Federico Santander

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Federico Santander

| image = Federico Santander.jpg

| caption = Santander with Paraguay in 2010

| fullname = Federico Javier Santander Mereles

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1991|6|4}}

| birth_place = San Lorenzo, Paraguay

| height = 1.87 m

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Luqueño

| clubnumber = 29

| youthyears1 = 2005–2008

| youthclubs1 = Guaraní

| years1 = 2008–2012

| clubs1 = Guaraní

| caps1 = 51

| goals1 = 18

| years2 = 2010–2011

| clubs2 = → Toulouse (loan)

| caps2 = 23

| goals2 = 5

| years3 = 2012

| clubs3 = Racing Club

| caps3 = 15

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2012–2013

| clubs4 = Tigre

| caps4 = 18

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2013–2015

| clubs5 = Guaraní

| caps5 = 58

| goals5 = 21

| years6 = 2015–2018

| clubs6 = Copenhagen

| caps6 = 82

| goals6 = 38

| years7 = 2018–2022

| clubs7 = Bologna

| caps7 = 67

| goals7 = 10

| years8 = 2022–2023

| clubs8 = Reggina

| caps8 = 3

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2023

| clubs9 = → Guaraní (loan)

| caps9 = 25

| goals9 = 5

| years10 = 2024

| clubs10 = Nacional

| caps10 = 21

| goals10 = 10

| years11 = 2025–

| clubs11 = Luqueño

| caps11 = 2

| goals11 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2009

| nationalteam1 = Paraguay U20

| nationalcaps1 = 12

| nationalgoals1 = 6

| nationalyears2 = 2010–2019

| nationalteam2 = Paraguay

| nationalcaps2 = 20

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| club-update = 8 September 2024

| nationalteam-update = 20 November 2018

}}

Federico Javier Santander Mereles (born 4 June 1991) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Uruguayan club Nacional and the Paraguay national team.{{Cite web|url=https://m.extra.com.py/deportes/los-jugadores-mas-caros-del-futbol-paraguayo-n1515674.html|title=Los jugadores más caros del fútbol paraguayo}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Club career

=Early career=

Santander started in the youth divisions of Guaraní where he excelled and was part of the under-20 squad that won the international friendly championship held in Valencia, Spain. After winning the U20 tournament with Guaraní he attracted the interest of several clubs and had a trial with A.C. Milan.[http://200.61.224.39/noticias.php?not=188912 Guaraní se jacta de ser la mejor conexión para el fútbol europeo]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - Diario La Nación In 2008, at the age of 16, he made his debut with the senior squad of Guaraní by scoring a goal in the 5–2 win against Tacuary.[http://200.61.224.39/noticias.php?not=184648 Guaraní fulminó con goles a Tacuary y eleva su cotización]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - Diario La Nación On 31 August 2010, he signed for French side Toulouse.

=Argentina: Racing and Tigre=

In February 2012, he moved to Racing Club on a three-year contract with a purchase option for 20% of his sports rights.{{cite news|title=Basile tendrá en el banco los goles de Santander|url=http://www.diariopopular.com.ar/notas/109469-basile-tendra-el-bancolos-goles-santander|access-date=18 August 2016|work=Diario Popular|date=10 February 2012|language=es}}{{cite news|title=Federico Santander va al Racing de Avellaneda|trans-title=Federico Santander goes to Racing de Avellaneda|url=http://www.paraguay.com/deportes/federico-santander-va-al-racing-de-avellaneda-79550|access-date=18 August 2016|work=Paraguay.com|date=3 February 2012|language=es}}

In July 2012, Santander joined Argentine Primera División side Tigre on a one-year loan deal despite that Guaraní had intentions to bring him back to Paraguay.{{cite news|title=Tigre apuesta por los goles del paraguayo Santander|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1491816-tigre-apuesta-por-los-goles-del-paraguayo-santander|trans-title=Tigre bets on goals from Paraguayan Santander|access-date=18 August 2016|work=La Nación|date=19 July 2012|language=es|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202004459/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1491816-tigre-apuesta-por-los-goles-del-paraguayo-santander|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Tigre: firmó el paraguayo Santander|trans-title=Tigre: signed Paraguayan Santander|url=http://espndeportes.espn.com/news/nota?id=1567454|access-date=18 August 2016|website=ESPN Deportes|date=20 July 2012|language=es}} He was handed the number #24 shirt for the 2012–13 season and debuted in a 2–1 home defeat against Estudiantes de La Plata on 6 August 2012.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/08/07/argentina/primera-division/club-atletico-tigre/estudiantes-de-la-plata/1338704/|title=Tigre vs. Estudiantes - 7 August 2012|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|date=7 August 2012|access-date=15 March 2020}}

=Copenhagen=

On 14 June 2015, Santander signed a five-year contract with the Danish Superliga team F.C. Copenhagen.{{cite web|title=F.C. København køber Federico Santander|url=http://www.fck.dk/nyhed/2015/06/14/fc-koebenhavn-koeber-federico-santander|website=F.C. København|access-date=18 August 2016|language=da|date=14 June 2015}}{{cite news|title=Federico Santander va al Copenhague de Dinamarca|url=http://www.lanacion.com.py/2015/06/11/federico-santander-va-al-copenhague-de-dinamarca/|access-date=18 August 2016|work=La Nación|date=11 June 2015|language=es}} He joined the club after completing Copa Libertadores with Guaraní. He made his league debut on 2 August 2015 against SønderjyskE making two assist, assisting Thomas Delaney and William Kvist. Three days later, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 defeat against FK Jablonec as Copenhagen failed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League group stage.{{cite news|title=FCK fliegt gegen Jablonec raus|url=http://www.nordschleswiger.dk/news-details1/36/83041?newscatid=36&h=FCK-fliegt-gegen-Jablonec-raus|access-date=18 August 2016|work=Nordschleswiger|date=6 August 2015|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921041554/http://www.nordschleswiger.dk/news-details1/36/83041?newscatid=36&h=FCK-fliegt-gegen-Jablonec-raus|archive-date=21 September 2016|url-status=dead}} On 16 May 2016, he netted twice to give his club a 2–0 win against FC Nordsjælland which crowned Copenhagen league champions.{{cite news|last1=O'Connor|first1=Phillip|title=Santander fires FC Copenhagen to Danish title|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/soccer-denmark-idINKCN0Y71TC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202112956/http://in.reuters.com/article/soccer-denmark-idINKCN0Y71TC|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2017|access-date=18 August 2016|work=Reuters|date=16 May 2016}} In his first season in Copenhagen he became the third highest goalscorer with 14 goals and four assists.

On 24 August 2016, Santander's goal in Copenhagen's qualification match versus Cypriot club APOEL secured his club's position in the 2016–17 Champions League.{{cite news|last1=Vou|first1=Andreas|title=Late Copenhagen strike breaks APOEL hearts|url=http://cyprus-mail.com/2016/08/25/late-copenhagen-strike-breaks-apoel-hearts/|access-date=25 August 2016|work=Cyprus Mail}}{{cite news|title=Santander es Champions|url=http://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/santander-es-champions-1511808.html|access-date=25 August 2016|work=Diario ABC Color|date=24 August 2016|language=es}}

=Bologna=

In June 2018 Santander signed a four-year contract with Italian club Bologna in a deal worth €6 million.{{cite web |title=Official: Bologna sign Santander |url=https://www.football-italia.net/123331/official-bologna-sign-santander |website=Football Italia |access-date=28 June 2019 |date=21 June 2018}}

=Reggina=

On 2 August 2022, Santander moved to Reggina on a multi-year contract.{{cite web|publisher=Reggina|url=https://www.reggina1914.it/notizie/el-ropero-e-amaranto-benvenuto-federico-santander/|title=EL ROPERO È AMARANTO! BENVENUTO FEDERICO SANTANDER|date=2 August 2022|access-date=15 August 2022|language=it}}

==Return to Guaraní==

On 27 January 2023, Santander returned to Guaraní on loan until 30 June 2023.{{cite web|publisher=Reggina|url=https://www.reggina1914.it/notizie/federico-santander-in-prestito-al-club-guarani/|title=FEDERICO SANTANDER IN PRESTITO AL CLUB GUARANÌ|date=27 January 2023|access-date=27 January 2023|language=it}}

International career

On 28 September 2009, at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, Santander scored the first goal for the Paraguay U-20 squad against home team Egypt, giving the Paraguayans a 1–0 lead.

Wearing the number 9 as a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz, he debuted for Paraguay on 9 October 2010 in a 1–0 loss against Australia in Sydney.{{Cite web |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/scoreboard/0000470389/scoreboard.html |title=Error | Football Federation Australia |access-date=10 October 2010 |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011105328/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/scoreboard/0000470389/scoreboard.html |url-status=dead }}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Coupe de France, Copa Argentina, Danish Cup, Coppa Italia}} !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="5"\|Guaraní \|2009 \|rowspan="4"\|Paraguayan Primera División		\|colspan="2"\|–	1	0	1	0
2010 \|3	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	3	0
2011 \|22	10	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	22	10
2012 \|1	2	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	1	2
colspan="2"\|Total !26	12	colspan="2"\|–	1	0	27	12
Toulouse (loan) \|2010–11 \|Ligue 1 \|23	5	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	25	5
Racing \|2011–12 \|Argentine Primera División \|15	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|–	18	0
rowspan="3"\|Tigre \|2011–12 \|rowspan="2"\|Argentine Primera División \|0	0	0	0	5	1	5	1
2012–13 \|18	1	0	0	6	1	24	2
colspan="2"\|Total !18	1	0	0	11	2	29	3
rowspan="4"\|Guaraní \|2013 \|rowspan="3"\|Paraguayan Primera División \|16	5	0	0	4{{efn\|name=COS\|Appearances in Copa Sudamericana}}	2	20	7
2014 \|22	11	0	0	2{{efn\|name=COL}}	0	24	11
2015 \|17	5	0	0	12{{efn\|name=COL\|Appearances in Copa Libertadores}}	6	29	11
colspan="2"\|Total !55	21	0	0	18	8	73	29
rowspan="4"\|Copenhagen \|2015–16 \|rowspan="3"\|Danish Superliga \|30	14	4	2	2{{efn\|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}	1	36	17
2016–17 \|28	12	3	1	13{{efn\|Nine appearances and four goals in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League}}	4	44	17
2017–18 \|24	12	0	0	8{{efn\|Six appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}}	2	32	14
colspan="2"\|Total !82	38	7	3	23	7	112	48
rowspan="5"\|Bologna \|2018–19 \|rowspan="4"\|Serie A \|32	8	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	34	8
2019–20 \|24	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	5	1
2020–21 \|4	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	5	0
2021–22 \|7	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	7	1
colspan="2"\|Total !67	10	4	0	colspan="2"\|–	71	10
Guaraní (loan) \|2023 \|Paraguayan Primera División \|13	3	0	0	6{{efn\|name=COS}}	5	19	8
colspan="3"\|Career total !299	90	16	3	59	22	374	115

=International=

:Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Santander goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Federico Santander{{cite web\|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/40235/Federico_Santander.html\|title=Santander, Federico\|publisher=National Football Teams\|access-date=4 August 2017}}
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1	4 June 2011	Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia	{{fb\|BOL}}	align="center"\|2–0	align="center"\|2–0	Friendly
align="center"\|2	20 November 2018	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa	{{fb\|RSA}}	align="center"\|1–0	align="center"\|1–1	Friendly

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Federico Santander{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/40235/Federico_Santander.html|title=Santander, Federico|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=4 August 2017}}

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

4 June 2011

Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

align="center"|2–0

Friendly