Over the last four seasons, one particular position on Sporting Kansas City’s team sheet has been about as predictable as the sun rising in the east.
The holding midfield spot, commonly referred to as the “6,” has belonged to one Ilie Sanchez.
Sporting has played precisely 129 competitive matches since Ilie signed for the club in January 2017. During that time, the Spaniard has started 121 of 126 appearances and logged over 11,000 minutes of action as one of the league’s premier defensive midfielders.
The 6 may not be the sexiest of positions—defensive midfielders seldom rack up many goals and assists—but Ilie’s on-field responsibilities are nothing short of vital. He serves as the proverbial shield in front of Sporting’s four-man backline as well as a conduit between defense and attack, stringing together dozens of passes and ensuring the team maintains balance and tactical shape across the pitch.
As for the quality of his performance in the specialized role? Well, there’s a reason he’s started just about every match for the last four seasons.
With Ilie in the fold, Sporting has gone 54-41-33 overall, won the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, finished atop the 2018 Western Conference standings, reached the semifinals of the 2019 Concacaf Champions League and currently occupies the summit of the West five games into the 2020 regular season.
Opta sheds further insight on Ilie’s utility and effectiveness. Among MLS field players, his 104 appearances, 99 starts and 8,988 minutes in the regular season are all the second-most since the start of 2017. During the same stretch, his 5,815 completed passes and 2,956 completed passes in the attacking half rank second and third, respectively.
The stats don’t stop there. Dating back to 2017, Ilie ranks sixth among field players in recoveries (685), seventh in interceptions (172) and 17th in duels won (878). That’s not to mention the nine goals and 12 assists he has recorded in a Sporting uniform—impressive totals for a holding midfielder.
Ilie, who in 2018 was tabbed an MLS All-Star and last year was named Sporting’s Humanitarian of the Year for his philanthropy in the Kansas City community, has made a positive start to the disjointed 2020 campaign, as well. He has started all seven competitive matches and helped the side to an early lead in the West with a 4-1-0 regular season record. He places seventh in MLS with 80 successful passes in the attacking third, eighth among field players with 40 recoveries, and has a team-leading nine interceptions.
Having developed in the esteemed La Masia academy at FC Barcelona in his Spanish hometown, Ilie has racked up as much mileage as any other MLS player since his arrival to the league. And there will almost certainly be more to come, as Sporting is scheduled to play 18 more regular season matches between Aug. 21 and Nov. 8. The 23-game regular season slate will then lead into the Audio MLS Cup Playoffs, beginning Nov. 20 and culminating with MLS Cup on Dec. 12.
With the historic MLS is Back Tournament done and dusted, Ilie and Sporting will return to the pitch next Friday, Aug. 21 with a visit to second-place Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field. The contest will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus.
