Federico Santander

Federico Javier Santander Mereles (born 4 June 1991) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Guaraní on loan from the Italian Serie D club Reggina, and the Paraguay national team.[1]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Santander and the second or maternal family name is Mereles.

Federico Santander
Santander with Paraguay in 2010
Personal information
Full name Federico Javier Santander Mereles
Date of birth (1991-06-04) 4 June 1991
Place of birth San Lorenzo, Paraguay
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Guaraní
(on loan from Reggina)
Number 9
Youth career
2005–2008 Guaraní
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Guaraní 51 (18)
2010–2011 → Toulouse (loan) 23 (5)
2012 Racing Club 15 (0)
2012–2013 Tigre 18 (1)
2013–2015 Guaraní 58 (21)
2015–2018 Copenhagen 82 (38)
2018–2022 Bologna 67 (10)
2022– Reggina 3 (0)
2023– → Guaraní (loan) 12 (3)
International career‡
2009 Paraguay U20 12 (6)
2010– Paraguay 20 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:56, 3 June 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 November 2018

Club career

Early career

Santander started in the youth divisions of Guaraní where he excelled and was part of the under-20 squad that won the international friendly championship held in Valencia, Spain. After winning the U20 tournament with Guaraní he attracted the interest of several clubs and had a trial with A.C. Milan.[2] In 2008, at the age of 16, he made his debut with the senior squad of Guaraní by scoring a goal in the 5–2 win against Tacuary.[3] On 31 August 2010, he signed for French side Toulouse.

Argentina: Racing and Tigre

In February 2012, he moved to Racing Club on a three-year contract with a purchase option for 20% of his sports rights.[4][5]

In July 2012, Santander joined Argentine Primera División side Tigre on a one-year loan deal despite that Guaraní had intentions to bring him back to Paraguay.[6][7] He was handed the number #24 shirt for the 2012–13 season and debuted in a 2–1 home defeat against Estudiantes de La Plata on 6 August 2012.[8]

Copenhagen

On 14 June 2015, Santander signed a five-year contract with the Danish Superliga team F.C. Copenhagen.[9][10] He joined the club after completing Copa Libertadores with Guaraní. He made his league debut on 2 August 2015 against SønderjyskE making two assist, assisting Thomas Delaney and William Kvist. Three days later, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 defeat against FK Jablonec as Copenhagen failed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League group stage.[11] On 16 May 2016, he netted twice to give his club a 2–0 win against FC Nordsjælland which crowned Copenhagen league champions.[12] In his first season in Copenhagen he became the third highest goalscorer with 14 goals and four assists.

On 24 August 2016, Santander's goal in Copenhagen's qualification match versus Cypriot club APOEL secured his club's position in the 2016–17 Champions League.[13][14]

Bologna

In June 2018 Santander signed a four-year contract with Italian club Bologna in a deal worth €6 million.[15]

Reggina

On 2 August 2022, Santander moved to Reggina on a multi-year contract.[16]

Return to Guaraní

On 27 January 2023, Santander returned to Guaraní on loan until 30 June 2023.[17]

International career

On 28 September 2009, at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, Santander scored the first goal for the Paraguay U-20 squad against home team Egypt, giving the Paraguayans a 1–0 lead.

Wearing the number 9 as a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz, he debuted for Paraguay on 9 October 2010 in a 1–0 loss against Australia in Sydney.[18]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 10 June 2023[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Guaraní 2009 Paraguayan Primera División –1010
2010 30––30
2011 2210––2210
2012 12––12
Total 2612–102712
Toulouse (loan) 2010–11 Ligue 1 23520–255
Racing 2011–12 Argentine Primera División 15030–180
Tigre 2011–12 Argentine Primera División 00005151
2012–13 1810061242
Total 18100112293
Guaraní 2013 Paraguayan Primera División 165004[lower-alpha 2]2207
2014 2211002[lower-alpha 3]02411
2015 1750012[lower-alpha 3]62911
Total 5521001887329
Copenhagen 2015–16 Danish Superliga 3014422[lower-alpha 4]13617
2016–17 28123113[lower-alpha 5]44417
2017–18 2412008[lower-alpha 6]23214
Total 82387323711248
Bologna 2018–19 Serie A 32820–348
2019–20 24110–51
2020–21 4010–50
2021–22 7100–71
Total 671040–7110
Guaraní (loan) 2023 Paraguayan Primera División 133006[lower-alpha 2]5198
Career total 299901635922374115
  1. Includes Coupe de France, Copa Argentina, Danish Cup, Coppa Italia
  2. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  3. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. Nine appearances and four goals in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. Six appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League

International
Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Santander goal.
List of international goals scored by Federico Santander[20]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
14 June 2011Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia Bolivia2–02–0Friendly
220 November 2018Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa South Africa1–01–1Friendly

Honours

Copenhagen

References
  1. "Los jugadores más caros del fútbol paraguayo".
  2. Guaraní se jacta de ser la mejor conexión para el fútbol europeo - Diario La Nación
  3. Guaraní fulminó con goles a Tacuary y eleva su cotización - Diario La Nación
  4. "Basile tendrá en el banco los goles de Santander". Diario Popular (in Spanish). 10 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  5. "Federico Santander va al Racing de Avellaneda" [Federico Santander goes to Racing de Avellaneda]. Paraguay.com (in Spanish). 3 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  6. "Tigre apuesta por los goles del paraguayo Santander" [Tigre bets on goals from Paraguayan Santander]. La Nación (in Spanish). 19 July 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  7. "Tigre: firmó el paraguayo Santander" [Tigre: signed Paraguayan Santander]. ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). 20 July 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  8. "Tigre vs. Estudiantes - 7 August 2012". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  9. "F.C. København køber Federico Santander". F.C. København (in Danish). 14 June 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. "Federico Santander va al Copenhague de Dinamarca". La Nación (in Spanish). 11 June 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  11. "FCK fliegt gegen Jablonec raus". Nordschleswiger (in German). 6 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  12. O'Connor, Phillip (16 May 2016). "Santander fires FC Copenhagen to Danish title". Reuters. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  13. Vou, Andreas. "Late Copenhagen strike breaks APOEL hearts". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  14. "Santander es Champions". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  15. "Official: Bologna sign Santander". Football Italia. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  16. "EL ROPERO È AMARANTO! BENVENUTO FEDERICO SANTANDER" (in Italian). Reggina. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. "FEDERICO SANTANDER IN PRESTITO AL CLUB GUARANÌ" (in Italian). Reggina 1914. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  18. "Error | Football Federation Australia". Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  19. Federico Santander at Soccerway
  20. "Santander, Federico". National Football Teams. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
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