Latest news with #SantiCazorla
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cazorla, 40, sends Oviedo into La Liga play-off final
Eight years after being told he should be satisfied if he could walk again, 40-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla scored the goal that put boyhood club Real Oviedo into the La Liga play-off Spaniard came off the bench at half-time with his side trailing 1-0 to Almeria in the play-off semi-final second leg. Within four minutes, the midfielder scored a free-kick with his weaker left foot to put Oviedo 3-2 up on aggregate. The 1-1 second-leg draw was enough for Oviedo to reach the play-off final, where they will face either Mirandes or Racing Santander."I'm just trying to enjoy what is left of my career, knowing that the end is closer," Cazorla said after the game. "I try to enjoy myself, which is the most important thing. I was sad that I wouldn't start the game but I knew that this game was important. I'm happy I was able to help the team."Cazorla, a two-time European champion with Spain, spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances before leaving in final two years of his time in north London were plagued with suffered an Achilles injury in October 2016, with the midfielder 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 the Spaniard pushed to restart his football career and he had his Achilles reconstructed, with doctors grafting skin from his left arm - featuring a tattoo - to his right ankle. Cazorla spent two years at La Liga club Villarreal after leaving Arsenal in 2018, before a three-year stint in re-joined boyhood club Oviedo in 2023, taking on a minimum salary in the hope of returning the club to the top-flight for the first time since 2001.
The 42
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Arsenal FA Cup hero scores at 40 to bring boyhood club to brink of La Liga return
ARSENAL FA CUP hero Santi Cazorla helped bring his boyhood club back to the brink of a La Liga return after scoring a stunning free-kick to send Real Oviedo into the promotion play-off final. The Spaniard, now 40, feared his career was over after complications with a leg injury almost led to amputation. Cazorla was out of action for two years before resurrecting career in 2018 with Villarreal and the joining Oviedo after a stint in Qatar. "The fairytale story continues!" 🎙️ At 40 years old, Santi Cazorla scores the free kick that sends his boyhood club Real Oviedo through to the LALIGA promotion playoff final 🙌 What a moment 💙 — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) June 11, 2025 Advertisement Cazorla was sprung from the bench and made an immediate impact against Almería, winning the free kick which he then tucked away from just outside the box with his weaker left foot. Oviedo haven't played in the Spanish top flight since 2001 and they will face the winners of CD Mirandés and Real Racing Club, a tie that is level after a 3-3 in the first leg.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Gunner scores free-kick with ‘weak foot'
Santi Cazorla scored a vital free-kick with his supposed 'weak' foot on Wednesday night, sending boyhood club Real Oviedo through to the La Liga promotion play-off final. Photo via Cazorla on Instagram Seven years after leaving Arsenal and at the age of 40, Santi Cazorla continues to play a regular role for Real Oviedo in the Spanish second tier. Advertisement The former Gunner has made 34 appearances for Oviedo this season, including 25 starts. But it was in a substitute appearance in midweek that he scored his most important goal since signing for the club. Photo via Cazorla on Instagram Having finished third in La Liga 2, Oviedo are currently playing in the promotion play-offs for the chance to rejoin the top tier of Spanish football. Taking on UD Almeria in the semi-final, Cazorla played 82 minutes of a 2-1 win in the first leg, but he came on at half-time of Wednesday's second leg with his team 1-0 down – level at 2-2 on aggregate. Just a few minutes into his substitute showing, the Spanish international won a free-kick, and he stepped up to score it with his 'weaker' left foot. View Tweet Photo via Cazorla on Instagram Arsenal fans will be well aware that Cazorla doesn't really have a weak foot, but he does generally have a preference for using his right. Gunners supporters will recall his iconic right-footed free-kick to get their team back in the mix in the 2014 FA Cup final. Advertisement So to take on an important free-kick with his left just shows the confidence the player has on both sides. Oviedo ended up drawing the match 1-1, sending them through to the play-off final 3-2 on aggregate. The team will face either Mirandes or Racing de Santander in the play-off final, depending on the winner of their semi.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Premier League icon, 40, scores stunning free-kick to send boyhood club to LaLiga play-offs
A Premier League cult icon has shown that he's very much still got it at the tender age of 40 with a stunning free-kick to put his boyhood club into the LaLiga play-off final. Real Oviedo faced Almeria for a chance to play for a spot in the LaLiga play-off finals on Wednesday night, having won the first leg on the road 2-1, but were down a goal early on at home. But then, at the break, the hosts needed something special if they were to hold on to their dream of promotion, and they looked to the bench for some inspiration. It was there they found former Spain and Arsenal legend Santi Cazorla, who was back at his boyhood club where he is still going into his fifth decade. Within three minutes of his entrance, Oviedo had won a free-kick on the edge of the box, and there was only one man who would be taking the set-piece. Up stepped the veteran captain, and duly curled the ball into the bottom left corner, to score the decisive goal and put Oviedo into the final. "The fairytale story continues!" 🎙️ At 40 years old, Santi Cazorla scores the free kick that sends his boyhood club Real Oviedo through to the LALIGA promotion playoff final 🙌 What a moment 💙 — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) June 11, 2025 Cazorla's return to the club in 2023 is one of the most romantic stories in the game, having signed on at the minimum legal wage, and sent all the proceeds from his shirt sales to the club's academy. This comes after his career was almost ended following a succession of injuries which culminated with a flesh-eating infection that almost saw him lose his leg, with his Arsenal career ending prematurely after 636 days out of action. it appeared that football would lose one of the most technically gifted players of his generation. Cazorla was one of the few players who was completely two-footed, famously going to take a corner from one side, before being asked to switch feet in the middle of the match. At Arsenal he was lauded for his passing, dribbling and ball control in midfield, with a memorable performance against Manchester City at the Etihad in 2015 living long in the hearts and minds of Gunners fans. However they were robbed of a farewell by his injury, and his career looked set to end on the sidelines before Villarreal took a chance on the maestro. There he rebuilt his career, before a stint in Qatar and eventually a romantic return to Oviedo, where, regardless of what happens in the play-off final, he has already shown his class on the biggest stage. Before his international retirement, Cazorla notched up 15 goals in 81 international appearances.
Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal legend, 40, sends club to play-off final with stunning WEAKER-FOOT free kick
Star penned a message to fans after the match STILL GOT IT STILL GOT IT Arsenal legend, 40, sends club to play-off final with stunning WEAKER-FOOT free kick AN Arsenal legend rolled back the years as he fired his boyhood club one step closer to promotion to LaLiga. Santi Cazorla scored the decisive goal in Real Oviedo's play-off semi-final against Almeria. 4 Santi Cazorla scored a free-kick with his weaker foot Credit: x @PremSportsTV 4 The goal helped Real Oviedo close in on promotion to LaLiga Credit: x @PremSportsTV Oviedo went into the second leg of the tie with a slim advantage thanks to Nacho Vidal's brace in the 2-1 away victory. However, back at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere, the hosts were pegged back as Gonzalo Melero netted from the spot in the first half. Cazorla, 40, was presented with an opportunity to restore the aggregate lead in the 49th minute after Oviedo were awarded a free kick just outside the box. The Spaniard lined up to take the set-piece and struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner with his WEAK FOOT. READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS PARTY Arsenal's Raya dresses as air stewardess and serves passengers on Vegas stag do The midfielder is predominantly right-footed but has trained himself to use his left just as well. Fans were left in awe on social media as they reacted to Cazorla's goal. One posted: "With his 'weaker' foot as well." A second wrote: "Classic Santi, why do something with his right foot when he can do it just as easily with his left God, I miss watching this genius at Arsenal." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS A third commented: "Could have hit it with his right foot equally as well as the left. What a player." A fourth said: "Left foot, right foot - it don't matter." David Raya reveals Arsenal career changed overnight following two-hour meeting 4 Cazorla spent six years at Arsenal earlier in his career Credit: Getty 4 He won the FA Cup twice while in North London Credit: Getty Another added: "Class is permanent." It is not the first time that Cazorla has shown off his ability with his weaker foot. One famous instance was when he switched feet when taking a corner during his time at Arsenal. Oveido held on to draw the match 1-1 and seal the 3-2 aggregate win in order to set up a play-off final against either Real Racing Club or CD Mirandes. After the match, Cazorla took to social media to pen a message to the club's fans. He wrote: "Thank you, thank you, and a million thanks. "You deserve the best and we will try once more." Cazorla signed for Arsenal back in 2012 from Malaga, having previously played in the academy of Oviedo between 1996 and 2003. He made 180 appearances for the Gunners and scored 29 goals and provided 44 assists. He left North London in 2018 and spent two years at Villarreal before a three-year stint with Al-Sadd in Qatar. Cazorla made his emotional return to Oviedo in 2023 on an initial one-year contract. He is paid the minimum of £80,000 a year, having originally tried to play for the club for FREE. He has overcome multiple injuries to continue his career into his forties. He played with a cracked bone during an international friendly between Spain and Chile in 2013. In 2016, he underwent surgery on the damaged ankle but was struck with an infection, further complicating his recovery. This would, unfortunately, become a running theme for Cazorla, who endured a number of reopened wounds, gangrene and bacterial infections. One such infection had eaten away at his Achilles tendon, spreading to the bone and putting him in danger of losing his leg. Since his original injury, Cazorla had a total of 10 operations including one skin-graft procedure which removed flesh from his left forearm removing his tattoo dedicated to his daughter India. Cazorla's career Villarreal 330 games, 57 goals, 57 assists Arsenal 180 games, 29 goals, 45 assists, 2x FA Cups, 2x Community Shield Al Sadd 97 games, 39 goals, 36 assists, 2x Qatar league titles, 2x Qatar Cup Malaga 42 games, 9 goals, 8 assists Recreativo Huelva 34 games, 5 goals, 0 assists Real Oviedo 59 games, 3 goals, 9 assists Spanish National Team 81 games, 15 goals, 11 assists, 2x European Championships Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates
