Legends of El Clásico: Hugo Sánchez

Published on November 24, 2010 by David Cartlidge · 2 Comments

We turn our attentions away from Catalonia in the third part of our daily El Clásico legend series, as we head to Madrid for a taste of eccentricity and Mexican splendour. Will anyone ever produce a bicycle kick as outrageous as this man did? Probably not.

Hugo Sánchez

His signing in 1985 marked the beginning of a glorious spell of dominance in Spain for Real Madrid, and ‘Hugol’ was very much at the centre such success. Alongside the likes of Camacho, Butragueño, Gordillo, Schuster, Valdano and Míchel the Mexican’s goal scoring feats were prevalent, as the Capital club achieved a magnificent haul of 5 consecutive titles from 1985 to 1990 – no coincidence that the silverware flowed upon the arrival of a player who notched up 164 goals in 207 games.

An interesting though perhaps not widely known fact is that Sánchez nearly ended up at Barcelona, but the new manager at the time, Terry Venables, wasn’t keen on signing him and instead opted for Scottish striker Steve Archibald. “The Whole of Catalonia wanted Hugo, the fans, the players, the board of directors…everyone. Terry held firm though”. Sánchez was at the time playing for Real’s other rivals, Atlético Madrid, but he made the difficult move across the city. To rub salt into the wounds of the Barcelona fans, the scouts at the club were rumoured to have identified Sánchez before he even picked up his first Pichichi (of five, with four of them while playing for Real being consecutively) at Atlético.

Technique, athleticism, and enthusiasm were just 3 attributes that beholden by Sánchez and he showed them all while playing in El Clásico. 12 goals were plundered home as the Mexican and his tenacious nature never gave Barcelona a moment’s peace. These included a penalty in 86’, followed by a first half brace in 88’ which won a well contested game. He scored another in 88’ before goals in 89 and his goal in 1990 which was to be his last El Clásico goal. The two goals that made up his Spanish Super Cup tally were both in encounters that saw Real go onto become the victors over the two legs.

The thought of Ronaldo and Di Maria supplying the bullets for ‘Hugol’ is irresistible, and no matter which star studded striker pulls on the white shirt the Real fans will never forget the inimitable Mexican.