Player Details

Name

Ilie Sánchez

Pronunciation

ILL-ee-ay

Height

6'

Weight

174 lbs

Date of Birth

11.21.1990 (34)

Birthplace

Barcelona, Spain

Position

Midfielder

Footedness

Right

Roster Category

Senior
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Career Summary

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Supporters' Shield winner (2022)
  • MLS Cup Champion (2022)
  • MLS Western Conference Champion (2022, 2023)
  • MLS Cup runner-up (2023)
  • CONCACAF Champions League runner-up (2023)
  • MLS All Star (2018, 2022) 
  • Neal and Jeanne Patterson Sporting Kansas City Humanitarian of the Year (2019)
  • Sporting Kansas City Team MVP (2018)
  • MLS Newcomer of the Year (2017)
  • Lamar Hunt U.S.Open Cup Champion (2017)
  • made professional debut for Barcelona B 9/11/10 vs.FC Cartagena 

PERSONAL

  • born and raised in Barcelona
  • played at the famed La Masia (FC Barcelona youth academy) from age 7-9; later rejoined the academy at 16 
  • grandfather served as director of La Masia Academy
  • his family had season tickets to Barcelona games
  • older brother Yuri played soccer; now works as an economist in Barcelona
  • mother Carmen spent time in Kansas City and took English lessons at public library during Ilie's time with SKC 
  • regularly trained with Lionel Messi, Dani Alves and Neymar during his time at Barca B, plus other Barcelona legends Xavi, Carles Puyol, Iniesta, and David Villa
  • loves Marvel movies; favorite one is The Avengers
Scouting Report

PROFESSIONAL

2023 (Los Angeles Football Club):

  • appeared in all 34 MLS regular-season games, making 31 starts and registering one goal and three assists
  • named to MLS Team of the Week for Week 14 
  • started all five MLS Cup playoff matches, playing all 90 minutes in each, except MLS Cup final 12/9/23 (86 mins.played)
  • helped club achieve back-to-back Western Conference titles
  • made a club record 51 appearances (48 starts) across all competitions, including eight starts in CONCACAF Champions League, three Leagues Cup appearances, and one Campeones Cup appearance
  • registered his 90th LAFC appearance across all competitions 12/9/23 in MLS Cup final vs.Columbus

2022 (Los Angeles Football Club):

  • made LAFC debut 2/26/22 in 3-0 home win over Colorado 
  • made 30 regular-season starts (33 appearances), scoring one goal in 2,678 minutes
  • named to MLS Team of the Week for Weeks 1, 3, & 5
  • made his 175th MLS regular-season appearance 9/19/22 in 3-1 home win over Houston
  • named to 2022 MLS All Star Team 
  • ranked 2nd on team in regular-season minutes played with 2,678 (goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, 2,970)
  • ranked 5th in MLS in long passes into the final third (176)
  • started all three postseason games, logging 300 minutes and scoring the match-winning penalty kick in 2022 MLS Cup final 11/5/22

2021 (Sporting Kansas City):

  • made 30 appearances (27 starts), recording one goal in 2,506 minutes played
  • scored game-winning goal in 82nd minute vs.Austin 5/9/21
  • left his midfield spot and played 21 games in central defense due to injuries to SKC back line 
  • named to MLS Team of the Week for Week 22 
  • ranked 5th in MLS in touches (2,714)
  • ranked 6th in MLS in passes into the final third (183)

2020 (Sporting Kansas City):

  • made 15 appearances (13 starts) with one assist in 1,259 minutes played
  • registered assist 10/17/20 vs.Chicago
  • scored a goal in SKC's first-round playoff win over San Jose 11/22/20 
  • played 90 minutes in Western Conference semifinal loss to Minnesota 

2019 (Sporting Kansas City):

  • made 32 appearances (27 starts), notching two goals and career-high five assists in 2,509 minutes played
  • was named SKC's Neal and Jeanne Patterson Humanitarian of the Year for his philanthropic impact on the Kansas City community
  • helped lead SKC to CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, scoring goals vs.Deportivo Toluca FC and C.A. Independiente de La Chorrera

2018 (Sporting Kansas City):

  • started all 34 regular-season matches, registering a career-high four goals and four assists in 3,060 minutes played (also a career-high) 
  • played in 2018 MLS All Star game 8/1/18; came on as a substitute and played the second half of tie with Juventus
  • led MLS in minutes played (3,060)
  • named SKC Team MVP
  • assisted on both SKC goals 5/9/18 in 2-0 win over Atlanta
  • scored penalty-kick goal in 2-0 win over LAFC 8/11/18 
  • ranked 3rd in MLS in progressive passes (250) 
  • ranked 3rd in MLS in penalty kicks made (4) 
  • started and played all 90 minutes in all four of SKC’s MLS Cup playoff matches

2017 (Sporting Kansas City):

  • made 33 starts and 33 appearances in MLS debut season
  • registered two assists in 2,970 minutes played 
  • led SKC in minutes and games played 
  • made MLS debut 3/4/17 vs.DC United 
  • helped SKC win Lamar Hunt U.S.Open Cup
  • named MLS Newcomer of the Year

2015-16 (Elche CF – Spain Segunda Division):

  • joined Elche on loan from TSV Munich 1860
  • made 27 appearances (13 starts) and notched one goal and one assist in 1,393 minutes played
  • made his club debut 9/5/15 vs.Numancia
  • scored game-winning, 78th-minute penalty in 2-1 win over Osasuna 11/8/15

2014-15 (TSV Munich 1860 – Germany – Second Division):

  • made 26 appearances, scoring one goal in 1,885 minutes played

2013-14 (Barcelona B – Spain – Second Division):

  • made 38 appearances (36 starts) 
  • led Barcelona B to third-place finish in Segunda Division
  • logged 3,075 minutes played (2nd on team)
  • played in his 100th match for Barca B 2/22/14

2012-13 (Barcelona B – Spain – Second Division):

  • at age 21, made 29 appearances (23 starts), recording one assist in 1,993 minutes played 

2011-12 (Barcelona B – Spain – Second Division):

  • appeared in one match (for two minutes); missed the rest of the season due to knee injury

2010-12 (Barcelona B):

  • made 24 appearances (18 starts) 
  • helped Barca B earn promotion to Spanish Segunda Division
  • registered first professional goal 3/28/10
  • recorded two assists in 1,649 minutes played