Real Madrid wishes to announce that it has reached a deal with AXA Barcelona's Pepe Sánchez, who will sign a one-year contract through the 2008/09 season contingent on the results of his physical.

Pepe Sánchez's basketball career dates back to 1994/95 in Argentina. Two seasons later, he enrolled at Temple University, where he played all four seasons and averaged 8.4 ppg, 6 apg, 4.7 rpg, and 3.1 spg.

After graduating with a degree in history in 2000/01, Pepe Sánchez was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent. He was traded to the Hawks in February 2001, where he played five games before being cut and resigned by the 76ers.

Sánchez joined Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos for the 2001/02 season and went on to win the Euroleague that same year, averaging 4.6 ppg, 2.2 apg, 1.8 rpg, and 1.7 spg. He put up similar numbers in the Greek league, averaging, 4 ppg, 4 apg, 2.3 rpg, and 1.7 spg.

In October 2002, Sánchez was a free agent pick up by the Detroit Pistons, who he played for during the remainder of the season and averaged only 4.1 mpg. The following off-season he was traded to the Golden State Warriors, who cut Sánchez before the season even began.

Pepe's first stint back in Europe was with Etosa Alicante, a team mired in trouble at the time of his arrival, but who managed to stay afloat in the ACB thanks to a brilliant second half of the season. Sánchez led the league in assists, averaging 6.3 per game.

In 2004 he signed on with Unicaja, where he was instrumental in the team's conquest of the 2005 Copa del Rey, the 2005/06 ACB, and a 2006/07 Euroleague Final Four appearance.

Pepe Sánchez's most recent stop was AXA F.C Barcelona, where he averaged 5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and a league leading 5.4 apg.

The basketball veteran is a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, 2002 World Championship silver medalist, 2001 Tournament of the Americas gold medalist, 1999 South American Championship silver medalist, and 1994 Junior South American Championship gold medalist. Sánchez announced his retirement from international competition in March 2008 citing personal reasons as the motive.

According to Joan Plaza, "Pepe Sánchez is a very intelligent player capable of making his teammates really step it up. He's an extremely talented point guard who has tons of experience, and he's still very eager to learn and grow. There's no doubt he will contribute a lot to this project."


PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Juan Ignacio Sánchez-Brown
Place & date of birth: Bahía Blanca, Argentina, 8 May 1977
Nationality: Argentine / Spanish
Height & position: 6'3" / Point Guard

CAREER:
- 1994/95: Deportivo Roca
- 1995/96: Estudiantes Bahía Blanca
- 1997/00: Temple University
- Oct. 2000-Feb. 2001: Philadelphia 76ers
- Feb. 2001-Mar. 2001: Atlanta Hawks
- Mar. 2001-Jun. 2001: Philadelphia 76ers
- 2001/02: Panathinaikos
- Oct. 2002-Jun. 2003: Detroit Pistons
- Aug 2003: Golden State Warriors
- Dec. 2003-Jun. 2004: Etosa Alicante
- 2004-200707: Unicaja
- 2007/08: AXA F.C Barcelona

HONORS:
- ACB League: 2005/06
- Copa del Rey: 2004/05
- Euroleague: 2001/02
- Atlantic 10 regular season champion: 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00
- Gold Medal, 2004 Olympic Games
- Silver Medal, 2003 Tournament of the Americas
- Silver Medal, 2002 World Championship
- Gold Medal, 2001 Tournament of the Americas
- Silver Medal, 1999 South American Championship
- Gold Medal, 1994 Junior South American Championship