Dani Sanchez - The unexpected hero

27 year old Spanish midfielder, Dani Sanchez, arrived in windy Wellington on the lookout for an A-League contract after being released by Scottish first division side Inverness where he spent two seasons at, and he needed a new club and a new beginning.

Wellington Phoenix came knocking and he headed to the New Zealand capital for a month’s trial. Within 2 hours of stepping off the plane, he was playing in a trial match against lower division club Miramar Rangers and 11 days later he scored his first goal for Wellington against New Zealand Under 20’s in a trial match. He continued to impress during trials with goals against Melbourne Heart and Team Wellington. Sanchez did enough to impress manager Rickie Herbert and signed a 1-year contract.

It turned out to be a successful decision with Sanchez holding the attacking midfielder position as his own with 18 appearances, 5 goals and many assists to his name already. He provides the opportunities for the strikers and with his short passing ability; he may well be named the ‘A-League’s Fabregas’.

He averages over 80 minutes a game because of a small injury cloud earlier in the season despite regaining fitness, and along with the Wellington squad, they have lifted themselves to fourth on the table after many pundits predicted them to be lingering at the bottom.

Dani Sanchez has been a consistent performer for Wellington and Rickie Herbert will be hoping to extend his contract, after his performances over the season. He will surely be an important player heading towards the finals series, and as long as he keeps fit along with the rest of the squad, Wellington could well be challenging for the title.

Written by Tom Moxey

Follow him on Twitter @moxey25

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