In modern football, fewer and fewer players feel the shirt, but there are still footballers who love colors and become symbols of the club. The Legend of this video gave up incredible offers to stay on the team of his life and, after several years away from home, he returned to say goodbye like an idol of the city. His career, charisma, and humor have made him a reference on and off the field, but after 23 years on the pitch, Joaquín Sánchez retires from football forever. At 42 years old, the man from Cádiz abandons a successful career in which he has become much more than a soccer player, being a reference and a green and white legend.
Joaquín's Beginnings
Joaquín was born in El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, on July 21, 1981, and although he had the desire to be a bullfighter, he ended up opting for soccer. After training in the youth teams of modest clubs such as Los Frailes and San Luis, Joaquín was recruited by Real Betis Balompié, who signed him for their lower categories when he was only 16 years old. His talent as a winger allowed him to stand out in the green and white youth team, and with the confidence of Fernando Vázquez, he managed to debut with the first team in 2000.
Betis had just been relegated to the Second Division, and Joaquín's emergence served to excite the Betis fans to return to the elite. His speed, overflow, and dribbling on the right wing made him a fixture in the lineups, and his 3 goals were key to achieving promotion to First Division.
Korea World Cup 2022
In the top category, Joaquín continued to dazzle with his game, and in the 2001-02 season, he scored 4 goals and gave away 9 assists. Betis finished sixth, qualifying for UEFA, and Joaquín achieved his dream of making his debut with the Spanish team and attending his first World Cup. José Antonio Camacho took him to Korea as one of his exciting players and the one from Puerto played two games as a starter, the last of the first phase against South Africa and the decisive match against Korea in the quarterfinals. That afternoon, Spain faced the hosts and suffered one of the biggest steals in the history of the World Cup, with two goals disallowed and a play that the winger will never forget. That cross from Joaquín never went off the wing, and Spain had to say goodbye to the World Cup with an error by the Andalusian in the penalty shootout.
His First Title (2004)
Upon his return to Seville, Joaquín continued to be the pretty boy of Beticismo and managed to improve his numbers. In 2002-2003, he scored 12 goals and gave 13 assists, and in 2003-2004, he scored 8 goals and 12 assists. His best season with Betis was 2004-05, in which he played every league game and won his first title with the green and white shirt, winning the Copa del Rey. The Heliópolis team beat Osasuna in the final, and with 5 goals and 15 assists from Joaquín, the green and white team finished fourth in the League to achieve a historic qualification for the Champions League. Joaquín rounded off his great year by playing in his first Euro Cup in Portugal, although the Spanish team was disappointed by being eliminated in the first phase.
Frustrated Signing for Chelsea
The Betis winger's great performances were making him one of the most desirable players on the market, and both Real Madrid and Mourinho's Chelsea showed their interest in him. The English were close to signing him on several occasions, and in the summer of 2004, they agreed to a transfer of 36 million euros with the then Betic president, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. Everything was ok in the absence of the player's signature, but Joaquín decided to give up a succulent contract to continue playing in the city and the team of his life.
Joaquín remained at Betis for two more years and, after participating in the 2006 World Cup with Spain, decided to take another step in his career. The one from Puerto de Santa María signed for Valencia in exchange for 25 million euros, although before arriving at Mestalla, he had to pass through Albacete at the whim of President Lopera That strange loan did not even last 24 hours and with this episode the footballer closed a six-year first stage as a green and white player in which he played 256 games, scored 35 goals and gave away 58 assists.
Lights and shadows in Valencia
The winger arrived at the Che club with the hope of fighting for titles and playing in the Champions League, although he began his time at Mestalla with difficulties. The year of his debut, Joaquín scored 5 goals and gave 5 assists, and in his second season, he experienced one of the hardest moments of his sporting career. With the arrival of Ronald Koeman to the Valencian bench, the Valencia veterans were separated from the team, and Joaquín lost a lot of prominence. With the Dutch coach, Joaquín was always substituted, and despite being decisive on the way to the Cup final, he ended up off the squad list in the title match. The Che team beat Getafe 3-1 and became champions, but Koeman ended up being dismissed after leaving the club on the brink of relegation places.
Spanish Team
Despite having Luis Aragonés throughout the qualifying phase, Joaquín paid for his lack of prominence at the end of the League and was left off the list of those called up for Eu 2008. Spain would end up winning its first title after 44 years of waiting, and the winger ended up disappearing from the national team's calls. In his entire career, Joaquín played 42 caps and scored 4 goals with the La Roja shirt. He played in two World Cups and one European Championship, although he will always have the thorn of not having been able to return to the national team to win a title with his country.
Malaga
With Unai Emery as the new coach, Joaquín recovered his status as a starter, although every year, he became more expendable. With the competition of Pablo Hernández he lost his undisputed status and, after 5 seasons, playing 2018 games, scoring 30 goals and giving 38 assists, he ended his time as a Velencianista. At 30 years old, Joaquín signed for Málaga, which paid 4.2 million euros for the Cádiz winger and began an exciting project to become one of the best European teams. (presentation joke)
In his first season at La Rosaleda, Joaquín celebrated the Boquerones' qualification for the Champions League positions, and in his second year, he starred in epic moments with Euro Málaga. Joaquín became one of the most decisive players in the competition, scoring the winning goal against Milan and scoring the goal that gave the Malaguistas an advantage in Dortmund. In a final with a lot of controversy, it was the Germans who ended up winning the match and qualifying for the semifinals, but that Málaga Champions League match remained engraved in the memory of all football fans.
Fiorentina
After two years in the blue and white team, Málaga began to suffer from financial problems, and Joaquín had to look for a way out abroad. The Spanish winger signed for Fiorentina in exchange for 1.8 million euros and completed two seasons at a high level. Playing more inside than in the band, he found his place and won the hearts of the tifosi viola. His goal in a comeback against Juventus and his sense of humor dazzled the Italian fans, who after two seasons, 71 games and 7 goals and 12 assists, had to say goodbye to "Il Torero".
The return to Betis: a green and white legend
After two seasons in Italy, Joaquín decided to fulfill his dream of returning home and managed to sign for Betis for a transfer of 1.5 million euros. Montella's refusal to let him leave Fiore caused Joaquín to punch a door and break his hand, although the scene helped him unlock his return to Villamarín. The one from Puerto de Santa María returned to Betis at the age of 34 and was received by 20,000 fans at his presentation. With the enthusiasm of a youth player, Joaquín extended his career for 8 seasons, in which he starred in great performances and left signs of his class with the ball at his feet.
During Quique Setién's time, he boosted his scoring records and returned Betis to European competitions, while with Pellegrini at the helm, he managed to fulfill his dream of lifting another title with the green and white shirt. Betis won the 2022 Copa del Rey, and Joaquín closed a triumphant circle with the team of his life. The Betic captain renewed for one more season, played another 30 games, and managed to become the field footballer with the most games in the First Division, equaling Andoni Zubizarrerta's record (622).
On April 19, 2023, Joaquín announced his retirement at the end of the season, and the last days of the championship helped him say goodbye with a bang, being applauded by almost all the fans. The Betic captain said goodbye to the first division on the last day against Valencia and, days later, received a tribute match in which he hung up his boots permanently. The player who has worn the Betis shirt the most times said goodbye to Villamarín after playing 528 official matches, celebrating 65 goals and giving 84 assists with the green and white jersey
Analyzing his entire career, Joaquín played 914 games, scored 114 goals, and gave away 144 assists, being one of the most charismatic players in Spanish football. His humor and personality will be irreplaceable on the field of play, but they will open the doors to the world of entertainment, where he has already made his first steps as a collaborator and comedian. This has been the incredible story of Joaquín Sánchez, one of the most beloved players in the world and the footballer with the most art in history.