Sporting Kansas City selected Richard Sanchez in Stage 1 of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft on November 26, 2019. He has nine seasons of professional experience under his belt after developing in the FC Dallas Academy and competing in the United States and Mexico. He has spent the last three seasons in MLS with the Chicago Fire, where he totaled 90 saves across 27 league appearances.
2020: MLS regular season: Started one of two appearances and posted a 1-1-0 record (104 minutes played, 2 saves, 4 goals allowed). Made his Sporting debut in a 2-1 loss to Minnesota United FC on July 12. Earned his first win for Sporting in a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids on July 17. MLS is Back Tournament: Started one of two appearances (104 minutes played, 2 saves, 3.46 GAA). MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature.
2019: Made one appearance for the Chicago Fire, recording five saves in a 2-0 loss to Cruz Azul in Chicago's inaugural Leagues Cup match on July 23, 2019.
2018: Appeared in 25 MLS matches for the Chicago Fire, starting 24. Sanchez posted a 1.92 goals against average to go along with three shutouts and 79 saves across the season. He made his season debut against Sporting Kansas City at SeatGeek Stadium on March 10, 2018, resulting in a 4-3 Sporting victory. Sanchez's three shutouts came in a 1-0 win over Columbus Crew SC (April 7), a 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact (May 9) and a 4-0 win over Orlando City SC (Sept. 16). Sanchez also made four appearances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - helping his side to a penalty shootout victory against Columbus in the Fourth Round (June 6), stopping Logan Ketterer's final effort. He posted two straight shutouts against Atlanta United FC (June 20) and Louisville City FC (July 18) to guide Chicago to the Semifinals where the side fell 3-0 to the Philadelphia Union (Aug. 8).
2017: Played in two games for the Chicago Fire after signing with the club in August, making his debut for the club in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 27 before starting the club's regular-season finale - a 3-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo on Oct. 22.
PROFESSIONAL
Born in Mission Hills, California before moving to Little Elm, Texas, Sanchez joined the prestigious Atletico Madrid Academy in Spain in 2008. He moved back to Texas the following year and developed in the FC Dallas Academy, signing as an MLS Homegrown Player in February 2011.
FC Dallas loaned Sanchez to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2013, where he made his professional debut in the North American Soccer League. He was sold to Liga MX powerhouse Tigres UANL a year later and went on loan to both FC Dallas (2014) and Mexican side Tampico Madero (2016-2017) during his time with the Los Tigres.
After a three-year spell in Mexico, Sanchez returned to MLS in August 2017 when he joined the Chicago Fire.
INTERNATIONAL
On the international stage, Sanchez was the starting goalkeeper and played all seven matches for Mexico as El Tri captured the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup title on home soil. Sanchez posted two shutouts in the tournament, including a clean sheet in the final - a 2-0 victory over Uruguay. He was also Mexico’s starting keeper at the 2013 U-20 World Cup two years later, helping his side reach the Round of 16.
