Santi Cazorla

Real Oviedo: start of career

Born near Llanera, Asturias, Cazorla grew up supporting local team Real Oviedo, as did his whole family and surroundings. He started playing club football for Oviedo aged 8. Having seen the senior team relegated at 16, he was forced to leave having never played a first-team game, and was acquired by Villarreal, six months before turning 18, as Oviedo, immersed in a deep financial crisis, suffered two relegations at the end of the 2002–03 season which saw it land in Tercera División.

Villarreal

Cazorla progressed through Villarreal's reserve side in the Third Division, before making his debut with the first team on 30 November 2003 in a 1–0 La Liga win at Deportivo de La Coruña, playing one minute in place of Roger, making one more appearance off the bench over the season. He scored his first goal in a 3–0 win at Odense Boldklub in the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, which the "Yellow Submarine" went on to win. Established in the main squad in the 2004–05 campaign, Cazorla scored four goals in a run to the quarter-finals of the season's UEFA Cup. On 1 May 2005, given an opportunity due to Juan Román Riquelme's suspension, he scored his first league goal in a 4–0 win over Getafe at El Madrigal, and followed it a week later with a strike in a 2–0 victory at Málaga. After contributing to an eventual fourth-place finish, he also made two goalless appearances in the following season's UEFA Champions League, where Villarreal were…

Early international career

Cazorla began his international career in the Spain under-21 team, under Iñaki Sáez. He was called up for play-off games against Italy for the 2004 Summer Olympics, playing the first match which ended 0–1 – coming in on the 77th minute for Javier Arizmendi – but missing the second leg as the country ended up not qualifying for the competition. Despite success at club level, he had struggled to start regularly for Spain during their successful run under Vicente del Bosque. On 17 May 2008, senior team coach Luis Aragonés surprised the Spanish press by including the uncapped Cazorla and Sergio García in his UEFA Euro 2008 squad, over more established wingers such as Joaquín and Albert Riera. Justifying the decision, Aragonés stated, "They are players [Cazorla and García] who are performing very well and had the possibility of coming. I made myself decide between Riera and Cazorla where I considered each player's form." Cazorla debuted for the Spanish senior team on 31 May 2008 in a 2–1 friendly victory against Peru. He also made substitute appearances in the tournament's group stage matches against Russia, Sweden and Greece, also coming from the bench in the quarterfinals against Italy, converting his penalty in the ensuing shootout which Spain won. In the final, Cazorla played the last 25 minutes for David Silva, as Spain defeated Germany 1–0 and helped his country in winning their first major tournament in 44 years. On 19 November 2008,…

A hard-working, versatile, and technical two-footed player, Cazorla primarily operated as an attacking midfielder, but could also play as a winger on either side of the pitch, as a central midfielder, or even as a deep-lying playmaker. In his prime, his main traits were his speed, creativity, shot accuracy particularly from outside the box, capacity to change the rhythm of gameplay in midfield, crossing ability, and passing, which allowed him to set the tempo and dictate play in midfield, cut inside from the flank, link up with teammates, make runs into the penalty area, and either create chances or score goals. A diminutive player, he also possessed excellent close control, a low centre of gravity, and quick feet, as well as the dribbling skills which allowed him to retain the ball in tight spaces. He was also accurate from set pieces, and because of his two footedness he would usually switch foot depending on which side of the pitch he was taking a corner or free kick from. Despite his ability, however, he often struggled with injuries throughout his career.

Cazorla was born in a small village called Fonciello, in the parish of Lugo de Llanera, near Llanera, Asturias, 10 minutes outside Oviedo. He is the son of Jose Manuel Cazorla, an ambulance driver who died in 2007, also a lifelong fan of local club Real Oviedo. Cazorla's brother Nando was also a youth player and fan of Oviedo. Cazorla has three dogs, one of which is named Zlatan after the Swedish footballer. He has a son, Enzo, and a daughter, India; their names were tattooed on his forearms, which he would kiss after scoring goals, although the design on his left arm was ruined in 2017 when the skin was needed for use as a graft over his infected right heel. Cazorla's childhood footballing hero was Danish great Michael Laudrup. In November 2012, along with fellow Premier League stars Michu and Juan Mata, he bought shares in his former club Oviedo as they struggled to raise €2 million to stay afloat in Spain's third division.