Playing position Number 11 Height 1.83 m | Years Team Weight 70 kg Name Christian Santos | |
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Full name Christian Robert Santos Freire Date of birth (1988-03-24) 24 March 1988 (age 27) Similar People Noel Sanvicente, Jeffren Suarez, Alain Baroja, Ronald Vargas, Roberto Rosales | ||
Christian Santos
Christian Robert Santos Kwasniewski (born 24 March 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Deportivo Alavés.
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Early career
Born in Ciudad Guayana, Bolívar, Santos moved to Germany at the age of six as his father received a new job in the country. After starting his career at SV Lippstadt 08 he moved to Arminia Bielefeld in 2003, and made his senior debut for the latter's reserve team on 6 May 2007, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 Oberliga Westfalen home win against Sportfreunde Lotte.
Santos scored his first senior goal on 1 April 2009, netting his team's second in a 3–1 away win against Delbrücker SC. After failed to make a single appearance with the first team, he left the club in 2011.
Belgium
On 9 August 2011, Santos signed for KAS Eupen in the Belgian Second Division. He scored a 15 goals during his first season, and added a further ten in his second.
In April 2013, Santos moved to Belgian Pro League club Waasland-Beveren, but failed to appear in a single match due to a severe knee injury.
NEC
In July 2014, Santos signed a one-year contract with Dutch Eerste Divisie side NEC Nijmegen, after impressing on a trial basis. He made his professional debut on 10 August, starting in a 3–1 home win against FC Eindhoven.
Santos scored his first professional goal on 15 August 2014, netting the last in a 2–0 win at FC Volendam. He finished the campaign with 23 goals in only 34 appearances, as his side achieved promotion to Eredivisie as champions; highlights included braces against FC Den Bosch, MVV Maastricht and FC Oss.
Santos made his debut in the main category of Dutch football on 12 August 2015, starting in a 1–0 home win against SBV Excelsior. He scored his first goals in the division on 18 September, netting all his team's goals in a 2–0 success over SC Heerenveen.
Santos added another doubles against ADO Den Haag (4–1 home win) and De Graafschap (2–0 home win), totalling 16 goals in 30 matches.
Alavés
On 12 July 2016, free agent Santos signed a three-year deal with Deportivo Alavés, newly promoted to La Liga. He made his debut in the league on 21 August, replacing Gaizka Toquero in a 1–1 away draw against Atlético Madrid.
International career
After being allowed to play for Venezuela in January 2015, Santos made his full international debut on 27 March of that year, starting and being booked in a 1–2 friendly loss against Jamaica. He scored his first international goal on 13 October, but in a 1–3 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers loss against Brazil.
Santos was also included in Rafael Dudamel's 23-man list ahead of the Copa America Centenario. His first and only appearance of the tournament occurred on 13 June 2016, in a 1–1 draw against Mexico.
International goals
Scores and results lists Venezuela's goal tally first.