LAFC midfielder Ilie Sánchez drives community forward
Giving back to the community off the field has always been of paramount importance to LAFC midfielder Ilie Sánchez.
Player Details
Name
Ilie SánchezPronunciation
ILL-ee-ayHeight
6'Weight
174 lbsDate of Birth
11.21.1990 (33)Birthplace
Barcelona, SpainPosition
MidfielderPosition Detail
Defensive MidfielderPreferred Side
CentreFootedness
RightRoster Category
Senior
Latest Video
Latest Video
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
