By Alex Roberts
As a boy, Santi Cazorla spent his time roaming the Roman roads of Llanera, dreaming of enjoying for his native workforce, Actual Oviedo. Now, he’s a 40-year-old man with youngsters of his personal, likely enjoying on those self same streets, and he’s the one behind their promotion.
It’s been a hell of a journey. From Spain to North London and again once more, he then spent three years in Qatar with Al-Sadd earlier than becoming a member of Oviedo in the summertime of 2023. Regardless of enjoying there as a teenager, Cazorla by no means made a senior look for Oviedo earlier than being snapped up by Villareal in 2003.
Cazorla didn’t need to go away the membership he joined as an eight-year-old. Following their relegation from LaLiga in 2001, Oviedo had been despatched additional down the pyramid in 2003, pressured to play within the fourth tier because of the membership’s dire monetary scenario. For the nice of the membership he cherished, he left however stored trying over his shoulder, craving.
When the prodigal son lastly returned, he was hailed as a hero. Actual Oviedo are certainly not a small membership but it surely’s not every single day somebody of Cazorla’s pedigree walks by means of the doorways on the Estadio Carlos Tartiere.
He didn’t be part of for the cash both, this wasn’t one large pay day for a participant within the twilight of his profession, in all honesty, he had that when he went to the Center East. The membership was clear with how a lot he can be paid, €91,000 a season to be precise. “I’d play at no cost, however you’re not allowed,” he stated.
Cash wasn’t a difficulty however health positive was. Whereas at Arsenal, he picked up an damage that may see him miss 619 days and 122 video games for membership and nation. Arsène Wenger described it because the worst he had ever seen, and he’s seen a good few.
After 12 surgical procedures, his Achilles Tendon was nearly non-existent. Ten centimeters was eliminated, greater than we knew was doable, with the physician slicing the tattoo he has of his daughter’s title in half for a pores and skin graft. It was a miracle he might wiggle his toes, by no means thoughts play skilled soccer.
He lastly made his Actual Oviedo debut on the ripe outdated age of 38, historic in footballing phrases, approaching for only one minute within the 1-0 defeat to Actual Valladolid. Oviedo had the possibility to earn promotion in 2023-24 however fell on the final hurdle, shedding 2-1 on mixture to Espanyol within the play-off last.
When the ultimate whistle blew and the mud settled, Cazorla had a call to make. Name it a day, finish a profession that had seen him elevate extra trophies than he ever would have anticipated, or go once more. After all, he went once more.
In 2024-25, Oviedo and Cazorla stepped up their sport, incomes a 3rd positioned end, simply two factors off the automated promotion locations. It was a fairly excellent metaphor for his profession, nothing comes straightforward.
They drew Almería of their play-off semifinal, touring to their floor for the primary leg and incomes a significant 2-1 win, due to a brace from right-back Nacho Vidal. Cazorla performed, in fact, but it surely wasn’t till the subsequent sport he actually got here by means of.
Followers had been waving scarves and singing like their lives trusted it, in some ways they did. Hearts fell into their collective stomachs after Jaime Seoane was deemed to have dealt with the ball within the field. It was rifled at him from about two ft away, however the ref didn’t care, he wasted no time in pointing to the spot.
Gonzalo Melero transformed, sending Aaron Escandell the incorrect solution to make it 2-2 on mixture. Half-time got here and went, Seoane was changed by the person himself, and the sport utterly modified.
Three minutes after being launched, Cazorla discovered himself standing over a really harmful freekick. His eyes narrowed, proper eyebrow raised, and he positioned it expertly within the backside left nook. It’s virtually like he’d been in that sort of scenario earlier than.
One the sport was over, supervisor Veljko Paunović embraced Cazorla whereas his teammates fell to the turf, exhausted and relieved that they’d made it to their second consecutive play-off last, decided to make sure this one wouldn’t finish just like the final.
Simply three minutes into the primary leg of the ultimate it regarded like it might. CD Mirandés winger Alberto Reina scored, leaping above his defender to nod the ball into the again of the web. Cazorla missed the sport, watching on from the sidelines after selecting up a slight knee damage.
Mirandes took the lead within the 16th minute and the change in Cazorla’s stunning mind flipped. He took full management of the sport and when his facet had been awarded a penalty, he picked up the ball, kissed it, earlier than changing.
Ilyas Chaira made it 2-1 simply after the break to ship it to extra-time. Within the 72nd minute, Cazorla was spent, he had given every little thing he needed to the trigger, it was time to cross the torch and belief his teammates to get the job achieved.
Francisco Portillo, who isn’t a younger man both, scored the fated aim that secured promotion again to La Liga. Oviedo followers rushed the pitch and Cazorla was lifted onto the shoulders of former participant now membership physician Diego Cervero.
A complete era of Oviedo followers have been ready to see the large boys come to their city. They lined the streets to thank he who had left a boy however returned as a person.
“It’s mad, ridiculous actually that one of the best second of my life is that this at 40,” Cazorla stated, trying over a crowd that crammed Avenida Galicia so far as they eye might see. “I’ve been fortunate to stay nice issues; I’ve received titles, cups, however I’ve suckled on Oviedo since I used to be a child, the sensation right here is completely different. That is distinctive.” That virtually sums it up.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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