Santi Cazorla Leads Real Oviedo Return La Liga After 24 Years

Santi Cazorla, the 40-year-old former Spain and Arsenal midfielder, has played a pivotal role in leading his boyhood club Real Oviedo back to La Liga after a 24-year absence. Overcoming a career-threatening Achilles injury that required 11 surgeries and a 636-day hiatus from football, Cazorla scored a crucial penalty and contributed key goals throughout the promotion playoffs, including a free-kick in the semi-final against Almeria. Despite lucrative offers elsewhere, he chose to return to Oviedo on the minimum wage allowed under La Liga regulations, prioritizing his passion and commitment to the club that nurtured him. Real Oviedo's dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over Mirandes in the second leg of the promotion playoffs secured their return to Spain's top tier, sparking massive celebrations in the city and recognition from regional leadership. The club's journey back to the elite has been long and arduous, marked by financial struggles and relegations, but it now stands restored to its historic status, with coach Veljko Paunović expressing profound emotion at overcoming a 24-year challenge. Cazorla described this achievement as the greatest of his career, surpassing even his prior international and club successes.