Macarena Sánchez Jeanney (born 28 December 1991), known as Macarena Sánchez or Maca Sánchez, is an Argentine footballer who plays as a striker for San Lorenzo.[1] She previously played at Atlético Colón Club of Santa Fe and Logia Fútbol Club in the Santa Fe Women’s Soccer League.
As a member of UAI Urquiza, Sánchez won several editions of the AFA Women’s League. Her club finished second at the AFA Women’s Gold Club in 2018. Sánchez also participated in three editions of the Copa Libertadores, with a best placement of third at the 2015 edition.
A self-described “football feminist“, Sánchez has been active in trying to change the women’s game from an unfunded forgotten amateur sport to a fully professional one. She was also active in other feminist issues, including supporting proposed changes to Argentina’s abortion laws that would make the procedure legal.
In January 2019, Sánchez was let go by UAI Urquiza before the official start of pre-season. As she was being compensated but not contracted and was locked out from signing with a new team for the upcoming season, she sued UAI Urquiza and the Argentine Football Association alleging discrimination where professional women’s players were wrongly treated as amateurs.
Three months later, Sánchez was one of fifteen players who joined San Lorenzo on a professional contract; an historic first for Argentina’s women’s football.[2]
. . . Macarena Sánchez . . .
Sánchez is an Argentine footballer who played for UAI Urquiza in the First Women’s Division of Argentina.[3][4] A forward,[5] she previously played at Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Colón de Santa Fe, Club Atlético Colón, and Logia Fútbol Club.[6]
When Sánchez was a 5-year-old, she played football in Santa Fe in an informal way.[7][8][9] She played with the boys in her neighborhood on the weekdays, and then went to watch her father play with his friends. Her father sometimes had her playing on his team.[7] Her father encouraged her to play for a local club.[9]
It wasn’t until 2006 that her professional career took off, playing for the women’s club at Universidad Nacional del Litoral.[7][10] This was followed by stints at Atlético Colón Club of Santa Fe and Logia Fútbol Club in the Santa Fe Women’s Soccer League.[7][10]
. . . Macarena Sánchez . . .