Ismael Santiago López
Encyclopedia
Ismael Santiago López López, simply Ismael (born 27 February 1978 in Jaén
, Andalusia
), is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Pierikos F.C.
in Greece
, mainly as an attacking midfielder.
's B team
, representing the reserve side in the second
and third divisions
. In 1998, he moved to Deportivo Alavés
, making his La Liga
debut on 25 October 1998, in a 0–1 home loss against CF Extremadura
, but was not very successful there, finishing the season with CD Logroñés
, also in level two.
Ismael's career blossomed at Real Murcia
, and he was instrumental in the side's topflight promotion in his second season, scoring 11 goals. This prompted the interest of Real Betis
, where he was an important offensive element in 2003–04, being however rarely used in the following campaign
, as the Andalusia
club won the domestic cup
and achieved UEFA Champions League
qualification honours, after finishing fourth.
Subsequently, Ismael returned to the second division, having stints with Elche CF
, Xerez CD
, Hércules CF
and Alicante CF
. From January–June 2010, he played in the third with CF Sporting Mahonés
and, at 32, moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Pierikos FC
of the Greek
second level.
Jaén, Spain
Jaén is a city in south-central Spain, the name is derived from the Arabic word Jayyan, . It is the capital of the province of Jaén. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, 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 Pierikos F.C.
Pierikos F.C.
Pierikos or P.S.F.K. is a football club based in Katerini, Greece.- The foundation :The club was founded on the 11th of April, 1961 from the merger between Megas Alexandros Katerinis and Olympos Katerinis...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, mainly as an attacking midfielder.
Football career
Ismael started playing for FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's B team
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
, representing the reserve side in the second
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:...
and third divisions
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
. In 1998, he moved to Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, making his 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...
debut on 25 October 1998, in a 0–1 home loss against CF Extremadura
CF Extremadura
Club de Fútbol Extremadura was a Spanish football team based in Almendralejo, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1924, it played two seasons in La Liga, and held home games at Estadio Francisco de la Hera, with a capacity of 11,580 seats.-History:Extremadura was founded in 1924,...
, but was not very successful there, finishing the season with CD Logroñés
CD Logroñés
Club Deportivo Logroñés, S.A.D. was a Spanish football team based in Logroño, in the autonomous community of La Rioja. Founded in 1940, it last played in Regional Preferente de La Rioja....
, also in level two.
Ismael's career blossomed at Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
, and he was instrumental in the side's topflight promotion in his second season, scoring 11 goals. This prompted the interest of 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....
, where he was an important offensive element in 2003–04, being however rarely used in the following campaign
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
, as 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...
club won the domestic cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
and achieved UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualification honours, after finishing fourth.
Subsequently, Ismael returned to the second division, having stints with Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
, Xerez CD
Xerez CD
Xerez Club Deportivo, S.A.D., usually just Xerez, is a Spanish football team based in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
, 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...
and Alicante CF
Alicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
. From January–June 2010, he played in the third with CF Sporting Mahonés
CF Sporting Mahonés
Club de Fútbol Sporting Mahonés is a Spanish football team based in Mahón, Minorca, in the autonomous community of Balearic Islands. Founded in 1974, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 3, holding home matches at Estadio Bintaufa, with a capacity of 3,000 seats.-Season to season:----*7 seasons...
and, at 32, moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Pierikos FC
Pierikos F.C.
Pierikos or P.S.F.K. is a football club based in Katerini, Greece.- The foundation :The club was founded on the 11th of April, 1961 from the merger between Megas Alexandros Katerinis and Olympos Katerinis...
of the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
second level.