Full name Santiago Denia Sanchez 1992–1995 Albacete Weight 76 kg Years Team Height 1.82 m | Current team Spain U17 (coach) Role Footballer Place of birth Albacete, Spain Name Santiago Denia | |
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Date of birth (1974-03-09) 9 March 1974 (age 41) | ||
How to pronounce santiago denia spanish spain pronouncenames com
Santiago Denia Sánchez (born 9 March 1974), commonly known as Santi, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender, and a current coach.
Contents
- How to pronounce santiago denia spanish spain pronouncenames com
- Club career
- International career
- Club
- International
- References
He appeared in 297 La Liga games over the course of 11 seasons (two goals scored), with Albacete Balompié and Atlético Madrid. He won the 1996 league championship with the latter.
Club career
Born in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Santi began playing professionally with hometown's Albacete Balompié. He made his La Liga debuts at age 18, and automatically became an undisputed starter in a side that constantly managed to maintain their top flight status.
In the 1995 summer, Santi signed with Atlético Madrid, being crowned league and Copa del Rey champion in his first season, in a defensive line which also included club youth graduates Juan Manuel López and Roberto Solozábal. He appeared in 37 league matches during the campaign.
Following Atlético's 2000 relegation (he collected a career-worst 17 yellow cards), Santi gradually lost his importance in the team's plans. In 2004–05, after the signing of Pablo Ibáñez – who also came from Albacete – he featured in no games at all during the first half of the season, and was subsequently allowed to leave on loan in January 2005 for his first club. The move was made permanent in June and he retired after two more years, with Albacete now in the second division.
Santi eventually returned to Atlético Madrid in early February 2009, as assistant to newly appointed Abel Resino who had replaced Javier Aguirre. He was a caretaker manager for the game against RCD Mallorca on 24 October, before the appointment of Quique Sánchez Flores.
International career
Santi was capped twice for Spain, his debut coming on 11 October 1997 in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Faroe Islands (3–1 in Gijón, playing the entire match). He still featured in a friendly win over Sweden in March 1998, but did not make the final cut for the final stages in France.
Previously, Santi appeared for the nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics.