Elena Gracinda Santos

Elena Gracinda Santos (born 6 February 1997) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Turkish Women's Football Super League club Fatih Karagümrük.[1] She also holds American citizenship.

Elena Santos
Personal information
Full name Elena Gracinda Santos
Date of birth (1997-02-06) 6 February 1997
Place of birth Johannesburg, South Africa
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Fatih Karagümrük
Youth career
Conard High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Fairfield Stags 31 (6)
2017–2018 UConn Huskies 35 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
NJ/NY Gotham FC Reserves
2022–2023 Galatasaray 29 (11)
2023– Fatih Karagümrük 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 July 2023

Private life and early years

Elena Gracinda Santos was born in a Cape Verde-descent family to Mario Santos and Lisa Audet in Johannesburg, South Africa on 6 February 1997.[2][3] She has two brothers Luis and Mario.[2] She went to the United States, and received later United States citizenship.[1]

In the United States, she went to Conard High School, where she played soccer and captained the school squad. Playing in the forward/midfielder position, she was the top goalscorer and held the school record for goals. She was a top player in the division, and was also picked as one of the best players in the state. She was named to All-CCC West team. She received a four-star ranking from the academy soccer website TopDrawerSoccer.com, and 150 national ranking from the sports management company IMG.[2]

After finishing the high school, she attended Fairfield University in 2015. She played two seasons for the college team Fairfield Stags, and scored six goals in 31 matches.[2]

In 2017, Santos entered University of Connecticut (UConn) to major in Communication studies. There, she played in the college team UConn Huskies. She netted five goals in 35 games played in 2017 and 2018. She played also at the post-season college football all-star game Senior Bowl of the New England Women's Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEWISA) in 2018.[2]

The 1.70 metres (5 ft 7 in) tall Santos kicks with right foot and plays in the wing attacker position.[3]

Club career

NJ/NY Gotham FC

Santos played for NJ/NY Gotham FC Reserves in the Women's Premier Soccer League of the United States.[4]

Galatasaray

In March 2022, she moved to Turkey, and joined the newly established club Galatasaray S.K. in Istanbul to play in the Women's Super League.[1][4]

References
  1. "Oyuncular – Futbolcular: Elena Gracinda Santos" (in Turkish). Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  2. "2018 Women's Soccer Roster – 20 Elena Santos". UConn. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  3. "22 Elena Santos" (in German). Soccer Donna. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  4. "Elena Gracinda Santos Galatasaray Hepsiburada'da!" (in Turkish). Galatasaray. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
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