Pepe Sánchez (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Pepe Sánchez

| full_name = José Sánchez

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|1|19|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Linares, Spain

| height = 1.85 m{{cite web |url=https://www.granadacf.es/jugador/pepe |title=Pepe Sánchez |language=es |publisher=Granada CF |access-date=13 October 2022}}

| currentclub = Albacete

| clubnumber = 23

| position = Centre back

| youthyears1 = 2012–2013

| youthclubs1 = Linares 2011

| youthyears2 = 2013–2016

| youthclubs2 = Jaén

| youthyears3 = 2016–2019

| youthclubs3 = Granada

| years1 = 2019–2022

| clubs1 = Granada B

| caps1 = 35

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2019–2023

| clubs2 = Granada

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2023

| clubs3 = → Deportivo La Coruña (loan)

| caps3 = 7

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2023–2024

| clubs4 = Ibiza

| caps4 = 26

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2024–

| clubs5 = Albacete

| caps5 = 7

| goals5 = 0

| club-update = 1 April 2025

}}

José "Pepe" Sánchez (born 19 January 2000) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Albacete Balompié.

Career

Sánchez joined Granada CF's youth setup in 2016, after representing Real Jaén and Linares CF 2011. On 4 April 2019, while still a youth, he renewed his contract for two seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.granadacf.es/noticia/comunicado-el-granada-cf-firma-por-dos-temporadas-mas-al-juvenil-pepe|title=Comunicado {{!}} El Granada CF firma por dos temporadas más al juvenil Pepe|trans-title=Announcement {{!}} Granada CF sign for two seasons more the juvenil Pepe|publisher=Granada CF|language=es|date=4 April 2019|accessdate=8 November 2020}}

Sánchez made his senior debut with the reserves on 3 November 2019, starting in a 2–1 Segunda División B away win against Recreativo de Huelva.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/segunda-division-b/victoria-del-recreativo-granada-ante-el-recreativo-1-2-7712976|title=Victoria del Recreativo Granada ante el Recreativo (1–2)|trans-title=Victory of Recreativo Granada against Recreativo (1–2)|publisher=Sport|language=es|date=3 November 2019|accessdate=8 November 2020}} He made his first team debut on 17 December, starting in a 3–2 away success over CE L'Hospitalet, for the season's Copa del Rey.{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2019/12/17/copa_del_rey/1576615839_279506.html|title=El Granada necesita una prórroga para ganar a L'Hospitalet|trans-title=Granada need an extra time to defeat L'Hospitalet|publisher=Diario AS|language=es|date=17 December 2019|accessdate=8 November 2020}}

On 28 May 2020, Sánchez renewed his contract with the Nazaríes for a further campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.granadacf.es/noticia/pepe-renueva-una-temporada-con-el-club-recreativo-granada|title=Pepe renueva una temporada con el Club Recreativo Granada|trans-title=Pepe renews one season with Club Recreativo Granada|publisher=Granada CF|language=es|date=28 May 2020|accessdate=8 November 2020}} He first appeared in the UEFA Europa League on 5 November by playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win against AC Omonia,{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/11/05/uefa/1604606154_913604.html|title=El Granada se sobrepone al COVID-19 y es más líder|trans-title=Granada overcome COVID-19 and is an absolute leader|publisher=Diario AS|language=es|date=5 November 2020|accessdate=8 November 2020}} and completed a trio of debuts three days later by starting in a 0–2 La Liga away loss against Real Sociedad.{{cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/primera-division/r-sociedad-vs-granada/cronica/2020/11/08/5fa81895e2704ee59a8b459a.html|title=El covid se lo puso demasiado fácil a la Real Sociedad|trans-title=COVID made it too easy to Real Sociedad|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=8 November 2020|accessdate=8 November 2020}}

On 27 January 2023, Sánchez was loaned to Primera Federación side Deportivo de La Coruña for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.granadacf.es/noticia/comunicado-oficial-pepe-sanchez|title=Comunicado Oficial {{!}} Pepe Sánchez|trans-title=Official announcement {{!}} Pepe Sánchez|publisher=Granada CF|language=es|date=27 January 2023|accessdate=27 January 2023}} On 26 July, he moved to fellow third division side UD Ibiza on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibizaud.com/noticias/comunicado-oficial-pepe-sanchez|title=COMUNICADO OFICIAL: Pepe Sánchez|trans-title=OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Pepe Sánchez|publisher=UD Ibiza|language=es|date=26 July 2023|accessdate=26 July 2023}}

Sánchez left the Celestes in the middle of 2024, and spent a period on trial at CD Castellón in September of that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/cd-castellon/2024/09/04/central-pepe-sanchez-ex-ibiza-107750171.html|title=El central Pepe Sánchez, ex del Ibiza y Granada, a prueba con el Castellón|trans-title=Stopper Pepe Sánchez, formerly of Ibiza and Granada, on trial with Castellón|publisher=El Periódico Mediterráneo|language=es|date=4 September 2024|accessdate=5 December 2024}} On 4 December 2024, he signed a contract with Albacete Balompié in the second division until 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.albacetebalompie.es/noticias/pepe-sanchez-nuevo-jugador-albacetista|title=Pepe Sánchez, un albacetista más|trans-title=Pepe Sánchez, one more albacetista|publisher=Albacete Balompié|language=es|date=4 December 2024|accessdate=5 December 2024}}