Santi Cazorla, at 40 years old and nearly a decade after being told he might never walk again, delivered a fairytale moment for Real Oviedo on Wednesday night, scoring a stunning free-kick to send his boyhood club into the La Liga play-off final.
Trailing 1-0 to Almeria in the second leg of the play-off semi-final—and 2-2 on aggregate—Oviedo needed a hero. Cazorla, once a maestro for Arsenal and the Spanish national team, came off the bench at half-time to provide just that. Within four minutes, he curled a sublime left-footed free-kick—his supposed weaker foot—into the net, putting Oviedo 3-2 ahead on aggregate.
The match ended 1-1, but it was enough to secure Oviedo’s place in the final, where they will face either Mirandés or Racing Santander for a chance to return to La Liga for the first time since 2001.
After the game, Cazorla was reflective yet joyful. “I’m just trying to enjoy what’s left of my career, knowing that the end is closer,” he said. “I try to enjoy myself, which is the most important thing. I was sad not to start the game, but I knew this match was important. I’m happy I was able to help the team.”
This moment would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. In October 2016, while still at Arsenal, Cazorla suffered a severe Achilles injury that led to 11 operations. One of the surgeries resulted in gangrene, with doctors warning him that he would be fortunate to walk again—let alone play football. His right ankle required reconstructive surgery using a skin graft from his left arm, which still bears a partially missing tattoo as a reminder of the ordeal.
After leaving Arsenal in 2018, he spent two rejuvenated years at Villarreal, followed by a three-year stint in Qatar. Then, in 2023, Cazorla returned to his roots—Real Oviedo—on a minimum salary, motivated not by money but by love for the club where he began his career.
His return to Oviedo was not just symbolic. It was a declaration of intent—to help lift the club back to Spain’s top flight after more than two decades of absence. His impact, both on and off the pitch, has been immense. And now, thanks to his brilliance, Oviedo are one step away from that dream.
Cazorla’s legacy in Spanish football is already secure. A two-time European champion with Spain, he earned 81 caps and dazzled fans with his vision and technique. At Arsenal, he was a fan favourite—making 180 appearances and winning two FA Cups, despite his later years being blighted by injuries.
But what he has achieved with Oviedo at this stage of his career adds a unique chapter to an already extraordinary story. Not many footballers come back from the brink of retirement at 40 to deliver promotion dreams with moments of pure quality.
Real Oviedo’s journey continues, and with Cazorla leading the way—both as a symbol of resilience and a source of magic—they may just finish their long-awaited return to La Liga in style.
As the final approaches, fans dare to dream. And if there’s one thing Santi Cazorla has shown throughout his career, it’s that dreams—no matter how unlikely—can come true.
