Mario Santana

Early career

Santana started his career in his native country with San Lorenzo. After his contract with San Lorenzo expired, he decided to try his luck in European football, moving to Italy in January 2002 for Serie A team Venezia, then relegated at the end of the season. He then followed his chairman Maurizio Zamparini to Serie B team Palermo, where he showed high qualities in his role. In 2003, he was then loaned to Serie A side A.C. ChievoVerona (along with Stefano Morrone with Eugenio Corini moved to opposite direction), becoming one of the most interesting wingers in the Italian top division, and being first capped for the Argentina national football team in a friendly match against Japan on 18 August 2004. He then returned to Palermo, which was just promoted to Serie A at the time, for the following season.

Fiorentina

In May 2006, he was signed by la viola for €6.5 million (€5 million plus 50% of Parravicini) to prepare for 2006–07 UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round. But due to 2006 Serie A scandal, Fiorentina finished 9th and did not qualify for any European competitions. In the 2009–10 season, La Viola signed Marco Marchionni, making Santana first became a backup player, likes the first group stage of 2009–10 UEFA Champions League match against Lyon, substituted Marchionni in the 72 minutes. He started the third group stage match, as Marchionni was rested. In the 4th match, he lost his starting place again to Marchionni. He substituted Juan…

On 18 June 2021, Palermo announced Santana's retirement from active football, and his subsequent appointment as a youth team coach. On 16 January 2022, new Palermo first team head coach Silvio Baldini announced Santana will be part of his coaching staff until the end of the season. Following Baldini's departure and the hiring of Eugenio Corini (a former Palermo captain during Santana's first period with the Rosanero) as new head coach, Santana was confirmed as a first-team technical collaborator. On 20 February 2026, Santana was unveiled as the new head coach of Palermo-based amateur Prima Categoria team Palermo Calcio Popolare.

He also played for Argentina at the Confederations Cup 2005 and has been frequently capped for the 2006 World Cup qualification matches.

Santana acquired his Italian nationality through marriage to his first wife, Italian-Argentinian volleyball player Antonella Moltrasio. His nationality was granted in February 2008. He had two children from his first marriage. He successively remarried with a woman from Palermo, with whom he had two more children.