Eight years after being advised he needs to be glad if he may stroll once more, 40-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla scored the aim that put boyhood membership Actual Oviedo into the La Liga play-off ultimate.
The Spaniard got here off the bench at half-time along with his aspect trailing 1-0 to Almeria within the play-off semi-final second leg.
Commercial
Inside 4 minutes, the midfielder scored a free-kick along with his weaker left foot to place Oviedo 3-2 up on combination.
The 1-1 second-leg draw was sufficient for Oviedo to achieve the play-off ultimate, the place they may face both Mirandes or Racing Santander.
“I am simply making an attempt to take pleasure in what’s left of my profession, figuring out that the top is nearer,” Cazorla mentioned after the sport.
“I attempt to take pleasure in myself, which is crucial factor. I used to be unhappy that I would not begin the sport however I knew that this recreation was vital. I am pleased I used to be capable of assist the group.”
Cazorla, a two-time European champion with Spain, spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances earlier than leaving in 2018.
Commercial
The ultimate two years of his time in north London had been plagued with accidents.
Cazorla suffered an Achilles damage in October 2016, with the midfielder occurring to have 11 operations to remedy the issue.
One of many operations led to gangrene with medical doctors telling Cazorla he needs to be glad to stroll once more.
Nevertheless, the Spaniard pushed to restart his soccer profession and he had his Achilles reconstructed, with medical doctors grafting pores and skin from his left arm – that includes a tattoo – to his proper ankle.
Cazorla spent two years at La Liga membership Villarreal after leaving Arsenal in 2018, earlier than a three-year stint in Qatar.
He re-joined boyhood membership Oviedo in 2023, taking up a minimal wage within the hope of returning the membership to the top-flight for the primary time since 2001.
