Joaquín, second most capped player in LaLiga

Joaquin Sanchez, Real Betis captain, broke yet another record this Thursday during Real Betis' clash against Alavés. He surpassed Raul González in terms of matches player in LaLiga, and with 551 he is now the second most capped player in LaLiga history,  only behind goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta's 622 matches. 

Last Saturday, Betis played against Atletico which allowed Joaquin to equal Raul Gonzalez's 550 First Division matches.

Joaquin, who will turn 39 next Tuesday and has renewed his contract with Betis until June 2021, began his professional career in the 2000-01 season, in Second Division, and interrupted his membership in the Spanish League for two seasons, between 2013 and 2015, in which he played in Fiorentina.

The captain of Betis, international senior with Spain in 51 occasions, accumulated 74 goals scored, 59 yellow cards, 4 expulsions, 220 wins (40%), 145 draws (26%) and 184 losses (34%) in LaLiga, where he has played with Betis in two stages (2001-2006 and 2015-2020), Valencia (2006-2011) and Malaga (2011-13).

Joaquín Sánchez made his debut in First Division on August 26, 2001 in La Rosaleda, in a match that his team lost 3-2 against Málaga, and scored his first goal in the highest category a week later, in a match played in Benito Villamarín that the Betis won 2-0 against Espanyol.