Santi Cazorla
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This is a Spanish name; the first family name is Cazorla and the second is González.

Santiago Cazorla González (born December 13, 1984 in Llanera, Asturias), is a Spanish football attacking midfielder or winger for Villarreal CF.

Club career

Having started playing football for Asturias' Real Oviedo, Cazorla was snapped still a youngster by Villarreal CF, making his first team debut on November 30, 2003, playing one minute in a 1-0 win at Deportivo de La Coruña. Established in the main squad in 2004-05, Cazorla scored 4 goals in the UEFA Cup 2004-05, and made 2 goalless appearances in the following season's Champions League.

On July 7, 2006, Recreativo de Huelva signed Cazorla for €600.000 on a four-year contract, with a clause in his contract whereby he could return to Villarreal (for €1.2 million), going on to score in his team debut, a 1-1 home draw with RCD Mallorca, on August 27. He became Spanish player of the year according to Don Balón, a member of European Sports Magazines after topping its rating list.¹On April 22, 2007, Cazorla dedicated a goal to his father, who had passed away recently, in a 4-2 home win against Racing de Santander.

The following year Villarreal took advantage of the clause in Cazorla's contract and bought him back, as the team believed he had proven himself (34 matches with 5 goals) during the 2006-07 season.

In 2007-08, Cazorla was instrumental in Villarreal's final runner-up final placing, providing assists for Nihat Kahveci and Giuseppe Rossi and netting five goals himself.

On 26 August 2008, Cazorla announced that Real Madrid wanted to buy him.²He then went on to cause a stir in the media by rejecting the team announcing that, "There are many other things in football besides Real Madrid. It’s clear that it is possible to say “no” to them, There is no doubt that they are a great team, but I also feel very satisfied and valued at my club". "I hope I can continue growing at Villarreal because I am young and I’m only starting off with the national team."³

International career

On May 17, 2008, Luis Aragonés surprised the Spanish press by picking the uncapped Cazorla for the 23-man squad that would go to Euro 2008 over more established right wingers such as Joaquín. He had previously represented the U-21 side.

After debuting on May 31, 2008 in a 2-1 friendly win over Peru, Cazorla made substitute appearances in the tournament's group stage matches against Russia,⁴Sweden⁵and Greece,⁶also coming from the bench in the quarterfinals against Italy, converting his chance in the penalty shootout win.⁷

In the final, he played the last 25 minutes for David Silva, as Spain defeated Germany 1-0 and aided his country in winning their first major tournament in 44 years.⁸

Honors and awards

International

• UEFA European Championship: 2008

References

1. ^ donbalon.com. "Don Balón Rankings 2006-2007" (in Spanish). Retrieved on 20 June, 2007.
2. ^ Cazorla: Madrid want to sign me
3. ^ It's possible to say ‘No’ to Madrid
4. ^ euro2008.UEFA.com. "Euro 2008 match report: Spain 4-1 Russia".
5. ^ euro2008.UEFA.com. "Euro 2008 match report: Sweden 1-2 Spain".
6. ^ euro2008.UEFA.com. "Euro 2008 match report: Greece 1-2 Spain".
7. ^ euro2008.UEFA.com. "Euro 2008 match report: Spain 0-0 Italy".
8. ^ euro2008.UEFA.com. "Euro 2008 match report: Spain 1-0 Germany".

External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• National team data (Spanish)

v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2008 Winners (2nd Title) 1 Casillas • 2 R. Albiol • 3 F. Navarro • 4 C. Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 A. Iniesta • 7 David Villa • 8 Xavi • 9 F. Torres • 10 C. Fàbregas • 11 Capdevila • 12 S. Cazorla • 13 Palop • 14 Alonso • 15 Sergio Ramos • 16 Sergio García • 17  Güiza • 18 Arbeloa • 19 Senna • 20 Juanito • 21 Silva • 22 De la Red • 23 Reina • Coach: Aragonés

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