Denis Caniza

Denis Ramón Caniza Acuña (born 29 August 1974) is a Paraguayan former footballer who played as a defender.

Denis Caniza
Personal information
Full name Denis Ramón Caniza Acuña
Date of birth (1974-08-29) 29 August 1974
Place of birth Bella Vista, Paraguay
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1999 Olimpia Asunción 97 (3)
1999–2001 Lanús 61 (1)
2001–2005 Santos Laguna 191 (8)
2005–2008 Cruz Azul 51 (0)
2006–2007 → Atlas (loan) 39 (1)
2008–2009 Olimpia Asunción 35 (0)
2009 Nacional Asunción 20 (0)
2010–2011 León 35 (2)
2011 Nacional Asunción 20 (0)
2011 Irapuato 15 (1)
2012 Nacional Asunción 19 (1)
2013 Sportivo Luqueño 33 (0)
2014 Rubio Ñu 32 (2)
Total 648 (19)
National team
1996–2010 Paraguay 100 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Caniza and the second or maternal family name is Acuña.

Career

Born in Bella Vista, Amambay, Caniza started his career in Olimpia of Paraguay. He also played in Lanús of Argentina, Santos Laguna, Atlas, Cruz Azul, Leon, and Irapuato of Mexico.

Caniza was a regular in the Paraguay national football team because of his versatility, as he can play as a side defender or as a centre-back. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Caniza announced his retirement from the Paraguay national team. However, when coach Gerardo Martino took the helm of the national team Caniza was called back and accepted to return to play for Paraguay. After Gerardo Martino took the head coach job in the Paraguay national football team, Caniza was voted for his teammates to become the captain of the team, so every time he plays (when he is not injured or suspended) he captains the Paraguay national football team.

Caniza holds the distinction as the only Paraguayan footballer to be selected for 4 consecutive FIFA World Cup Finals, having been chosen in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Due to his small size and industrial play, he has been described by BBC South American reporter Tim Vickery as "the Paraguayan Nobby Stiles".

In December 2014, Caniza announced his retirement at the age of 40 and his intention to have wanted to retire at Olimpia Asunción.[2]

Career statistics

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 March 1998Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California, USA United States2–2DrawFriendly

Honours

Olimpia

Santos Laguna

Nacional

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References
  1. Denis Caniza FIFA World Cup profile Retrieved 13 June 2010
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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