Sanchez, 47, replaces the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro who left after Ecuador was eliminated in the group stage at the World Cup in Qatar. They finished third in Group A with just one victory, 2-0 over hosts Qatar, then coached by Sanchez.
Sanchez started as a coach in the Barcelona youth academy aged 21. He moved to the Aspire Academy in Qatar in 2006 and coached national age group teams before taking over the national team in 2017. His first games in charge of Ecuador will be two friendlies against Australia on March 24 and 28.
Iran names Ghalenoei as Queiroz successor
Iran’s Football Federation named Iranian Amir Ghalenoei as coach of the national team for a second time, succeeding Portuguese Carlos Queiroz. The appointment was announced after a 4-0 victory by Ghalenoei’s current club side, Gol Gohar, against Naft Masjed Soleyman. Queiroz left the job after failing to get past the World Cup group stage.Ghalenoei, 59, held the Iran job from 2006 to 2007 before his contract was ended after elimination By the South Korea in the 2007 Asian Cup quarter-finals. He is the most successful coach in Iranian premier league history with five titles, three times with Tehran powerhouse Esteghlal FC and two with Sepahan. Ghalenoei played for Iran scoring an international goal in a friendly match against Kuwait in 1996.