Albert Sánchez Saura (born 1 April 1987) is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as either a centre-back or a midfielder. He is the current manager of FC Barcelona Atlètic.

Albert Sánchez
Personal information
Full name Albert Sánchez Saura
Date of birth (1987-04-01) 1 April 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
Position(s) Centre-back, midfielder
Team information
Current team
Barcelona B (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Sant Ildefons
Levante Las Planas
Managerial career
2011–2013 Levante Las Planas (women)
2013–2017 Espanyol (youth)
2019–2020 Qadsia (assistant)
2020–2021 Al Fateh U20
2021–2022 Barcelona (youth)
2022–2024 Barcelona B (assistant)
2024– Barcelona B
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Born in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Sánchez played for UE Sant Ildefons and FC Levante Las Planas in the regional leagues, before retiring at the age of 24 to pursue a coaching career.[1][2]

Coaching career

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After graduating in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Sánchez began his coaching career as manager of the women's team of his last club Levante Las Planas.[3] He led the club to a first-ever promotion to the Primera División in his first season,[4] and led the club to an 11th place finish in his second[5] before leaving to work in the youth sides of RCD Espanyol.

Sánchez worked mainly as an assistant of the under-16, under-17 and under-19 teams at the Pericos, being also a Methodology coordinator during the 2016–17 season, a role he also held at FC Santboià between 2015 and 2017. After leaving Espanyol in 2017, he joined SCR Peña Deportiva as a Methodology Director and fitness coach in the main squad.[6]

In July 2019, after a period at Chinese club Beijing Enterprises Group FC, Sánchez became an assistant coach of Pablo Franco at Qadsia SC in Kuwait.[7] He moved to Al Fateh SC in the following year, being a Technical Director while also taking over their under-20 team.

In July 2021, Sánchez was announced as Óscar López's assistant at FC Barcelona's Juvenil A squad.[8] On 16 July 2022, he moved to FC Barcelona Atlètic as an assistant of Rafael Márquez.[9]

On 25 July 2024, Sánchez was named manager of Barça Atlètic after Márquez left the club.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "El nexo que une a los seis principales formadores del Barça" [The link that unites the six main coaches of Barça] (in Spanish). Sport. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Así es Albert Sánchez, el nuevo entrenador del Barça Atlètic" [This is Albert Sánchez, the new manager of Barça Atlètic] (in Spanish). Sport. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  3. ^ "El sustituto de Rafa Márquez que se hizo mayor en el Levante Las Planas: "Le ha llegado el premio a la valentía"" [The replacement of Rafa Márquez that grew up at Levante Las Planas: "The reward to courage has arrived"] (in Spanish). Relevo. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  4. ^ "El hoyuelo más famoso del fútbol femenino" [The most famous dimple in women's football] (in Spanish). Marca. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  5. ^ "El Levante Las Planas continua a l'elit del futbol femení" [Levante Las Planas continue in the top tier of women's football] (in Catalan). La Premsa del Baix. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  6. ^ "#Futbolverdadero :: ENTREVISTA A JAY CLARKE : » Soy entrenador, pero me siento futbolista y no quiero renunciar a eso.»" [#Futbolverdadero :: INTERVIEW TO JAY CLARKE : "I am a manager, but I feel like a footballer and I do not want to resign to this."] (in Spanish). El Fútbol Verdadero. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Pablo Franco ficha por el Qadsia kuwaití" [Pablo Franco signs for Kuwaiti Qadsia] (in Spanish). Marca. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Definidos los entrenadores del fútbol formativo para la temporada 2021/22" [Defined the managers of the youth football for the 2021/22 season] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Albert Sánchez, nombrado segundo de Rafa Márquez en el Barça Atlètic" [Albert Sánchez, named assistant of Rafa Márquez at Barça Atètic] (in Spanish). Sport. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Albert Sánchez appointed new coach of Barça Atlètic". FC Barcelona. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
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