*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 April 2008
40 years after the Ballet Azul, Universidad de Chile supporters still idolize him
Leonel Guillermo Sánchez Lineros (born April 25, 1936 in Santiago de Chile) is a former professional football player.
Regarded as one of Chile's most important players, Sánchez holds the record for most games played for Chile with 85 games (record only recently beaten by Claudio Bravo on October 10, 2014)[1] and 24 goals between 1955 and 1968.[2] Mundial scorer of 62 in Chile.
He played at left midfield for over 20 years between 1953 and 1973. 17 of those 20 were for Universidad de Chile, where he was the icon of the Ballet Azul (Blue Ballet), a team that won 6 national championships between 1959 and 1969.
Four of his 24 international goals were at the 1962 World Cup, where he was the top scorer along with five other players. In that World Cup he also knocked out the Italian player Mario David with a hook in a dispute in the infamous Chile - Italy match.
Sánchez remained in Universidad de Chile, although he received numerous offers from well known European clubs such as AC Milan. In 1969, after a contract rule was settled, Universidad de Chile was forced to sell him. He finished his career playing for different Chilean clubs such as Colo-Colo, Palestino and Ferroviarios.[4]
Universidad de Chile
Chile
England
