Biography
Who is Santi Cazorla?
Early life and career
Santiago Cazorla González was born on December 13, 1984, in Lugo de Llanera, Spain. As a young boy, he grew up supporting Real Oviedo, his local team. He began his football training with the club at eight years old. When he was 16, the senior team faced relegation and financial difficulties, forcing him to depart the club before making a first-team appearance.
In 2003, he joined Villarreal CF. He moved through the reserve squad and made his official debut for the main team on November 30, 2003, in a La Liga match against Deportivo de La Coruña. He gained further experience during a loan spell with Recreativo de Huelva during the 2006–07 season. There, he performed well enough to be named Spain's Footballer of the Year by Don Balón. He returned to Villarreal for the following campaign.
Time with Málaga and Arsenal
In 2011, Santi Cazorla moved to Málaga CF in a deal valued at 21 million euros. He made a strong impact during his single season there, helping the team secure a fourth-place finish and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. His performance earned him a reputation for his close ball control and ability to dictate the pace of a match.
Arsenal signed the midfielder in August 2012 for 10 million pounds. He quickly became a vital part of the squad, scoring his first goal against Liverpool and recording a hat-trick against Reading. During his debut season in England, he appeared in every league match and was voted Arsenal's Player of the Season. He helped the club win the FA Cup in 2014, breaking a long trophy drought for the team. Injuries affected his later years in London, but he remained a key playmaker.
Return to Spain and international play
After his time in England, he returned to Villarreal in 2018 for two seasons. During this period, he recorded some of his highest goal and assist totals since 2015. He later moved to the Qatari club Al Sadd in 2020. In 2023, he returned to Real Oviedo on a low-cost contract to support his childhood club, playing a role in their 2025 promotion to La Liga.
On the international stage, Santi Cazorla made his senior debut for Spain in May 2008 against Peru. He was part of the national squad that won UEFA Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. Also, he represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Throughout his international career, he earned 81 caps and scored 15 goals for the Spanish national team.
Birthday and age
Santi Cazorla was born on December 13, 1984, which makes Santi 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Santi shares the date with 46 other famous people.
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