad Católica in a 1–1 draw at Estadio Nacional, playing another four games that season.

In January 2008, Sánchez was loaned to third-tier side Unión Temuco, for then the next season join cross–town rivals Deportes Temuco, for finally move to Barnechea in 2010, being all of those third-level teams. Because his well performances he join first-tier club Unión San Felipe in 2011, where in his second game against Universidad de Chile was the man of the match in a 2–0 away win.^[2] However, the next season San Felipe relegated to Primera B and Sánchez was released of Aconcagua Valley-based team.

In December 2022, he joined Coquimbo Unido for the 2023 season.^[3]

International career

Sánchez got his first call up to the senior Chile squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Uruguay in November 2014.^[4]

Personal life

Diego is the son of Gustavo Sánchez, a former goalkeeper for Palestino in the 1980s who represented Chile in the 1985 Indonesian Independence Cup.^[5][6]

Honours

Unión Española

• Torneo de Transición (1): 2013
• Supercopa de Chile (1): 2013