Suso Santana
Encyclopedia
Jesus 'Suso' Manuel Santana Abreu (born 2 March 1985 in San Cristóbal de La Laguna
, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
) is a Spanish
professional footballer who plays for Heart of Midlothian
in Scotland
, as a right winger.
, signing in 2002 with its youth system. Early on, he was loaned to fourth-tier
sides Atlético Arona and AD Laguna, in order to gain experience.
Suso played one full season with the Canary Islands
outfit, in Segunda División
, but opportunities continued to be limited for him in Tenerife's first team, and another two loan spells ensued, now in division three
teams CD San Isidro
and UD Fuerteventura
. With the former, he finished as top scorer in the 2008–09 season, with nine goals in 30 appearances from the right side of midfield, although the club would be relegated for financial problems.
manager Csaba László
, who signed him on a free transfer from Tenerife on 30 June 2009. He got off to a good start at Tynecastle Stadium
, playing in every pre-season game, and particularly impressing in friendlies against English Premier League sides Bolton Wanderers
, when he set up Hearts' only goal of the match, and Sunderland
, putting in a Man of the match
performance.
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. 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.
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.
San Cristóbal de la Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is a city and municipality in the northern part of the island of Tenerife in the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Islands . The city is third-most populous city of the archipelago and second-most populous city of the island. It is a suburban area of the...
, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
professional footballer who plays for Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, as a right winger.
Tenerife
Santana began his professional career at local CD TenerifeCD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
, signing in 2002 with its youth system. Early on, he was loaned to fourth-tier
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
sides Atlético Arona and AD Laguna, in order to gain experience.
Suso played one full season with the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
outfit, in Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, but opportunities continued to be limited for him in Tenerife's first team, and another two loan spells ensued, now in division three
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
teams CD San Isidro
CD San Isidro
Club Deportivo San Isidro is a Spanish football team based in Granadilla de Abona, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands. Founded in 1970, it plays in Preferente de las Islas Canarias, holding home matches at Estadio La Palmera, with a 2,700-seat capacity.-Season to season:----*2 seasons in...
and UD Fuerteventura
UD Fuerteventura
Unión Deportiva Fuerteventura was a Spanish football team based in Fuerteventura, in the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. Founded in 2004, it played its last season in Tercera División, and held home games at Estadio Los Pozos, with a capacity of 2,000 spectators.-History:Club Deportivo...
. With the former, he finished as top scorer in the 2008–09 season, with nine goals in 30 appearances from the right side of midfield, although the club would be relegated for financial problems.
Hearts
Suso's performances caught the eye of Heart of Midlothian F.C.Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
manager Csaba László
Csaba László
Csaba László is a Romanian born Hungarian football manager and former player. He is the manager of Belgian Pro League club Charleroi SC. He is former manager of Scottish Premier League club...
, who signed him on a free transfer from Tenerife on 30 June 2009. He got off to a good start at Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
, playing in every pre-season game, and particularly impressing in friendlies against English Premier League sides Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, when he set up Hearts' only goal of the match, and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, putting in a Man of the match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
performance.
However, in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, Santana's performances were somewhat erratic: during Hearts' 2–2 draw with St. Johnstone, he was replaced after an alleged spitting incident. He improved from there onwards, again being named Man of the match in the side's 1–0 win over Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
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
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
, with a long-range shot.
Suso's second goal for Hearts came a week later, the second in a 2–1 win over Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
. He also netted against eventual champions
2009–10 Scottish Premier League
The 2009–10 Scottish Premier League season was the twelfth season of the Scottish Premier League. Rangers were the defending champions and they retained the championship with three games to spare by winning 1–0 against Hibernian at Easter Road on 25 April...
Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in a 1–4 home loss, from a volley.
Suso's second season
2010–11 Scottish Premier League
The 2010–11 Scottish Premier League was the thirteenth season of the Scottish Premier League, the highest division of Scottish football. It commenced on 14 August 2010 and ended on 15 May 2011...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
was hit by injuries, and he never really managed to get a consistent run together, also having to undergo knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
surgery in late April 2011.