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

Ilie Sánchez joined Austin FC as a free agent signing in December 2024 and was named the Club's third-ever captain prior to the start of the 2025 season.

Sánchez is an eight-year MLS veteran, having played three (3) seasons with Los Angeles FC and five (5) with Sporting Kansas City before joining Austin. His career highlights in MLS include All-Star selections in 2018 and 2022, MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield titles in 2022, U.S. Open Cup wins in 2017 and 2024, and the MLS Newcomer of the Year award in 2017. Sánchez also served as LAFC’s captain, and made the match-winning penalty kick in the 2022 MLS Cup Final.

Born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, Sánchez played in FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy as a young player. He progressed through the youth levels and went on to make 114 appearances for Barça B. Sánchez transferred to 1860 Munich in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga in 2014, playing one (1) season there before going on loan to Elche CF in Spain’s LaLiga 2 for the following season. Sánchez moved to MLS in 2017.

Sánchez was a finalist for the 2024 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, and won Sporting KC’s Humanitarian of the Year award in 2019 and 2021 for his work as an advocate and supporter of the Special Olympics’ Unified Teams.

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