Santiago Solari
Santiago Solari is a retired Argentine midfielder known for his intelligence, elegance, and versatility. Best remembered for his time at Real Madrid as part of the first Galácticos era, he played a crucial role in Europe’s biggest stages and later transitioned into a successful football manager.
📌 Club Career
| Years | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–1999 | River Plate | 73 | 13 |
| 1999–2000 | Atlético Madrid | 49 | 3 |
| 2000–2005 | Real Madrid | 208 | 17 |
| 2005–2008 | Inter Milan | 85 | 6 |
| 2008–2009 | San Lorenzo | 28 | 4 |
| 2009–2010 | Atlante | 33 | 5 |
| Total | 476 | 48 | |
🌍 International Career
| Years | Team | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2004 | Argentina | 11 | 0 |
🏆 Honours
River Plate
- Argentine Primera División: 1996–97 Apertura, 1997–98 Apertura
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03
- Supercopa de España: 2001
- UEFA Champions League: 2001–02
- UEFA Super Cup: 2002
- Intercontinental Cup: 2002
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Coppa Italia: 2005–06
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2005, 2006
⭐ Notable Contributions
- Assisted Raúl's famous goal in the 2002 Champions League Final
- One of the key midfielders of the Galácticos era
🎨 Style of Play
Solari was a technically gifted and composed midfielder with excellent dribbling, tactical discipline, and a calm presence under pressure. He could play as a winger, central midfielder, or attacking midfielder — always contributing fluidity and control to his team’s build-up play.
👔 Managerial Career
Solari turned to coaching after his playing days and rose through Real Madrid’s academy before becoming first-team manager in 2018–19. He later managed América in Mexico and continues to work in football development and coaching.