Christian Santos Explained

Christian Santos
Full Name:Christian Robert Santos Freire
Birth Date:24 March 1988
Birth Place:Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela
Height:1.84 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Arenteiro
Clubnumber:7
Youthclubs1:SV Lippstadt
Youthyears2:2003–2007
Youthclubs2:Arminia Bielefeld
Years1:2007–2011
Clubs1:Arminia Bielefeld II
Caps1:78
Goals1:28
Years2:2011–2013
Clubs2:Eupen
Caps2:58
Goals2:25
Years3:2013–2014
Clubs3:Waasland-Beveren
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2014–2016
Clubs4:NEC
Caps4:71
Goals4:43
Years5:2016–2018
Clubs5:Alavés
Caps5:31
Goals5:5
Years6:2018–2020
Clubs6:Deportivo La Coruña
Caps6:48
Goals6:9
Years7:2020–2021
Clubs7:VfL Osnabrück
Caps7:29
Goals7:8
Years8:2021–2022
Clubs8:Colo-Colo
Caps8:13
Goals8:1
Years9:2022–2023
Clubs9:Juve Stabia
Caps9:14
Goals9:2
Years10:2023
Clubs10:Unionistas
Caps10:14
Goals10:4
Years11:2023
Clubs11:Universidad Central
Caps11:8
Goals11:0
Years12:2024-
Clubs12:Arenteiro
Caps12:13
Goals12:4
Nationalyears1:2015–
Nationalteam1:Venezuela
Nationalcaps1:13
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:05:09, 4 July 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:02:44, 14 September 2018 (UTC)

Christian Robert Santos Freire (born 24 March 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Arenteiro.

Club career

Early career

Born in Ciudad Guayana, Bolívar, Santos moved to Germany at the age of six as his father received a new job in the country.[1] After starting his career at SV Lippstadt he moved to Arminia Bielefeld in 2003, and made his senior debut for the latter's reserve team on 6 May 2007, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 Oberliga Westfalen home win against Sportfreunde Lotte.

Santos scored his first senior goal on 1 April 2009, netting his team's second in a 3–1 away win against Delbrücker SC. After failed to make a single appearance with the first team, he left the club in 2011.

Belgium

On 9 August 2011, Santos signed for KAS Eupen in the Belgian Second Division. He scored a 15 goals during his first season, and added a further ten in his second.

In April 2013, Santos moved to Belgian Pro League club Waasland-Beveren,[2] but failed to appear in a single match due to a severe knee injury.

NEC

In July 2014, Santos signed a one-year contract with Dutch Eerste Divisie side NEC Nijmegen, after impressing on a trial basis.[3] [4] He made his professional debut on 10 August, starting in a 3–1 home win against FC Eindhoven.

Santos scored his first professional goal on 15 August 2014, netting the last in a 2–0 win at FC Volendam.[5] He finished the campaign with 23 goals in only 34 appearances, as his side achieved promotion to Eredivisie as champions; highlights included braces against FC Den Bosch, MVV Maastricht and FC Oss.

Santos made his debut in the main category of Dutch football on 12 August 2015, starting in a 1–0 home win against SBV Excelsior.[6] He scored his first goals in the division on 18 September, netting all his team's goals in a 2–0 success over SC Heerenveen.[7]

Santos added another doubles against ADO Den Haag (4–1 home win)[8] and De Graafschap (2–0 home win),[9] totalling 16 goals in 30 matches.

Alavés

On 12 July 2016, free agent Santos signed a three-year deal with Deportivo Alavés, newly promoted to La Liga.[10] He made his debut in the league on 21 August, replacing Gaizka Toquero in a 1–1 away draw against Atlético Madrid.[11]

Deportivo La Coruña

On 28 June 2018, Santos signed a two-year deal with Deportivo de La Coruña, after cutting ties with Alavés.[12] He scored his first goal in an away match against Gimnàstic de Tarragona on 1 October 2018, one minute after entering as a substitute in 85th minute. On 27 January 2019, he scored a decisive goal in 2–1 away victory against Sporting de Gijón. On 18 August 2019, he scored a decisive goal in 88th minute after coming from the bench three minutes earlier in a 3–2 victory against Real Oviedo.

VfL Osnabrück

In September 2020, Santos returned to Germany joining 2. Bundesliga club VfL Osnabrück on a two-year contract.[13]

Colo-Colo

In September 2021, Santos joined Colo-Colo in the Chilean Primera División. In June 2022, he ended his contract after making thirteen appearances and scoring a goal.[14]

Juve Stabia

On 12 October 2022, Santos signed with Juve Stabia in the Italian third-tier Serie C until the end of the 2022–23 season.[15]

Unionistas

On 1 February 2023, Santos joined Unionistas in the Spanish third-tier Primera Federación.[16]

International career

After being allowed to play for Venezuela in January 2015,[1] Santos made his full international debut on 27 March of that year, starting and being booked in a 2–1 friendly loss against Jamaica.[17] He scored his first international goal on 13 October, but in a 3–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers loss against Brazil.[18]

Santos was also included in Rafael Dudamel's 23-man list ahead of the Copa America Centenario.[19] His first and only appearance of the tournament occurred on 13 June 2016, in a 1–1 draw against Mexico.[20]

International goals

Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Santos goal.

Honours

NEC

2014–15

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Christian Santos: "Yo me siento venezolano". Christian Santos: "I feel Venezuelan". Primicia. es. 29 January 2015. 22 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808025924/http://www.primicia.com.ve/deportes/christian-santos-yo-me-siento-venezolano.html. 8 August 2016.
  2. Web site: Waasland-Beveren vindt versterking bij Eupen. Waasland-Beveren find reinforcement at Eupen. Sporza. nl. 19 April 2013. 22 August 2016.
  3. Web site: NEC ook rond met Appiah en Santos. NEC also around with Appiah and Santos. De Gelderlander. nl. 26 July 2014. 22 August 2016.
  4. Web site: N.E.C. versterkt selectie met drie spelers. https://web.archive.org/web/20160401232347/http://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/2014/07/n-e-c-versterkt-selectie-met-drie-spelers/. N.E.C. squad reinforced with three players. NEC Nijmegen. nl. 26 July 2014. 1 April 2016. 22 August 2016.
  5. Web site: NEC overtuigt tegen Volendam. NEC convince against Volendam. De Gelderlander. nl. 15 August 2014. 22 August 2016.
  6. Web site: NEC Nijmegen 1–0 Excelsior: Foor stunner seals all three points. Football Oranje. 12 August 2015. 22 August 2016.
  7. Web site: NEC Nijmegen 2–0 Heerenveen: Santos double downs Frisians. Football Oranje. 18 September 2015. 22 August 2016.
  8. Web site: NEC Nijmegen 4–1 ADO Den Haag: Santos double inspires NEC to victory. Football Oranje. 3 October 2015. 22 August 2016.
  9. Web site: NEC Nijmegen 2–0 De Graafschap: Santos double decides Gelderse derby. Football Oranje. 8 November 2015. 22 August 2016.
  10. Web site: Christian Santos, el nuevo goleador albiazul. Christian Santos, the new blue-and-white goalscorer. Deportivo Alavés. es. 12 July 2016. 22 August 2016.
  11. Web site: Al Atleti le sobra el final. To Atleti the ending is too much. Marca. es. 21 August 2016. 21 August 2016.
  12. Web site: Christian Santos, nuevo jugador del Deportivo. Christian Santos, new player of Deportivo. Deportivo La Coruña. es. 28 June 2018. 29 June 2018.
  13. Web site: Neue Nummer 9: Osnabrück holt Christian Santos . kicker . 3 September 2020 . German . 3 September 2020.
  14. Web site: Oficial: Colo Colo libera un cupo de extranjero . . 22 June 2022 . es . 20 June 2022.
  15. Web site: Juve Stabia. S.S. Juve Stabia, ufficiale l'arrivo di Santos. 12 October 2022. 25 October 2022. it.
  16. Web site: Unionistas. Christian Santos, nuevo fichaje de Unionistas de Salamanca. 1 February 2023. 2 February 2023. es.
  17. Web site: Venezuela cayó ante Jamaica. Venezuela fell against Jamaica. Líder en Deportes. es. 27 March 2015. 22 August 2016.
  18. Web site: Rei Willian resolve, acalma o Castelão, e Seleção derrota a Venezuela. King William solves it, calms down the Castelão, and Seleção defeat Venezuela. Globo Esporte. pt. 13 October 2015. 22 August 2016.
  19. Web site: Vinotinto: Estos son los 23 convocados por Rafael Dudamel para la Copa América Centenario. Vinotinto: These are the 23 called up by Rafael Dudamel for the Copa América Centenario. Diario Panorama. es. 20 May 2016. 22 August 2016.
  20. Web site: Copa América: Mexico through as group winners after draw with Venezuela. The Guardian. 14 June 2016. 22 August 2016.