Name Ignacio Santamaria Place of birth Malaga, Spain Role Footballer Playing position Height 1.78 m | Current team Retired Parents Jose Ignacio Perez Frias Years Team Uncles Juan Carlos Perez Frias | |
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Full name Ignacio Perez Santamaria Date of birth (1980-06-24) 24 June 1980 (age 35) Number 23 (Real Betis / Defender) Siblings Pedro Luis Perez Santamaria Similar People Paulo Afonso Santos Ju, Nosa Igiebor, Jorge Molina Vidal, Javier Chica, Javier Matilla | ||
Ignacio Pérez Santamaría (born 24 June 1980), known as Nacho, is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a left back (he could also operate as a left midfielder).
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He appeared in 220 La Liga games during nine seasons, scoring 13 goals combined for Málaga (two spells), Levante, Getafe and Betis. He added 124 matches and three goals in Segunda División.
Football career
A product of Málaga CF's youth system, Nacho was born in Málaga, and he made his first-team debut on 23 February 2003 in a 1–1 La Liga home draw against Celta de Vigo. He went on to play four seasons with the Andalusians, with a loan to fellow league club Levante UD in between.
In July 2006, upon Málaga's top flight relegation, Nacho joined Madrid's Getafe CF. Scarcely used during his second season he would be loaned in January 2008 to second level's Real Sociedad, as the Basques ultimately failed to return to the top flight, with the player appearing in 16 matches – 13 as a starter.
Nacho was loaned again for the 2008–09 campaign, rejoining former side Málaga. Mainly used as a substitute he scored his first goal in his second spell in a 3–1 away win over Real Valladolid on 22 February 2009, helping them finish eighth immediately after promoting.
In late August 2009, Nacho moved to Real Betis in division two, for the next three seasons. During most of his stint he was used as an attacking left back, and played 34 games in his second year as the Verdiblancos returned to the top division after two years.
Personal life
Nacho's father, who also bore the same nickname, played as a defender for CD Málaga during 1976–84, appearing in 69 top division games over the course of four seasons. There, he shared teams with his brother Juan Carlos, who still spent the following campaign with the club, and both continued to work there (under its new denomination) in medical capacities following their retirement.
Nacho's brother, Perico, played for the club's reserves.