Valencia in November 2009 at home routinely defeated Zaragoza in the next championship match Spain. That meeting would have passed completely unnoticed by the world media, if not for one unique event. In the second half, striker Alex Sanchez entered the field as part of the guests. He became the first football player without an arm to play in the top league. After 13 years, Alex's case remains the only one in history.
Journalists accused of hype
Alex grew up in Zaragoza and did not even think about the possibility of becoming a professional football player. The fact is that Sanchez was born without a right hand. Of course, the guy loved football and played all day long. However, sport was a way of socialization, and not the goal of future earnings. He liked that during the matches everyone forgot about the features and did not pay attention to the hand.
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"My childhood was full of joy and happiness, because I never had disability problems. I have always accepted myself for who I am, not as special. To kick the ball, I need two legs. I have them, this is the main thing,» Alex explained.
This continued until he was 15 years old. Sanchez was playing for a regular local school team when he was spotted by Zaragoza scouts. The guy was offered to try his hand at professional football. First he played for the youth team, then for the third and second.
Alex got to the main team just four years after switching to professional football. Marcelino García Toral called him to train with the first team after Sanchez scored 12 goals in 10 games at Zaragoza B. At first, he just worked with the main one and got into the application for La Liga matches. In November 2009, the striker got a chance. happened 15 minutes before the end of regular time. Alex went to the crowded Mestalla and could not believe that 50,000 spectators were watching his game. After the replacement, the account has not changed. However, this was no longer so important. Sanchez made a dream come true.
After the match, he warmly hugged David Villa, asking him for a T-shirt. The former Zaragoza forward was little Alex's idol. Sanchez received hundreds of messages of congratulations. But soon the joy of the debut was replaced by the shock of the reaction of the media.
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“What I read in the press after the match was overwhelming. The journalists reacted to my debut completely differently than they should have. For me it was a difficult moment. I am only 20 years old. I realized that you can not control everything that is said about you. That story taught me a lot,” said Sanchez.
Alex was annoyed that the media focused exclusively on disability. Some journalists suggested that he was released onto the field only because of this feature in order to hype him. Of course, Sanchez was angry, but he couldn't help it.Toral released Alex twice more in La Liga matches, but then made it clear that the striker did not pull the level of the top division. Then Sanchez decided to leave his native club for the sake of playing practice. He settled in the Segunda B — the third strongest division in Spain. There, the striker was able to find himself, speaking for different teams.
In parallel with football, he worked as a lawyer
Closest to him was the Tudelano club. He went there four times at different times. In the Sanchez team, everyone loved and could play kindly. One day, Alex was given a plastic brush from a mannequin for his birthday. The forward tied it to his arm and approached everyone to greet.Sanchez decided to turn his life around in 2018 by moving to Australia's Sydney Olympic. Alex wanted to get out of his comfort zone and try his hand at an unfamiliar place. Did it succeed? And how! The Spaniard scored 34 goals in 44 games, becoming the club's top scorer in the league.
In Australia, journalists treated him differently and were delighted. The fact is that on weekends the football player worked in a local law firm, providing services to low-income families for free. There is nothing surprising. After switching to professional football, he did not abandon his education.
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Alex has a doctorate in law and a master's degree in politics. Sanchez even wrote a book about athletes' rights.
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"I have always enjoyed learning. It wasn't as difficult as it seems. Studying helps me not to be distracted in my football career. I spent more time in libraries than in bars. It was really helpful for me. Professional football players have a lot of free time, we must spend it sensibly,» the player explained.
Sanchez now plays for the Sociedad Deportivo team from his beloved Segunda B. He is already 33 years old, but age does not prevent the striker from continuing to score. Over 46 games, he scored 23 goals, becoming the team's top scorer last season. Despite the performance, Alex understands that the end of his career is nearing. However, the athlete already knows what he will devote himself to after leaving football. He is going to inspire children around the world and do charity work. Alex recently admitted that even 13 years after his debut in La Liga, he receives many messages from parents of children with special needs. Their example of Sanchez was incredibly inspiring.
Messages from disabled children who thanked the football player prompted Alex to write a book. A year ago, «Life within reach» was published. The prologue to it, by the way, was written by a friend of the striker, former PSG and Manchester United player Ander Herrera. From the pages of the Spanish player urges children with special needs not to be afraid to make their dreams come true and not to be ashamed of their position.
Sanchez is well aware that he has not achieved any outstanding results in football. But his contribution is more important. Alex inspired many children around the world and showed them that nothing is impossible.