Santiago Denia

Santi

Personal information
Full name	Santiago Denia Sánchez
Date of birth	9 March 1974 (1974-03-09)
Place of birth	Albacete, Spain
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Youth career
	Albacete
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1992–1995	Albacete	98	(2)
1995–2004	Atlético Madrid	226	(7)
2005–2007	Albacete	38	(1)
Total		362	(10)
National team
1991	Spain U18	1	(0)
1992–1996	Spain U21	27	(0)
1996	Spain U23	3	(1)
1997–1998	Spain	2	(0)
Teams managed
2009	Atlético Madrid (assistant)
2009	Atlético Madrid
2010–	Spain U16
2011–	Spain U17
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Denia and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Santiago Denia Sánchez (born 9 March 1974 in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha), aka Santi, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender, and a current coach.

Club career

Santi began playing professionally with hometown's Albacete Balompié, 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 (who 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, who had replaced Mexican Javier Aguirre.

International career

Santi was capped twice for Spain, his debut coming on 11 October 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.

Honours

Atlético Madrid

• Spanish League: 1995–96
• Spanish Cup: 1995–96

Spain U21

• European Football Championship: Runners-up 1996

External links

• BDFutbol player profile
• BDFutbol coach profile
• National team data (Spanish)