Óscar Sánchez (footballer, born 1971)

Óscar Carmelo Sánchez Zambrana (July 16, 1971 – November 23, 2007) was a Bolivian sweeper who played for the Bolivia national football team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. Born in Cochabamba, he was capped 78 times by Bolivia and scored 6 goals, between 1994 and 2007.[1] He was the captain of the national team several times. He made his debut for the national side on April 20, 1994 in a friendly match in Bucharest against Romania.

Óscar Sánchez
Personal information
Full name Óscar Carmelo Sánchez Zambrana
Date of birth (1971-07-16)July 16, 1971
Place of birth Cochabamba, Bolivia
Date of death November 23, 2007(2007-11-23) (aged 36)
Place of death La Paz, Bolivia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Aurora
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1996 The Strongest 163 (22)
1997–1998 Gimnasia de Jujuy 29 (6)
1998–1999 Independiente 33 (7)
2000–2001 The Strongest 55 (11)
2002–2006 Bolivar 144 (16)
2007 The Strongest 6 (0)
Total 430 (62)
National team‡
1994–2006 Bolivia 78 (6)
Teams managed
2007 The Strongest
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:51, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:51, 19 June 2009 (UTC)

At club level he began his professional career with The Strongest in 1991. After five seasons with the atigrados, he was transferred to Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy, where he built a solid reputation as a temperamental and tough defender with scoring ability. His impressive displays rewarded him with a transfer to giant club Independiente in the winter of 1998. On his return to Bolivia in 2000, he would spend two more periods with The Strongest, and one with Bolívar. In 2007, he had one of his kidneys removed due to the discovery of a tumour, which proved to be malignant. After the operation he continued playing, but was forced to retire soon thereafter. He was offered the manager position of The Strongest, with which he attained an impressive undefeated streak. In October 2007, his weak health forced him to quit that position too. Sánchez died on November 23, 2007.[2]

References
  1. rsssf: Bolivia record international footballers
  2. AFP (2007-11-24). "Foot - Disparition - Décès d'Oscar Sanchez" (in French). L'Equipe. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08.
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