Juan Sánchez Romero

Born in Aldaia, Valencian Community, Sánchez started playing professionally for Valencia CF, and his first La Liga appearance was on 25 October 1992 in a 3–0 loss at FC Barcelona. In the season's closing stages he scored his first goal(s) for the Che, having come on as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win over RCD Español. After a successful loan stint in the Segunda División with RCD Mallorca, Sánchez signed with RC Celta de Vigo, becoming an important attacking element in the Galicians' domestic and European consolidation. In his last two seasons, as they finished respectively sixth and fifth, he totalled 22 goals, eventually returning to his first club. Sánchez scored 12 times in the league in the 2000–01 campaign, notably back-to-back braces against CD Numancia (3–0) and UD Las Palmas (5–1). He added a further two in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Leeds United for a 3–0 home victory, being replaced in the final loss to FC Bayern Munich. Subsequently, after appearing in 25 games in the team's 2001–02 league conquest, Sánchez's importance lessened dramatically in his final season, where he played only ten matches for the champions, no complete ones. He retired aged 34 following a second stint at Celta, which he helped achieve a return to the top tier. Sánchez became Valencia's sporting director in April 2008, succeeding Miguel Ángel Ruiz and leaving the post in August. In June 2009 he moved to R.E. Mouscron from Belgium in the same capacity,…

Sánchez earned one cap for Spain, playing 12 minutes in a 2–2 friendly against Italy on 18 November 1998 in Salerno.

Valencia

La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04 Supercopa de España: 1999 UEFA Cup: 2003–04 UEFA Champions League runner-up: 1999–2000, 2000–01