Santiago Denia
Encyclopedia
Santiago Denia Sánchez (born March 9, 1974 in Albacete
, Castile-La Mancha
), aka Santi, is a retired Spanish
footballer, who played as a central defender. He now works as a coach of Spain U16.
, making his first division
debuts at age 18, and automatically being an undisputed starter in a side that constantly managed to maintain its top flight status.
In 1995, he signed with Atlético de Madrid, being crowned league and cup
champion in his first season, in a defensive line which also included club youth graduates Juanma López and Roberto Solozábal
; Santi appeared in 37 league contests during that campaign.
Following Atlético's 2000 relegation (Santi collected a career-worst 17 yellow cards), he gradually lost his importance in the side's plans.
In 2004–05
, after the signing of Pablo Ibáñez
(whom 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, to his first club. The move was made permanent in June and he retired after two more years, with Albacete then in the second level
.
Santi eventually returned to Atlético Madrid in February 2009, as assistant to newly appointed Abel Resino
, whom had replaced Mexican
Javier Aguirre
.
, his debut coming on October 11, 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 against 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
.
Spain U21
Albacete
Albacete is a city and municipality in southeastern Spain, 258 km southeast of Madrid, the capital of the province of Albacete in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. The municipality had a population of c. 169,700 in 2009....
, Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community of Spain. Castile-La Mancha is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's autonomous communities...
), aka Santi, is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer, who played as a central defender. He now works as a coach of Spain U16.
Club career
Santi began playing professionally with hometown's Albacete BalompiéAlbacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
, making his first division
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debuts at age 18, and automatically being an undisputed starter in a side that constantly managed to maintain its top flight status.
In 1995, he signed with Atlético de Madrid, being crowned league and cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
champion in his first season, in a defensive line which also included club youth graduates Juanma López and Roberto Solozábal
Roberto Solozábal
Roberto Solozábal Villanueva is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender.-Club career:...
; Santi appeared in 37 league contests during that campaign.
Following Atlético's 2000 relegation (Santi collected a career-worst 17 yellow cards), he gradually lost his importance in the side's plans.
In 2004–05
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
, after the signing of Pablo Ibáñez
Pablo Ibáñez
Pablo Ibáñez Tébar , sometimes known as just Pablo, is a Spanish footballer who plays for English Football League Championship club Birmingham City as a central defender....
(whom 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, to his first club. The move was made permanent in June and he retired after two more years, with Albacete then in the second level
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
.
Santi eventually returned to Atlético Madrid in February 2009, as assistant to newly appointed Abel Resino
Abel Resino
Abel Resino Gómez , sometimes just Abel, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current coach....
, whom had replaced Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Javier Aguirre
Javier Aguirre
Javier Aguirre Onaindía , popularly nicknamed El Vasco , is a Mexican football manager and former midfielder. He was also a member of the Mexico national team and later became manager in two different occasions, but resigned after the 2010 FIFA World Cup...
.
International career
Santi was capped twice for SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, his debut coming on October 11, 1997, in a 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
qualifier
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone .A total of 50 UEFA teams entered the competition. The European zone was allocated 15 places in the final tournament...
against Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
(3–1 in Gijón
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
, playing the entire match). He still featured in a friendly win against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
in March 1998, but did not make the final cut for the final stages in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Previously, Santi appeared for the nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
.
Honours
Atlético Madrid- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
: 1995–96 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1995–96
Spain U21
- European Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: Runners-up 19961996 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1996, which spanned two years , had 44 entrants. After the quarter-finals stage, Spain were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....