Suso Santana
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jesús Manuel Santana Abreu | ||
| Date of birth | 2 March 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | San Cristóbal, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Tenerife | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2004 | Tenerife | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2009 | Tenerife | 23 | (1) |
| 2004–2005 | → Atlético Arona (loan) | ||
| 2005–2006 | → Laguna (loan) | ||
| 2007–2008 | → San Isidro (loan) | 27 | (3) |
| 2008–2009 | → Fuerteventura (loan) | 30 | (9) |
| 2009–2012 | Hearts | 59 | (8) |
| 2012– | Tenerife | 138 | (18) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 4 April 2016 (UTC). | |||
Jesús Manuel 'Suso' Santana Abreu (born 2 March 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for CD Tenerife as a right winger.
He started his career with Tenerife, but was loaned several times to lower league teams until the end of his contract. In 2009 he moved to the Scottish Premier League with Hearts, where he remained three years.
In 2012, Santana returned to Tenerife.
Football career
Tenerife
Born in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santana began his professional career at local CD Tenerife, signing in 2002 with its youth system. Early on, he was loaned to Tercera División sides Atlético Arona CF and AD Laguna, in order to gain experience.
Suso played one full season with Tenerife, in Segunda División, but opportunities continued to be limited for him in the main squad and another two loan spells ensued, now with Segunda División B teams CD San Isidro and UD Fuerteventura. With the former he finished as top scorer in the 2008–09 campaign, with nine goals from the right side of midfield, although the club would be relegated for financial problems.[1]
Hearts
Suso's performances caught the eye of Hearts manager Csaba László, who signed him on a free transfer from Tenerife on 30 June 2009.[2] He got off to a good start at Tynecastle Stadium, playing in every pre-season game and particularly impressing in friendlies against Bolton Wanderers (where he set up the only goal of the match) and Sunderland, putting in Man of the match performances.
However, in the Scottish Premier League, Santana's performances were somewhat erratic: during Hearts' 2–2 draw with St Johnstone, he was replaced after an alleged spitting incident.[3] He improved from there onwards, again being named man of the match in the side's 1–0 win over Kilmarnock on 15 September 2009; he scored his first goal for the club five days later, opening the scoresheet in a 1–2 defeat against Celtic at Celtic Park, with a long-range shot.[4]
Suso's second goal for Hearts came a week later, the second in a 2–1 win over Hamilton Academical. He also netted against eventual champions Rangers in a 1–4 home loss, from a volley.
Suso's second season in Scotland was hit by injuries, and he never really managed to get a consistent run together, also having to undergo knee surgery in late April 2011.[5] After returning to full fitness, he began appearing for Hearts as a substitute. On 18 March 2012 he scored his second goal of the 2011–12 season, netting in the 90th minute of a 2–0 derby win against Hibernian;[6] he also helped the team win the season's Scottish Cup, but left in early July.[7]
Return to Tenerife
Santana returned to his native Canary Islands and Tenerife on 6 July 2012.[8] He scored five goals in his first season in his second stint, helping the club return to the second level after one year out.
Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2009–10 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 6 |
| 2010–11 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| 2011–12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Total | 51 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 8 | |
References
- ↑ ¿Quien es Suso Santana? (Who is Suso Santana?); Official website, 8 August 2009 (Spanish)
- ↑ "Winger Suso signs up for Hearts". BBC Sport. 30 June 2009.
- ↑ Santana upset by spitting claims; BBC Sport, 1 September 2009
- ↑ Celtic v Hearts as it happened; BBC Sport, 20 September 2009
- ↑ Surgery for Suso; Hearts' official website, 28 April 2011
- ↑ Hearts 2 – Hibernian 0; BBC Sport, 18 March 2012
- ↑ "Hearts confirm exits by Suso and Craig Beattie". BBC Sport. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ↑ "Suso Santana, primer fichaje del CD Tenerife" [Suso Santana, first CD Tenerife signing] (in Spanish). Diario de Avisos. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ↑ "Suso Santana". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- ↑ "Suso Santana". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
External links
- Suso Santana profile at BDFutbol
- Suso Santana profile at Futbolme (Spanish)
- Suso Santana career statistics at Soccerbase
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