Denis Caniza

{{Short description|Paraguayan footballer (born 1974)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Denis Caniza

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Denis Ramón Caniza Acuña{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players |publisher=FIFA |page=20 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|8|29}}

| birth_place = Bella Vista, Paraguay

| height = {{height|meters=1.74}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20100610033822/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/players/player=162763/index.html Denis Caniza FIFA World Cup profile] Retrieved 13 June 2010

| position = Full back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1994–1999

| years2 = 1999–2001

| years3 = 2001–2005

| years4 = 2005–2008

| years5 = 2006–2007

| years6 = 2008–2009

| years7 = 2009

| years8 = 2010–2011

| years9 = 2011

| years10 = 2011

| years11 = 2012

| years12 = 2013

| years13 = 2014

| clubs1 = Olimpia Asunción

| clubs2 = Lanús

| clubs3 = Santos Laguna

| clubs4 = Cruz Azul

| clubs5 = → Atlas (loan)

| clubs6 = Olimpia Asunción

| clubs7 = Nacional Asunción

| clubs8 = León

| clubs9 = Nacional Asunción

| clubs10 = Irapuato

| clubs11 = Nacional Asunción

| clubs12 = Sportivo Luqueño

| clubs13 = Rubio Ñu

| caps1 = 97

| caps2 = 61

| caps3 = 191

| caps4 = 51

| caps5 = 39

| caps6 = 35

| caps7 = 20

| caps8 = 35

| caps9 = 20

| caps10 = 15

| caps11 = 19

| caps12 = 33

| caps13 = 32

| goals1 = 3

| goals2 = 1

| goals3 = 8

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 2

| goals9 = 0

| goals10 = 1

| goals11 = 1

| goals12 = 0

| goals13 = 2

| totalcaps = 648

| totalgoals = 19

| nationalyears1 = 1996–2010

| nationalteam1 = Paraguay

| nationalcaps1 = 100

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| medaltemplates =

}}

{{family name hatnote|Caniza|Acuña|lang=Spanish}}

Denis Ramón Caniza Acuña (born 29 August 1974) is a Paraguayan former footballer who played as a defender.

Career

Born in Bella Vista, Amambay, Caniza started his career in Olimpia of Paraguay. He also played in Lanús of Argentina, Santos Laguna, Atlas, Cruz Azul, Leon, and Irapuato of Mexico.

Caniza was a regular in the Paraguay national football team because of his versatility, as he can play as a side defender or as a centre-back. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Caniza announced his retirement from the Paraguay national team. However, when coach Gerardo Martino took the helm of the national team Caniza was called back and accepted to return to play for Paraguay. After Gerardo Martino took the head coach job in the Paraguay national football team, Caniza was voted for his teammates to become the captain of the team, so every time he played (when he was not injured or suspended) he captained the Paraguay national football team.

Caniza holds the distinction as the only Paraguayan footballer to be selected for 4 consecutive FIFA World Cup Finals, having been chosen in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Due to his small size and industrial play, he has been described by BBC South American reporter Tim Vickery as "the Paraguayan Nobby Stiles".

In December 2014, Caniza announced his retirement at the age of 40 and his intention to have wanted to retire at Olimpia Asunción.{{cite web |url=http://www.cronica.com.py/online/articulo/20718-denis-caniza-queria-retirarme-con-olimpia.html |title=Denis Caniza: ¿Quería retirarme con Olimpia?|access-date=5 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209014919/http://www.cronica.com.py/online/articulo/20718-denis-caniza-queria-retirarme-con-olimpia.html |archive-date=9 December 2014 }}

Career statistics

=International goals=

class="wikitable"

! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

1.14 March 1998Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California, USA{{fb|USA}}2–2DrawFriendly

Honours

Olimpia

Santos Laguna

Nacional

See also

References

{{Reflist}}