Iván Cazal

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Iván Cazal

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Javier Iván Cazal Báez

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|03|22|df=y}}

| birth_place = General Elizardo Aquino, Paraguay

| height = 1.75 m{{WorldFootball.net|ivan-cazal}}

| position = Right midfielder, Right-back

| currentclub = Atlético Tembetary

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}

| youthclubs1 = Teniente Turbo

| youthyears2 = 2015

| youthclubs2 = Deportivo Santaní

| youthyears3 = {{0|0000}}

| youthclubs3 = 8 De Diciembre

| years1 = {{0|0000}}

| clubs1 = Teniente Turbo

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2018–2019

| clubs2 = Deportivo Santaní

| caps2 = 71

| goals2 = 5

| years3 = 2020–2023

| clubs3 = Sol de América

| caps3 = 56

| goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2022

| clubs4 = → Lanús (loan)

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2023

| clubs5 = → Guaireña (loan)

| caps5 = 7

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2024

| clubs6 = Deportivo Santaní

| caps6 = 7

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2025–

| clubs7 = Atlético Tembetary

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| pcupdate = 19:20, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

| ntupdate =

}}

Javier Iván Cazal Báez (born 22 March 1999) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a right midfielder or right-back for Paraguayan Primera División side Atlético Tembetary.

Career

=Early career=

Cazal was raised in one of the poorest departments of Paraguay, San Pedro, in a little town called General Elizardo Aquino, 200 kilometers from the capital.[https://versus.lanacion.com.py/versus/2020/02/28/ivan-cazal-la-historia-del-chico-de-tierra-adentro/ Iván Cazal, la historia del chico de tierra adentro], versus.lanacion.com.py, 28 February 2020 Cazal started playing football at Club Teniente Turbo in Gral. Aquino, a local club placed next to his house, where he played with the seniors at the age of 14.{{Cite web|url=https://versus.lanacion.com.py/versus/2020/02/28/ivan-cazal-la-historia-del-chico-de-tierra-adentro/|title = Iván Cazal, la historia del chico de tierra adentro|date = 28 February 2020}}

In 2015 he went to Deportivo Santaní training sessions, which that year achieved the historic promotion to the Paraguayan Primera División. Later, he had a spell at Club 8 De Diciembre San Pedro. Cazal was close to leaving football in 2017 to become a bricklayer because his family needed money. However, his father convinced him to stay and shortly after, Pedro Sarabia spotted him at Club 8 De Diciembre and offered him to join Deportivo Santaní again. Cazal accepted and returned to Santaní.[https://www.lanacion.com.py/deportes/deportefutbol/2018/04/10/ivan-cazal-la-joyita-que-presenta-santani-en-primera/ Iván Cazal, la “joyita” que presenta Santaní en Primera], lanacion.com.py, 10 April 2018

=Deportivo Santaní=

Soon after arriving, on 4 February 2018, Cazal got his professional debut against Club 3 de Febrero in the Paraguayan Primera División. His debut in the first division caused a furore, attracted the attention of clubs and he was even called up to the Paraguayan U-20 team and was in the U-20 micro circle for the Pre-Olympic Games.

Cazal quickly became a regular starter for Santaní and played 32 games and scored three goals for the team in the 2018 season, helping them to qualify for the 2019 Copa Sudamericana.

Whilst at Deportivo Santani, he credited teammate Eduardo Aranda for teaching and advising him.

In the 2019 season, Cazal played 43 games. However, he left the club at the end of that season, when Santaní was relegated to the Paraguayan División Intermedia.

=Sol de América=

At the end of December 2019 it was confirmed, that Cazal would join fellow league club Club Sol de América for the 2020 season.[https://www.hoy.com.py/deportes/sol-de-america-anuncia-sus-dos-primeros-fichajes Sol de América anuncia sus dos primeros fichajes], hoy.com.py, 24 December 2019 Cazal made his debut on 18 January 2020 against River Plate. He played a total of 24 game for the club in the 2019 season.

In January 2022, Cazal was offered to Primera División Argentina team San Lorenzo de Almagro by his agent Daniel Campo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cronica.com.py/2022/01/05/atende-el-solense-que-fue-ofrecido-al-ciclon/|title = Crónica / Atendé el solense que fue ofrecido al Ciclón|date = 5 January 2022}} In July 2022, he finally completed a move to Argentine football, as he signed a loan deal with Lanús until the end of 2023 with a purchase option.[http://www.clublanus.com/secciones/futbol-profesional/noticias/ivan-cazal-se-suma-al-granate Iván Cazal se suma al Granate], clublanus.com, 2 July 2022 In June 2023, he moved to Guaireña on a one-year loan.

=Return to Deportivo Santaní=

In February 2024, it was confirmed that Cazal had re-joined his former club, Deportivo Santaní.[https://www.versus.com.py/versus/2024/02/16/ivan-cazal-es-nuevo-jugador-del-deportivo-santani/ Ivan Cazal es nuevo jugador del Deportivo Santaní], versus.com.py, 16 February 2024

=Atlético Tembetary=

In December 2024, ahead of the 2025 season, Cazal signed with Atlético Tembetary.[https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2024/12/22/ivan-cazal-de-incorpora-a-tembetary/ Iván Cazal de incorpora a Tembetary - Fútbol], abc.com.py, 22 December 2024