Name: Santiago Cañizares

Full name: Santiago Cañizares Ruiz

Date of birth: December 18, 1969

Place of birth: Madrid, Spain

Position: Goalkeeper

Nationality: Spain

Club career (highlights):

• Real Madrid (youth & early professional stages)
• Real Murcia (loan)
• CD Logroñés (loan)
• Valencia CF (most notable spell: late 1990s–2000s) — two La Liga titles (2001–02, 2003–04), UEFA Champions League finalist (1999–2000)
• CD Castellón and Albacete Balompié (brief spells toward career end)

Spain national team:

• Caps: 46 (approximate; commonly reported as 46)
• Active with the senior national team mainly between late 1990s and mid-2000s
• Major tournaments: UEFA Euro 2000, FIFA World Cup 2002, UEFA Euro 2004 (participated as part of squad/played in tournaments)

Playing style and reputation:

• Known for excellent reflexes, shot-stopping and penalty-saving ability
• Agile and reliable presence in goal, respected for leadership and consistency
• Regarded as one of Spain's top goalkeepers of his generation

Honours (selected):

• La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04 (with Valencia)
• Copa del Rey: 1998–99 (with Valencia)
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998 (with Valencia)
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 1999–2000 (with Valencia)

After retirement:

• Retired from playing in 2008
• Worked as a football pundit and commentator; also involved in motorsports and public appearances

Notable facts:

• Son of Paco Cañizares, also a footballer associated with Real Madrid's goalkeeping department in earlier times
• Suffered a tragic personal loss in 2002 when his young daughter died in an accident; he continued to play afterward and dedicated performances to her memory