Ignacio Pérez Santamaría
Encyclopedia
Ignacio Pérez Santamaría, aka Nacho (born 24 June 1980 in Málaga
, Andalusia
), is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Real Betis
mainly as a left defender (he can also play as a left midfielder
).
's youth system, Nacho made his first-team debut on 23 March 2003, in a 1–1 La Liga
home draw with Celta de Vigo
. He would play four seasons there, with a loan to Levante UD
in between.
In July 2006, upon Málaga's top flight relegation
, Nacho joined Madrid
's Getafe CF
. Scarcely used during his second season, he would be loaned in January 2008 to second division
's Real Sociedad
, as the Basque
side ultimately failed to return to the top level, with the player appearing in 16 matches, 13 as a starter.
For 2008–09, Nacho would be loaned again, rejoining former team Málaga for one season. Mainly used as a substitute, he netted his first goal in his second spell in a 3–1 win at Real Valladolid
, on 22 February 2009, helping the Andalusia
ns finish eighth immediately after promoting.
In late August 2009, Nacho moved to Real Betis
in the second division, for the next three seasons. During most of his stint with the club, he was used as an offensive left back.
.
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
, Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
), is a Spanish
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...
footballer who plays for Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
mainly as a left defender (he can also play as a left midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
).
Football career
A product of Málaga CFMálaga 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...
's youth system, Nacho made his first-team debut on 23 March 2003, in a 1–1 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...
home draw with Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
. He would play four seasons there, with a loan to Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
in between.
In July 2006, upon Málaga's top flight relegation
2005–06 La Liga
* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Betis* Cádiz CF* Celta de Vigo* Deportivo Alaves* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Málaga CF* RCD Mallorca* CA Osasuna* Racing de Santander* Real Madrid* Real Sociedad* Sevilla FC...
, Nacho joined Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
's Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
. Scarcely used during his second season, he would be loaned in January 2008 to second division
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:...
's Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, as the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
side ultimately failed to return to the top level, with the player appearing in 16 matches, 13 as a starter.
For 2008–09, Nacho would be loaned again, rejoining former team Málaga for one season. Mainly used as a substitute, he netted his first goal in his second spell in a 3–1 win at Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
, on 22 February 2009, helping the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns finish eighth immediately after promoting.
In late August 2009, Nacho moved to Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
in the second division, for the next three seasons. During most of his stint with the club, he was used as an offensive left back.
Personal
Nacho's father, whom also bore the same nickname, played as a defender for Málaga during the 70's/80's, appearing in 70 top division games over the course of four seasons. His brother, Perico, played for the club's reservesAtlético Malagueño
Atlético Malagueño, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1990, it is the reserve team of Málaga CF, and currently plays in Tercera División - Group 9....
.