The Eye of Memory. Today: Hugo Sánchez

"Whoever invented football should be worshiped as a god." Hugo Sánchez (The quote has been attributed to him since 2010)

Hugo Sánchez Márquez, was born in Mexico City, on July 11, 1958, he was a great footballer, one that everyone remembers. He was declared by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics as the best Mexican footballer of the 20th century. He even studied and completed a degree in Dentistry.

Goal man, one-touch, he needed no more. Proof of this is that he scored 38 consecutive goals, yes, all on the first touch, as incredible as it seems, a true record that still stands today. 5 consecutive Pichichi trophies, 1 with Atlético de Madrid, and 4 with Real Madrid. A record that stood for many years, until someone named Messi came along and took it away. European Golden Boot winner in the 1989-90 season.

When he scored a goal, his classic forward acrobatic somersault was legendary, which, as an anecdote, is said to be a tribute to his gymnast sister.

Who doesn’t remember Héctor Del Mar, great sports commentator? This man didn’t just speak, he sang when a footballer scored:

Goal, goal, goal, gooooooal, and goooooooooooooooooooooooooal by Hugo Sánchez. Minute 22, minute patito, goal for Real Madrid. Goal scorer: “Hugo, Tequila Sáncheeeeeeeez.” The macho.

He debuted as a footballer with Pumas (Mexico) in 1976, a club where he stayed until signing with Atlético de Madrid for 4 seasons (54 goals), from 81/82 to 84/85. He then signed for Real Madrid (164 goals), playing from 85/86 to 91/92, and for Rayo Vallecano (16 goals) in the 94/95 season.

He coincided with the famous “Quinta del Buitre”. The Madrid youth players couldn’t believe what happened after training sessions ended. Hugo Sánchez would stay doing sit-ups, it’s said at least a thousand daily, and practiced shots on goal for at least another hour. In an interview, when asked about this, he declared: “Goals are trained.”

He has the honor of having a stadium named after him, Estadio Hugo Sánchez Márquez, located in Cuautitlán Izcalli, in the state of Mexico.

After retiring, as a coach he managed Pumas UNAM (Mexico), winning three championships, two of them consecutively, Clausura 2004 and Apertura 2004.

He has also worked and currently works as a sports commentator on ESPN Deportes.

There are scorers and then there is Hugo Sánchez. He is the man who makes every goal look like a work of art. Every time he jumps, it’s as if time stands still. Here we pay him a small tribute. We hope life gives him good health, wherever Hugo Sánchez may be.

If there is one goal that defines him, it is this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAHrrnj52-k