Latest news with #Cazorla
News18
an hour ago
- Sport
- News18
Fairytale Comes True! Santi Cazorla Guides His Boyhood Club to La Liga After 24 Years
Santi Cazorla led Real Oviedo to a 3-1 win in the La Liga 2 play-off final, securing their return to the Spanish top flight after 24 years. Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla kick-started a dramatic comeback as Real Oviedo won the La Liga 2 play-off final to return to the Spanish top flight after a 24-year absence. Oviedo triumphed 3-1 at home, overturning a first-leg deficit with goals from Santi Cazorla, Ilyas Chaira, and Francisco Portillo. A packed Estadio Carlos Tartiere erupted as fans stormed the pitch at the final whistle. The club from the Principality of Asturias, in the northwest of Spain, will now join Levante and Elche in next season's top tier, replacing relegated Leganes, Las Palmas, and Valladolid. 'There's no way to describe what this means to us. These players are heroes, every single one of them. They deserve great recognition," Oviedo coach Veljko Paunovic told LaLiga TV. Fairytale For Cazorla 40-year-old Cazorla – who returned to his boyhood club in 2023 – converted a penalty late in the first half of Saturday's second leg with his side 2-0 down on aggregate to CD Mirandes. Oviedo levelled the tie in the second half through Ilyas Chaira before Francisco Portillo scored a stunning winner in extra time to secure promotion. Cazorla claimed the decisive goal in the play-off semi-final tie against Almeria, coming off the bench to convert a free-kick and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory. Cazorla was a product of Oviedo's academy, but was forced to leave the club in 2003 when financial issues decimated the club's youth system and saw the first team re-enter the third tier. top videos View All When Oviedo faced another crisis a decade later, Cazorla was one of thousands of fans and former players who purchased shares in the club to keep it alive. (with agency inputs) About the Author Siddarth Sriram First Published: June 22, 2025, 13:15 IST
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Santi Cazorla completes fairytale swansong with Oviedo as Arsenal legend scores to get boyhood club promoted to LaLiga
SANTI CAZORLA completed his fairytale swansong with Oviedo after netting to get them promoted back to LaLiga. The ace helped inspire a stunning comeback against Mirandes to seal a return to the top flight after a 24-year absence, prompting an incredible pitch invasion from fans. 7 7 7 7 7 7 The former Spain ace started his career with Oviedo's academy in 1996 before going on to star for Villarreal, Malaga and Arsenal. Cazorla, who almost lost his leg due to an infection after numerous Achilles injuries, rejoined them in 2023 after a spell in Qatar. Oviedo were in the second tier of Spain at the time, having last played in LaLiga in 2001 while even suffering relegation to the fourth division. Cazorla's first campaign back saw his side suffer heartbreak in the playoff final. But the minnows are now back in the big time after Cazorla inspired a stunning win against rivals Mirandes, who won the first leg 1-0. They doubled their advantage after just 16 minutes to leave Oviedo's hopes of promotion hanging by a thread. But Cazorla stepped up to score a penalty just before half-time, pulling his side back into the game. Oviedo then levelled the tie on the hour mark before Mirandes had a men sent off. And the hosts completed their stunning comeback in extra time as Oviedo fans flooded the pitch in tears of joy. Cazorla was all smiles at full time as he kissed wife Ursula, having returned to Oviedo out of pure love for the club. Gabriel urges Arsenal to complete £67m transfer for 'phenomenal' Brazil team-mate Rodrygo amid Real Madrid frustration 7 The playmaker even wanted to go unpaid, but league rules dictated he had to accept a minimum wage of £80,000 per year. It now remains to be seen if Cazorla stays for one more season in LaLiga, having undergone a total of 10 operations to leave him in daily discomfort. Two years of injury hell starting in 2016 saw a bacterial infection eat a 10cm chunk out of his right Achilles and ankle bone. A bit of Cazorla's hamstring and arm muscle was used to rebuild the tendon. And he previously declared a return to Arsenal as a coach could be on the cards, saying: 'Arsenal have never closed the door to me.' Cazorla scored 29 goals in 180 games during his six years at the Emirates while winning two FA Cups. He also played 81 times for Spain while winning successive Euros, but missed the World Cup victory in 2010 due to a hernia.
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Santi Cazorla completes fairytale swansong with Oviedo as Arsenal legend scores to get boyhood club promoted to LaLiga
SANTI CAZORLA completed his fairytale swansong with Oviedo after netting to get them promoted back to LaLiga. The ace helped inspire a stunning comeback against Mirandes to seal a return to the top flight after a 24-year absence, prompting an incredible pitch invasion from fans. 7 Santi Cazorla inspired Oviedo to LaLiga promotion Credit: Getty 7 The ace netted a penalty as his side fought back from 2-0 down against Mirandes Credit: Getty 7 Cazorla got a kiss from wife Ursula at full time 7 Fans invaded the pitch in jubilant scenes 7 Players celebrated wildly in the midst of the supporters 7 Oviedo were last in Spain's top flight 24 years ago The former Spain ace started his career with Oviedo's academy in 1996 before going on to star for Villarreal, Malaga and Cazorla, who almost lost his leg due to an infection after numerous Achilles injuries, Oviedo were in the second tier of Spain at the time, having last played in LaLiga in 2001 while even suffering relegation to the fourth division. Cazorla's first campaign back saw his side suffer heartbreak in the playoff final. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But the minnows are now back in the big time after They doubled their advantage after just 16 minutes to leave Oviedo's hopes of promotion hanging by a thread. But Cazorla stepped up to score a penalty just before half-time, pulling his side back into the game. Oviedo then levelled the tie on the hour mark before Mirandes had a men sent off. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS And the hosts completed their stunning comeback in extra time as Oviedo fans flooded the pitch in tears of joy. Cazorla was all smiles at full time as he kissed wife Ursula, having returned to Oviedo out of pure love for the club. Gabriel urges Arsenal to complete £67m transfer for 'phenomenal' Brazil team-mate Rodrygo amid Real Madrid frustration 7 Cazorla previously hinted at a return to Arsenal Credit: Getty The playmaker even wanted to go unpaid, but league rules dictated he had to accept a minimum wage of £80,000 per year. It now remains to be seen if Cazorla stays for one more season in LaLiga, having undergone a total of 10 operations to leave him in daily discomfort. Two years of injury hell starting in 2016 saw a bacterial infection eat a 10cm chunk out of his right Achilles and ankle bone. A bit of Cazorla's hamstring and arm muscle was used to rebuild the tendon. And he previously declared a return to Arsenal as a coach could be on the cards, saying: 'Arsenal have never closed the door to me.' Cazorla scored 29 goals in 180 games during his six years at the Emirates while winning two FA Cups. He also played 81 times for Spain while winning successive Euros, but missed the World Cup victory in 2010 due to a hernia.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cazorla scores as Oviedo return to La Liga
Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla kick-started a dramatic comeback as Real Oviedo won the La Liga 2 play-off final to return to the Spanish top flight after a 24-year absence.40-year-old Cazorla - who returned to his boyhood club in 2023 - converted a penalty late in the first half of Saturday's second leg with his side 2-0 down on aggregate to CD levelled the tie in the second half through Ilyas Chaira before Francisco Portillo scored a stunning winner in extra-time to secure claimed the decisive goal in the play-off semi-final tie against Almeria, coming off the bench to convert a free-kick and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory. Cazorla was a product of Oviedo's academy, but was forced to leave the club in 2003 when financial issues decimated the club's youth system and saw the first team re-enter in the third Oviedo faced another crisis a decade later, Cazorla was one of thousands of fans and former players who purchased shares in the club to keep it alive.A two-time European champion with Spain, the midfielder spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances before leaving in suffered an Achilles injury in October 2016, going on to have 11 operations to cure the of the operations led to gangrene with doctors telling Cazorla he should be satisfied to walk again, never mind play.
Scottish Sun
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal icon Santi Cazorla tried to play for free and is forced to use weak foot – now he's set for ultimate swansong
NOT ZORL OVER Arsenal icon Santi Cazorla tried to play for free and is forced to use weak foot – now he's set for ultimate swansong Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARSENAL legend Santi Cazorla will write one of football's greatest fairytales if he leads boyhood club Oviedo to victory in Spain's second division play-off final. A home win in front of 30,000 fans on Saturday will return the club to LaLiga after a 24-year-absence and complete an extraordinary swansong for the 40-year-old former Gunner. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Santi Cazorla can send his boyhood club back to the top-flight Credit: Getty 5 Skin from arm had to be put on his ankle after surgery Credit: Offside sports Cazorla played 180 games for Arsenal and has been linked with a return as part of the coaching team of his great friend Mikel Arteta. But first he has what he called on Thursday: "The biggest game of my career, the most special." That's some statement from a player who has won two FA Cups and two Euros with Arsenal and Spain. Cazorla might even have retired nine years ago had he listened to medics who told him to just be grateful if he could kick a ball around in his back garden with son Enzo. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL GAME STOPPED Club World Cup clash suspended as fans and commentators told to 'get inside' He ignored that doomsday prognosis and after an operation to rebuild his Achilles he returned to playing after a 22-month absence. Eventually he signed for Oviedo - vowing to lead them to promotion. They are 1-0 down against Mirandes from the first leg but any win, including a 1-0 after extra-time, will send them up. It's Cazorla who put them in the final with a left-footed free-kick against Almeria four minutes after coming on at half-time in the semis. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS He said: "I'm still right-footed, but I've lost a lot of power in my right because of all the operations." Cazorla is from Oviedo in northern Spain and joined the club as an eight-year-old in 1995. The team back then were in the middle of a 13-year stretch in the top flight and had Robert Prosinecki in midfield. But they developed financial problems and sold the 18-year-old to Villarreal before he'd ever played for them. By 2003, when Cazorla made his La Liga debut at Villarreal, Oviedo had slipped down to the fourth tier and almost went bust in 2012. That was the year Cazorla joined Arsenal, scoring in the FA Cup final win in 2014, and winning the cup again the following year. 5 Cazorla lifted the FA Cup with Arsenal Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd It was in 2016 when his injury nightmare began. He formed a bond with Arteta because he was also injured and the pair would watch and analyse games together. He recalls: "I would look at him pausing and rewinding the action and think: this guy has already started being a coach." Cazorla's injury hell lasted almost two years. A bacterial infection had eaten a 10cm chunk out of his right Achilles and attacked his ankle bone leaving it so soft Cazorla said: 'The doctor could put his finger into it." A bit of his hamstring and some muscle from his arm was used to rebuild the tendon, and some of his thigh was used to patch-up his arm. "I'm like a jigsaw," he said of the surgery that left half of the tattoo of his daughter India's name on his arm, and the other half grafted on to his ankle. When he finally made his return, it was back at Villarreal and then in Qatar playing for his old Spain pal Xavi, before signing for Oviedo in 2023. "I would play for free but league rules mean you have to accept the minimum wage," he said of an 80k-salary deal that includes 10 per cent of any shirt sales going to Oviedo's academy. The club had originally made him a lucrative offer but he admitted: "My wife said: 'You're not going to Oviedo to earn, you're going home to enjoy it'." 5 Cazorla's wife Ursula would not let him accept a large contract at Oviedo Credit: Rex Features He enjoyed it last season playing 24 games but the club were beaten in the play-off final. This season he has played almost double the number of minutes and there is a sense that they can go one better and win promotion. Cazorla said: "Going up with Oviedo would be at the same level as winning the Euros. If they are promoted the club will urge him to sign for a final season in Spain's topflight. But he'll be 41 and 10 operations have taken their toll. He says "games don't hurt" but there is daily discomfort. Retiring on the high of promotion seems more likely and there would be no shortage of coaching opportunities. He said last year amid talk that Arteta would welcome him into his staff: "Arsenal have never closed the door to me." This week he wouldn't be drawn on his future, asked what plans he had if Oviedo win promotion, he would only answer: "I'll celebrate."
