Santiago Ezquerro

Osasuna and Atlético Madrid

Born in Calahorra, La Rioja, Ezquerro reached CA Osasuna's youth system aged 16, playing two Segunda División seasons with the Navarrese before signing with Atlético Madrid for the 1996–97 campaign. He made his La Liga debut on 21 September 1996 in a 3–0 away win against CD Logroñés, but was mainly registered with the club's B side during his spell.

Athletic Bilbao

Lack of playing opportunities with the Colchoneros prompted a January 1998 move to RCD Mallorca, which Ezquerro helped to reach the final of the Copa del Rey in his six-month stint. He joined Athletic Bilbao subsequently (meeting the club's self-imposed recruitment criteria due to his period of development at Osasuna), with whom he appeared in his first UEFA Champions League games while establishing himself as one of the most promising forwards in Spain's top flight. His stellar form in 2004–05 – 19 goals in 47 official matches, including a hat-trick in a 7–1 away rout of Standard Liège in the group stage of the UEFA Cup and one in the 3–0 home victory over Real Sociedad in the Basque derby on 9 April 2005– led to FC Barcelona securing his services on a three-year contract that included the possibility of an extension, on a free transfer.

Barcelona

Ezquerro was never able to establish himself in Barcelona's first team, his progress at the club being further hindered after the emergence of youth graduate Lionel Messi. His best league output consisted of 12…

During his debut season for Athletic, Ezquerro won his sole cap for Spain, in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier against Cyprus on 5 September 1998, which ended with a 3–2 away loss and the dismissal of manager Javier Clemente.

Mallorca

Copa del Rey runner-up: 1997–98 Barcelona

La Liga: 2005–06 UEFA Champions League: 2005–06 FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2006