Mario Santana

Mario Alberto Santana (born 23 December 1981) is an Argentine football coach and former professional player, in the role of winger. He is currently playing for amateur club Athletic Club Palermo.

For the Spanish academic, see Mario Santana (academic).

Mario Santana
Santana playing for Fiorentina in 2008
Personal information
Full name Mario Alberto Santana[1]
Date of birth (1981-12-23) 23 December 1981
Place of birth Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Athletic Club Palermo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 San Lorenzo 33 (2)
2002 Venezia 4 (0)
2002–2006 Palermo 91 (4)
2003–2004 → Chievo (loan) 28 (3)
2006–2011 Fiorentina 108 (15)
2011–2013 Napoli 8 (0)
2012 → Cesena (loan) 16 (3)
2012–2013 → Torino (loan) 27 (4)
2013–2016 Genoa 6 (0)
2014 → Olhanense (loan) 3 (0)
2015 → Frosinone (loan) 12 (1)
2016–2019 Pro Patria 99 (32)
2019–2021 Palermo 32 (5)
2023– Athletic Club Palermo 0 (0)
International career
2004–2005 Argentina 7 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 May 2021

Club career

Early career

He started his career for Argentinian team San Lorenzo. After his contract with San Lorenzo expired, he decided to try his luck in European football, moving to Italy in January 2002 for Serie A team Venezia, then relegated at the end of the season. He then followed his chairman Maurizio Zamparini to Serie B team Palermo, where he showed high qualities in his role.

In 2003, he was then loaned to Serie A side A.C. ChievoVerona (along with Stefano Morrone with Eugenio Corini moved to opposite direction), becoming one of the most interesting wingers in the Italian top division, and being first capped for the Argentina national football team in a friendly match against Japan on 18 August 2004. He then came back to Palermo, that was just promoted in Serie A at the time, for the following season.

Fiorentina

In May 2006, he was signed by la viola for €6.5 million (€5 million plus 50% of Parravicini) to prepare for 2006–07 UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round.[2] But due to 2006 Serie A scandal, Fiorentina finished 9th and did not qualify for any European competitions.

In 2009–10 season, La Viola signed Marco Marchionni, made Santana at first became a backup player, likes the first group stage of 2009–10 UEFA Champions League match against Lyon, substituted Marchionni in the 72 minutes. He started the third group stage match, as Marchionni was rested. In the 4th match he lost his starting place again, to Marchionni. He substituted Juan Vargas in the 77th minutes in that match. In the last 2 match of the group stage, Santana played a new role, as attacking midfielder, as Adrian Mutu was rested.

In the league Santana was moved to left midfield position (rotated with Vargas), attacking midfielder, second striker (when Mutu was unavailable and later the coach preferred Jovetić) or right midfielder when Marchionni was rested.

Santana initially had a better chance to play after Martin Jørgensen left in January 2010.

On 14 February 2010, Santana was injured on the league match against Sampdoria, missed the Champions League match against Bayern Munich.[3]

In April 2010, Santana was injured and expected to be out for 5 months after clash with opponent goalkeeper in a club friendly against San Miniato Basso.[4]

Napoli and loans to Cesena and Torino

On 12 July 2011, Santana finally agreed to sign with Napoli over Cesena, leaving Fiorentina after 5 years. He moved on loan to A.C. Cesena on 31 January 2012.

On 12 July 2012, Santana was loaned out to newly promoted Torino F.C. for the 2012–2013 Serie A campaign.

Genoa, later years and return to Palermo

On 19 July 2013, Santana completed a move from Napoli to Genoa.[5] In the January 2014 transfer window, he left Italy after 12 years competing in Serie A, signing a loan deal with Olhanense in Portugal.[6]

He left Frosinone in January 2016 to sign a permanent deal with Lega Pro club Pro Patria, staying at the club also after the club's relegation to Serie D the following season. On 22 June 2018, after Pro Patria won the Serie D title, he signed a contract extension until 2019.[7] He left Pro Patria by the end of the 2018–19 season.[8]

In August 2019, he became the first signing of the refounded Palermo, who will restart from Serie D, thus marking his personal return with the Rosanero after thirteen years.[9] He was also named team captain for the club's 2019–20 season.

On 27 September 2020, following his appearance in Palermo's first game of the 2020–21 Serie C season against Teramo, Santana became the first player in the club's history to have played in four different leagues (from Serie A to Serie D).[10] A month later, he was sidelined after having contracted COVID-19.[11]

On 3 March 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 away win at Catania in the Sicilian derby, which also was his first goal of the season; with this goal, he also became the first player to have ever scored at least one goal in the top four Italian divisions for Palermo.[12]

On 14 July 2023, after two years in a coaching capacity at Palermo, Santana returned to active football as a player for Eccellenza Sicily club Athletic Club Palermo.[13]

Coaching career

On 18 June 2021, Palermo announced Santana's retirement from active football, and his subsequent appointment as a youth team coach.[14] On 16 January 2022, new Palermo first team head coach Silvio Baldini announced Santana will be part of his coaching staff until the end of the season.[15] Following Baldini's departure and the hiring of Eugenio Corini (a former Palermo captain during Santana's first period with the Rosanero) as new head coach, Santana was confirmed as a first team technical collaborator.[16]

International career

He also played for Argentina at the Confederations Cup 2005 and has been frequently capped for the 2006 World Cup qualification matches.

Personal life

Santana acquired his Italian nationality through marriage to his first wife, Italian-Argentinian volleyball player Antonella Moltrasio.[17] His nationality was granted in February 2008.[18] He had two children from his first marriage.[19] He successively remarried with a woman from Palermo, with whom he had two more children.[19]

Career statistics

Club
As of 26 May 2021[20][21][22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
San Lorenzo 1999–2000 Primera División 41———41
2000–01 171—?[23]+3[24]?[23]+0—20+1+
2001–02 120—?[23]?[23]—12+0+
Total 3320014100473
Venezia 2001–02 Serie A 4000——40
Palermo 2002–03 Serie B 33100——331
2004–05 Serie A 30330——333
2005–06 280309[lower-alpha 1]1—401
ChievoVerona (loan) 2003–04 28310——293
Fiorentina 2006–07 8111——92
2007–08 266008[lower-alpha 1]0—346
2008–09 201108[lower-alpha 2]0—291
2009–10 263405[lower-alpha 2]1—354
2010–11 28421——305
Total 10815822110013718
Napoli 2011–12 Serie A 80003[lower-alpha 2]0—110
Cesena (loan) 2011–12 16300——163
Torino (loan) 2012–13 27410——284
Genoa 2013–14 6010——70
Olhanense (loan) 2013–14 Primeira Liga 3000——30
Frosinone (loan) 2014–15 Serie B 12100——121
Pro Patria 2015–16 Lega Pro 163———163
2016–17 Serie D 28122[25]0—003012
2017–18 27151[26]0—3[27]13116
2018–19 Serie C 2822[28]1—1[lower-alpha 3]0313
Total 993251004110834
Palermo 2019–20 Serie D 1231[29]1——134
2020–21 Serie C 202——4[lower-alpha 3]0242
Palermo total 123971914014311
Career total 467692344738154577
  1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Cup.
  2. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League.
  3. All appearance(s) in promotion play-offs.

International goals
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef.
118 August 2004Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi Japan Japan1–21–2Friendly

References
  1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 74" [Official Press Release No. 74] (PDF). Lega Serie A. 31 October 2011. p. 3. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  2. "Fiorentina swoop for Santana". UEFA.com. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  3. "Gamberini and Santana out for Viola". UEFA.com. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  4. "Santana out for five months". Football Italia. 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  5. "Transfer news: Genoa complete the signing of Mario Santana". Sky Sports. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. "Transfer news: Genoa midfielder Mario Alberto Santana joins Olhanense". Sky Sports. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  7. "Si rinnovano i primi Calciatori Biancoblu". Pro Patria. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  8. "UFFICIALE: Pro Patria, si separano le strade con Mario Alberto Santana" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  9. "Palermo, Santana il primo acquisto in D: "Tornare qui è una grande emozione"". Sky Sport (in Italian). 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  10. "Serie C, il Palermo cade a Teramo: ma Santana si consola con un record". La Sicilia (in Italian). 27 September 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  11. "Palermo, da Accardi a Santana: ecco la lista di tutti gli indisponibili". Mediagol (in Italian). 21 October 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  12. "Santana fa la storia: segna in tutte le categorie e regala il derby al Palermo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  13. "Santana torna a giocare: ha firmato con l'Athletic Club Palermo" (in Italian). Stadionews.it. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  14. "SANTANA SARÀ ALLENATORE DEL SETTORE GIOVANILE ROSANERO" (in Italian). Palermo F.C. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  15. "Baldini: "Fiducia nel Palermo, Santana nello staff. Felici acquisto ad hoc, Valdifiori…"" (in Italian). Tifosi Palermo. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  16. "Palermo, il vice di Corini sarà Salvatore Lanna" (in Italian). Calcio Rosanero. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  17. "ANTONELLA SANTANA, Vi racconto mio marito Mario" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  18. "Santana da oggi è cittadino italiano" (in Italian). acffiorentina.it. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  19. "Corriere dello Sport: "Santana, amori veri: «Palermo è casa mia. L'infortunio è alle spalle. Mi alleno 4 ore al giorno per essere pronto alla ripresa. Stagione da finire»"" (in Italian). I love Palermo Calcio. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  20. "M. Santana". Soccerway.
  21. "SANTANA MARIO ALBERTO". Tuttocalciatori.net (in Italian).
  22. "Scheda anagrafica di Mario Alberto Santana". aic.football (in Italian).
  23. 11 appearances and 1 goal in 2000 and 2001 Copa Mercosur overall. "SANTANA Mario Alberto". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  24. Copa Libertadores.
  25. Coppa Italia Serie D.
  26. Coppa Italia Serie D.
  27. Serie D Poule Scudetto.
  28. Coppa Italia Serie C.
  29. Coppa Italia Serie D.
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