Nacho (footballer, born June 1980)

Ignacio Pérez Santamaría (born 24 June 1980), known as Nacho, is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a left back (he could also operate as a left midfielder).

For other Spanish footballers with the same nickname, see Nacho (disambiguation).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal family name is Santamaría.

Nacho
Nacho training with Betis in 2010
Personal information
Full name Ignacio Pérez Santamaría
Date of birth (1980-06-24) 24 June 1980
Place of birth Málaga, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Málaga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2004 Málaga B 112 (17)
2002–2006 Málaga 36 (3)
2004–2005 → Levante (loan) 27 (4)
2006–2009 Getafe 40 (4)
2008 → Real Sociedad (loan) 16 (1)
2008–2009 → Málaga (loan) 34 (1)
2009–2014 Betis 150 (1)
Total 415 (31)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He appeared in 220 La Liga games over nine seasons, scoring a combined 13 goals for Málaga (two spells), Levante, Getafe and Betis. He added 124 matches and three goals in Segunda División.

Club career

A product of Málaga CF's youth system, Nacho was born in Málaga, and he made his first-team debut on 23 February 2003 in a 1–1 La Liga home draw against RC Celta de Vigo.[1] He went on to play four seasons with the Andalusians, with a loan to fellow league club Levante UD in between.

In July 2006, upon Málaga's top-division relegation, Nacho signed with Madrid's Getafe CF. Scarcely used during his second season, he would be loaned in January 2008 to Real Sociedad as the Basques ultimately failed to return from Segunda División, with the player appearing in 16 matches – 13 as a starter.

Nacho was loaned again for the 2008–09 campaign, rejoining former side Málaga.[2] Mainly used as a substitute, he scored his first goal in his second spell in a 3–1 away win over Real Valladolid on 22 February 2009,[3] helping them finish eighth immediately after promoting.

On 28 August 2009, Nacho moved to Real Betis of the second tier on a three-year contract.[4] During most of his stint he was used as an attacking left back,[5] and played 34 games in his second year as the Verdiblancos returned to the top division after two years.[6]

Personal life

Nacho's father and uncle, respectively, José Ignacio and Juan Carlos, also played for Málaga. His brother Perico appeared for the club's reserves.[7]

References
  1. Narváez, Diego (24 February 2003). "El Celta paga su falta de ambición ante el Málaga" [Celta pay for lack of ambition against Málaga]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. Criado, J.; López, Isabel (10 July 2008). "El Málaga obtiene la cesión de Nacho Pérez" [Málaga get loan of Nacho Pérez]. La Opinión de Málaga (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  3. "Valladolid 1–3 Málaga". ESPN Soccernet. 22 February 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  4. "Nacho ya es nuevo futbolista del Real Betis" [Nacho is already a new Betis player] (in Spanish). Real Betis. 28 August 2009. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  5. Román, Ramón (20 May 2012). "El lateral izquierdo, el único puesto sin sustituto" [Left-back, the only position without a backup] (in Spanish). Al Final de La Palmera. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  6. Silva, S. (4 May 2011). "Nacho, el secundario más necesario para el ascenso" [Nacho, most-needed sidekick for promotion]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  7. "Nacho, contra su familia" [Nacho, against his family] (in Spanish). Al Final de La Palmera. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
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