MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Signs 16-Year-Old Goalkeeper Richard Sanchez

Published on February 18, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 18, 2011) - Richard Sanchez is the sixth Home Grown player to sign with FC Dallas, the team announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

"FC Dallas is excited to add Richard Sanchez as our next Home Grown player," FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "I think he is by far the best goalkeeper I have ever seen at this age level, and he's shown that during his time as a goalkeeper for Mexico's Under-17 National Team. Being in first team training with Drew Keeshan and absorbing everything he can from a veteran like Kevin Hartman is going to be the best thing that could happen for Richard's career."

In January, the 16-year-old Sanchez was named the top goalkeeper in the Universidad Catolica tournament in Chile, while playing for the Mexican U-17 National Team. Mexico lost 1-0 to Uruguay in the final. Sanchez has spent much of the last year training with the Mexico U-17 National Team in preparation for the 2011 U-17 World Cup. He will join FC Dallas in Orlando this week, but reports back to his national team on March 6 for their next camp.

Born in Mission Hills, Calif., Sanchez moved to Texas with his family and initially played for Texas Football Club before joining Spain's Atletico de Madrid U-16 squad. In 2009, Sanchez returned to Texas and began playing for the FC Dallas Development Academy.

"We identified Richard as a great goalkeeper with excellent talent," FC Dallas Director of Player Development Oscar Pareja said. "I think he is one of the players to come out of the Academy with very natural talent to play the game. He's an excellent person and very responsible despite his age."

The signing of Sanchez to the first team marks the sixth time an FC Dallas Academy player has made the jump from the youth ranks to the professional level, the most of any team in MLS. There are currently eight players affiliated with either the FC Dallas Academy or FC Dallas professional team training with various U.S. Youth National Teams (Kellyn Acosta, Emerson Hyndman, Boyd Okowouno, Michael Ambrose, Jack Coleman, Jonathan Top, Daniel Garcia, Moises Hernandez). Another three players (Sanchez, Bryan Leyva and Ruben Luna) are members of Mexican Youth National Teams.

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