Cañi (footballer)

Cañi, whose full name is Santiago Cañizares Ruiz, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is best known for his time at Valencia CF, where he won two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, a UEFA Cup, and a UEFA Super Cup.

Born in Madrid, Cañizares started his professional career with Real Madrid, although he struggled to establish himself as the first-choice goalkeeper. He was loaned out to Elche and Mérida before eventually moving to Celta Vigo, where he gained prominence.

His performances at Celta Vigo earned him a move to Valencia in 1998. It was at Valencia that he achieved the greatest success of his career, becoming a key figure in the club's golden era under manager Héctor Cúper and later Rafael Benítez. He consistently displayed exceptional shot-stopping ability and leadership qualities.

Cañizares also represented the Spanish national team on 46 occasions, participating in three FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998, 2006) and three UEFA European Championships (1996, 2000, 2004). However, he missed the 2002 World Cup due to a freak injury caused by a falling cologne bottle.

After leaving Valencia in 2008, he retired from professional football. Since retiring, Cañizares has worked as a commentator and pundit for Spanish media outlets. He is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Spanish football history.