Isaías Sánchez
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Isaías Sánchez Cortés (Spanish pronunciation: [isaˈi.as ˈsantʃeθ koɾˈtes]; born 9 February 1987), known simply as Isaías, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He is currently assistant manager of A-League club Adelaide United.
|
Isaías being presented by Adelaide United in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Isaías Sánchez Cortés[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 February 1987[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Sabadell, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Central midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Adelaide United (assistant) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–2001 | Damm | ||
| 2001–2004 | Mercantil | ||
| 2004–2006 | Badalona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2010 | Badalona | 84 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Espanyol B | 23 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Espanyol | 4 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | → Ponferradina (loan) | 55 | (1) |
| 2013–2019 | Adelaide United | 158 | (10) |
| 2019–2021 | Al-Wakrah | 37 | (0) |
| 2021–2025 | Adelaide United | 97 | (0) |
| Total | 458 | (11) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He spent most of his career in Australia with Adelaide United after signing in 2013, making 289 competitive appearances and being named the club's player of the season on four occasions. He was instrumental in their 2015–16 double winning season, which included a goal in the 2016 Grand Final.[2][3] Prior to his arrival, he played four La Liga matches with Espanyol.
Club career
Early years and Espanyol
Born in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia,[4] Isaías was a CF Badalona youth graduate, and started playing professionally with that club in the Segunda División B while also working as a part-time plumber.[5] In 2010 he signed for RCD Espanyol, but spent the majority of his first year with the reserves in the Tercera División.[6]
On 10 April 2011, Isaías made his first-team and La Liga debut, playing the last 22 minutes of a 0–0 away draw against Hércules CF.[7] He spent the following two seasons on loan to SD Ponferradina,[8] contributing 27 games and one goal[9] in his second to help the side to return to Segunda División.[10]
Adelaide United
In July 2013, Isaías signed for Adelaide United FC, penning a two-year contract.[11] He won the Player of The Year award for his team in his debut campaign in the A-League.[12]
Isaías scored his first goal for the club on 24 January 2015, netting from 25 meters in a 7–0 win over the Newcastle Jets FC.[13] He repeated the feat in the 2016 A-League Grand Final in an eventual 3–1 defeat of Western Sydney Wanderers FC, through a 34th-minute free kick.[14]
On 23 September 2017, Isaías was announced as captain at Adelaide United's season launch, taking over from Eugene Galekovic who transferred to Melbourne City FC.[15] In January 2019, the 32-year-old became an Australian citizen.[16][17]
Isaías left Adelaide United in May 2019, in order to explore overseas opportunities.[18][19]
Later career
On 4 July 2019, recently promoted Al-Wakrah SC announced on Twitter the transfer of Isaías for an undisclosed fee.[20][21] The 34-year-old returned to Adelaide United on 23 August 2021, signing a three-year deal.[22]
At the end of the 2023–24 campaign, Isaías agreed to a new contract alongside his teammate Javi López, one that would see out his playing career as he also completed a coaching badge with the club.[23] On 18 April 2025, he came off the bench in a 3–2 victory over Wellington Phoenix FC to become the Reds' most capped player in all competitions at 286 games, surpassing Galekovic.[24][25]
Both Isaías and López announced their retirement on 13 May 2025.[26] In July, the former was appointed Adelaide's assistant manager.[27]
Style of play
Playing as a defensive midfielder for Adelaide United, Isaías can switch between defensive and offensive positions and also drops into defense, allowing the full-backs to push forward.[28][29][30] He is known for his ability to control the pace and intensity of the game, keep possession of the ball and launch attacks when his team plays from defence to attack.[31][32][33]
Isaías was described by Adelaide manager Josep Gombau as his "foot soldier", being a complete footballer with technique, speed and controlled aggression.[34][35][36]
Career statistics
- As of 9 May 2025
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Badalona | 2006–07[37] | Segunda División B | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| 2007–08[37] | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2008–09[37] | 32 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| 2009–10[37] | 22 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 84 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 89 | 0 | |||
| Espanyol | 2010–11[37] | La Liga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| Ponferradina (loan) | 2011–12[37] | Segunda División B | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6[a] | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| 2012–13[37] | Segunda División | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||
| Total | 55 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 69 | 1 | ||
| Adelaide United | 2013–14[38] | A-League | 27 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[38] | 27 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 32 | 1 | |||
| 2015–16[38] | 27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 31 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17[38] | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18[38] | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[38] | 29 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 4 | ||
| Total | 158 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 181 | 10 | ||
| Al-Wakrah | 2019–20[38] | Qatar Stars League | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 2020–21[38] | 15 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1[c] | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| Total | 37 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 | ||
| Adelaide United | 2021–22[38] | A-League Men | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 2022–23[38] | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24[38] | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25[38] | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| Total | 97 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 435 | 11 | 52 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 498 | 12 | ||
- Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
- Appearances in AFC Champions League
- Appearance in Emir of Qatar Cup