Gonzalo de los Santos
Encyclopedia
Gonzalo de los Santos da Rosa (born 19 July 1976 in Salto
) is a retired Uruguay
an footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
He spent the vast majority of his professional career in Spain
, playing nearly 300 official matches for six clubs over 11 seasons - 179 in La Liga
alone, being crowned champion with Valencia
- but started and finished it at the same club, Peñarol
.
De los Santos gained nearly 40 caps for Uruguay
, and represented the nation at the 2002 World Cup
.
, de los Santos moved to Spain
, representing CP Mérida
, Málaga CF
(achieving La Liga
promotion in 1998–99), Valencia CF
(appearing in 13 matches for the 2002 league champions), Atlético de Madrid (loan) and RCD Mallorca
(also on loan, joining Jorge López
(who had made the same move in August 2004)) in January 2005.
In 2006–07, after having spent one season in the sidelines, de los Santos joined Segunda División
side Hércules CF
. After two seasons where he was relatively used, he returned to Peñarol on 29 July 2008, retiring from football two years later, aged 34.
for nine years, de los Santos appeared with the national side at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, playing 20 minutes in the 0–0 group stage draw with France
.
He also represented the nation at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
in Saudi Arabia
, playing in four games as Uruguay finished in fourth position.
Salto
Salto may refer to:*Salto, a Latin word for "to leap/jump", and in gymnastics refers to a somersault* Glasflügel H-101 "Salto" -Organisations:...
) is a retired Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
He spent the vast majority of his professional career in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, playing nearly 300 official matches for six clubs over 11 seasons - 179 in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
alone, being crowned champion with Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
- but started and finished it at the same club, Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
.
De los Santos gained nearly 40 caps for Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
, and represented the nation at the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
.
Club career
After winning three consecutive Uruguayan leagues with C.A. PeñarolC.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
, de los Santos moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, representing CP Mérida
CP Mérida
Club Polideportivo Mérida was a Spanish football team based in Mérida, in the autonomous community of Extremadura.Having played twice in La Liga , the club disappeared in 2000, due to serious economic debts...
, Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
(achieving La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
promotion in 1998–99), Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
(appearing in 13 matches for the 2002 league champions), Atlético de Madrid (loan) and RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
(also on loan, joining Jorge López
Jorge López Montaña
Jorge López Montaña |La Rioja]]) is a Spanish footballer who plays for OFI Crete in Greece, as a right midfielder.-Football career:A product of hometown CD Logroñés' youth system, López was purchased by Villarreal CF in 1999, with whom he achieved La Liga promotion at the end of the season...
(who had made the same move in August 2004)) in January 2005.
In 2006–07, after having spent one season in the sidelines, de los Santos joined Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
side Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
. After two seasons where he was relatively used, he returned to Peñarol on 29 July 2008, retiring from football two years later, aged 34.
International career
An Uruguayan internationalUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
for nine years, de los Santos appeared with the national side at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, playing 20 minutes in the 0–0 group stage draw with France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
.
He also represented the nation at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-Top scorers:7 goals Romário5 goals Vladimír Šmicer4 goals Ronaldo-References:...
in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, playing in four games as Uruguay finished in fourth position.