Santiago Ezquerro

Santiago 'Santi' Ezquerro Marín (born 14 December 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a forward.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ezquerro and the second or maternal family name is Marín.

Santi Ezquerro
Ezquerro playing for Barcelona in 2006
Personal information
Full name Santiago Ezquerro Marín
Date of birth (1976-12-14) 14 December 1976
Place of birth Calahorra, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
1992–1993 Calahorra
1993–1994 Osasuna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Osasuna B 15 (1)
1995–1996 Osasuna 38 (8)
1996–1997 Atlético Madrid B 34 (11)
1996–1998 Atlético Madrid 8 (0)
1998 → Mallorca (loan) 14 (6)
1998–2005 Athletic Bilbao 222 (45)
2005–2008 Barcelona 24 (3)
2008–2009 Osasuna 10 (1)
Total 365 (75)
National team
1996 Spain U21 1 (0)
1998 Spain 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Having made a name for himself at Athletic Bilbao, appearing in nearly 300 official games for the club in seven years, he subsequently earned himself a transfer to Barcelona, but failed to establish himself in three years, being used sparingly.

Over 13 seasons in La Liga, Ezquerro amassed totals of 278 matches and 55 goals.

Club career

Osasuna / Atlético

Born in Calahorra, La Rioja, Ezquerro emerged through the youth ranks of CA Osasuna, playing two second division seasons with the Navarrese before signing with Atlético Madrid for the 1996–97 campaign.

He made his La Liga debut on 21 September 1996 in a 3–0 away win against CD Logroñés,[1] but was mainly registered with the club's B-side during his spell.

Athletic

Lack of playing opportunities with the Colchoneros prompted a January 1998 move to RCD Mallorca, which Ezquerro helped achieve runner-up accolades in the Copa del Rey in his six-month stint. Subsequently, he joined Athletic Bilbao,[2] with whom he appeared in his first UEFA Champions League games while establishing as one of the most promising forwards in Spain's top flight, notably scoring in a 3–0 derby home victory over Real Sociedad on 9 April 2005.[3]

His stellar form in 2004–05 – 47 official matches, 19 goals, including a hat-trick in a 7–1 away rout of Standard Liège for the season's UEFA Cup group stage[4]– led to Ezquerro signing for FC Barcelona in a period of 3+1 years, on a free transfer.[5]

Barcelona

Ezquerro was never able to establish himself in Barcelona's first team, his progress at the club being further hindered after the emergence of youth graduate Lionel Messi. His best league output consisted of 12 games in his first year (two goals, three starts, in 469 minutes of play).[6][7]

In 2007–08, Ezquerro was not given the free transfer by the Catalans and, not being signed by any team in the summer on in the January transfer window, was virtually absent for the duration of the campaign, although he did score twice in January against lowly CD Alcoyano for the domestic cup's round of 32, in a 2–2 second leg home draw and 5–2 on aggregate.[8]

Osasuna return / Retirement

In July 2008, Ezquerro was released by Barça and, late in the month, rejoined Osasuna in a 2+1-years deal.[9] During his first season after his return he struggled with injuries and also failed to fit newly appointed coach José Antonio Camacho's plans, failing to make the squad of 18 in any of the team's final matches.[10][11]

Ezquerro was released after just one year – earning €1.4 million – and retired at 33, after not being able to find a new club in the following months.

International career

During his debut season for Athletic, Ezquerro won his sole cap for Spain, in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier against Cyprus, which ended with a 2–3 away loss and the sacking of coach Javier Clemente, on 5 September 1998.[12]

Honours

Mallorca

Barcelona

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References
  1. "Vuelve el Atlético campeón" [Return of the champions Atlético]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 22 September 1996. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  2. "Presentan a Ezquerro y Luis responde a Zagalo" [Ezquerro is presented and Luis replies to Zagalo]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 May 1998. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  3. "Athletic enjoy derby delight". UEFA. 9 April 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  4. "El Athletic saqueó Lieja en su noche más grande" [Athletic looted Liège in their brightest night]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 17 December 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  5. "Ezquerro to make Barça move". UEFA. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  6. "Ezquerro admite tener dudas sobre su continuidad en el Barcelona" [Ezquerro admits doubts over staying with Barcelona]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 April 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  7. "Ezquerro sueña con la Premier League" [Ezquerro dreams of the Premier League] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. 23 December 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  8. "Regalo del Barça al Alcoyano en Copa" [Barça gift to Alcoyano in Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 January 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  9. "Ezquerro ficha por Osasuna" [Ezquerro signs for Osasuna]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 July 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  10. "Santi Ezquerro llega a un acuerdo para la rescisión de su contrato con Osasuna" [Santi Ezquerro reaches agreement to terminate his contract with Osasuna]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  11. "Ezquerro y Sola se van de Osasuna y llega Aranda" [Ezquerro and Sola leave Osasuna and Aranda arrives]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). 16 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  12. "España cae ante Chipre, un equipo repleto de aficionados" [Spain fall against Cyprus, team filled with amateurs]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 5 September 1998. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
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