José Sand

José Gustavo Sand (born 17 July 1980), nicknamed Pepe, is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker. He made two appearances for the Argentina national team.

José Sand
Personal information
Full nameJosé Gustavo Sand
Date of birth (1980-07-17) 17 July 1980 (age 43)
Place of birthBella Vista, Argentina
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)Striker
Youth career
1998–1999River Plate
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1999–2000Colón5(1)
2000–2001Independiente Rivadavia17(0)
2001–2002Vitória13(4)
2002–2003Defensores de Belgrano47(20)
2004–2005River Plate42(8)
2005–2006Banfield33(10)
2006–2007Colón24(7)
2007–2009Lanús67(51)
2009–2011Al Ain30(31)
2011Deportivo La Coruña (loan)5(0)
2011–2012Tijuana34(12)
2012–2013Racing Club21(2)
2013–2014Tigre14(1)
2014Argentinos Juniors7(0)
2014Boca Unidos16(4)
2015Aldosivi31(12)
2016–2018Lanús52(35)
2018Deportivo Cali31(11)
2019–2023Lanús84(42)
Total573(256)
International career
2008–2009Argentina2(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:02, 12 April 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Born in Bella Vista, Corrientes, Sand started his professional career with River Plate in 1998. He then had his first spell with Colón between 1999 and 2000. In 2000, he dropped down a division to play for Independiente Rivadavia of the Argentine 2nd Division. In 2000, he joined Brazilian side Vitória. In 2002 Sand returned to Argentina to play for Defensores de Belgrano. He had a second spell with River Plate between 2004 and 2005. Between 2005 and 2006 he played for Banfield, and then returned to Colón in 2006 before joining Lanús in 2007.

Lanús

Sand started his Lanús career by being sent off on his league debut in a 5–3 defeat to Independiente. He then scored ten goals in his next nine league games. His good scoring record of 15 goals in 15 games in his first tournament with Lanús established himself as a favourite amongst the fans. In 2007, he was part of the squad that won the Apertura 2007 tournament, Lanús' first ever top flight league title. Sand became top scorer in the Primera División Argentina for the first time in the Apertura 2008 championship with 15 goals in 19 games. In Clausura 2009 he became the first player to become top scorer in consecutive tournaments since Diego Maradona in 1980. Overall, he scored 50 goals in 67 league matches and 6 in 12 Copa Libertadores matches.

Al Ain

On 7 August 2009, Sand was sold to the Al Ain S.C.C. of Abu Dhabi at $10 million, and presented in Valencia, Spain before media from all over Spain, Argentina and the UAE. He was given the number 9, previously worn by teammate Faisal Ali.[1] In his first match with Al Ain, he scored his first goal on 9 August in a 2–1 loss against Villarreal B. Sand started this season in great form, and score 33 goals in all competitions and scored three hat-tricks in the league against Al Ahli, Al Shabab & Emirates. Sand was awarded the 2009–10 Al Hadath Golden Boot, after scoring 24 goals in 20 league matches, averaging 1.2 goals per match.[2]

Deportivo La Coruña

On 31 January 2011, Deportivo La Coruña announced on their official website that they had acquired the services of Sand for €500,000 on loan for six-months. Deportivo also had a buyout option from Al Ain for €3 million, which could be fulfilled during the summer of that same year.[3]

Club Tijuana

On 30 June 2011, Sand was sold to the Club Tijuana of México for $4 million.[4]

Racing Club

On 8 July 2012, Sand signed a contract with Racing Club in the Argentine Primera División.

Lanús

After a successful spell at Aldosivi, Sand returned to Lanús in December 2015 with the club declaring that he had 'returned home'.[5]

Deportivo Cali

In January 2018, Sand joined Deportivo Cali to help spearhead the Colombian team's attack in their Copa Sudamericana campaign.[6]

Lanús

After one year in Deportivo Cali, Sand signed for Lanús for the third time. The deal was announced on 15 December 2018.[7]

International career

In light of his excellent club form, Sand received his first-ever international call up from Alfio Basile to replace the suspended Carlos Tevez in the national squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifier with Chile in Santiago on 15 October 2008. He made his second appearance for Argentina in a friendly match against Panama on 20 May 2009.

Personal life

Sand's brother, Darío Sand, is also a professional footballer who has played for Club Agropecuario Argentino and San Martín de Tucumán.[8] Sand's aunt, Nancy Sand, is a politician who served as mayor of his hometown of Bella Vista and as a member of the National Congress.[9]

Career statistics

Club

As of 1 January 2022[10][11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colón1999–20005151
Independiente Rivadavia2000–01170170
Vitória2001–0213450184
Defensores de Belgrano2002–0347204720
River Plate2003–0416720187
2004–05261133394
Total42800153005711
Banfield2005–063310403710
Colón2006–07247247
Lanús2007–0830221264228
2008–093729424131
Total67510000168008359
Al Ain2009–10202485543333
2010–11107641611
Total30311490054004944
Deportivo La Coruña (loan)2010–11[12]500050
Tijuana2011–12[13]3212203412
Racing2011–12[13]00100010
2012–13[13]2121010232
Total21220001000242
Tigre2013–14[13]14100141
Argentinos Juniors2013–14[13]700070
Boca Unidos2014[13]16400164
Aldosivi2015[13]289103[a]33212
Lanús2016[13]1614001[b]11715
2016–17[13]291544841[c]14224
2017–18[13]6510851510
Total51345400169227449
Deportivo Cali2018[13]291100832[d]03914
Lanús2018–19[13]1071140158
2019–20[13]231042102812
2020[13]53001063126
2021[13]241521136834725
Total6238741961430010251
Career total54324329171967930145684301

Honours

References