10 Interesting Facts about Alexis Sanchez.

Alexis Sanchez was one of the most exciting and energetic players in world football during his time at Arsenal. Following his move from Barcelona in 2014, the Chilean quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his pace, work rate, creativity and eye for goal.

Sanchez had already impressed on the world stage with Chile and Barcelona before arriving in the Premier League, but it was in England where many fans truly began to appreciate his relentless style of play and match-winning ability.

During his years at Arsenal, Sanchez became the heartbeat of the attack and one of the standout performers in the league. Despite his fiery performances on the pitch, he often came across as a quiet and reserved figure away from football.

As it turns out, Sanchez is a fascinating character, and his story away from the game is every bit as interesting as his career on it.

Here are 10 Interesting Career Facts About Alexis Sanchez

1. He Grew Up in A Poverty-stricken Area of Chile

Sanchez may have gone on to earn huge wages and enjoy a glamorous football career, but as a boy, he grew up in poverty.

He is from a mining town in Chile called Tocopilla, and he earned money to help his family when he was just 6 years old. He would wash cars, perform somersaults, and box in the street for money.

2. His Mother Single-Handedly Brought Him and His 3 Siblings Up

Sanchez’s father deserted the family when Alexis was just a toddler, leaving his mother to bring up him and his three siblings. He has two sisters, Tamara and Marjorie, as well as a brother named Humberto.

His mother, Martina, worked multiple jobs to bring in money, including washing fish and selling flowers. This difficult upbringing inspired Alexis to succeed, and he later used his success to support his family.

3. He was Nicknamed “The Squirrel” As A Child

On the streets of Tocopilla, a young Alexis earned the nickname “The Squirrel”, partly because he would climb trees to recover lost footballs and partly because of his boundless energy while playing in the streets.

“The Squirrel” would later become known as “The Wonder Kid”, which proved to be a fitting nickname for the Chilean star.

4. He Once Arrived Late For A Youth Match But Went On To Score 8 Goals

Sanchez was brought to Club Arauco’s youth team by Alberto Toledo, and he quickly showed his potential despite arriving late for a match.

When Sanchez arrived, his side was trailing 1-0, but he soon changed the game by scoring a remarkable eight goals to help his team win. It marked the beginning of an incredible football journey.

5. His professional career began at Cobreloa.

At just 16 years old, Sanchez was promoted to the senior first team at Cobreloa, and after an impressive debut season, he was snapped up by Udinese in 2006.

He was immediately loaned to Colo-Colo, where he impressed and won his first professional silverware, before another successful loan spell with Argentine giants River Plate.

By the time he returned to Udinese, Sanchez was already regarded as one of South America’s brightest young talents. His performances in Italy eventually earned him a move to Barcelona in 2011.

6. He is A Talented Piano Player

Sanchez has also shown talents away from football, including playing the piano. Videos shared online showed him performing songs such as John Legend’s “All of Me” and Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting”.

He has also displayed impressive juggling skills, once entertaining fans by juggling unusual objects including a garlic bulb, a rubber frog, a toy figure and a grapefruit.

7. He Donated Money To Restore Pitches in His Hometown

As a boy, Sanchez often played barefoot on rough pitches in Tocopilla, where he developed many of the skills that later made him one of the most exciting forwards in football.

His hometown clearly remained close to his heart throughout his career, and he donated around £160,000 to help restore youth football pitches in the area so that future generations could follow in his footsteps.

8. He is a dog lover.

If Alexis’s Instagram account is anything to go by, he is a huge dog lover. There are many posts of him dressing them up, sleeping next to them, and he has even been seen wearing t-shirts with their faces on (as well as them wearing his jerseys).

He frequently brought his dogs to training sessions while getting ready for international friendlies, incorporating a run with them into his warm-up routine.

9. He scored 47 goals in 141 appearances for Barcelona.

Many fans around the world took notice of Sanchez after his performances at the 2014 World Cup, but he had already established himself as a top-level player before then.

After joining Barcelona from Udinese in 2011, Sanchez spent three successful seasons with the Catalan giants, scoring 47 goals in 141 appearances. During that spell, he also won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

10. He Had the Best Chance Conversion Rate in Spain During the 2013/2014 Season

Sanchez was hugely impressive during his final season at Barcelona, particularly in front of goal. The Chilean scored 19 league goals from just 61 shots, giving him the best conversion rate in La Liga during the 2013/2014 campaign.

Considering the attacking talent playing in Spain at the time, this underlined just how clinical Sanchez had become before his move to Arsenal.

He would go on to enjoy several highly productive seasons in the Premier League and establish himself as one of the most entertaining forwards of his era.