Santiago Hernán Solari Poggio (born 7 October 1976) is an Argentine professional football manager and former player who played as a left midfielder.

Santiago Solari
Solari in 2019
Personal information
Full name Santiago Hernán Solari Poggio
Date of birth (1976-10-07) 7 October 1976 (age 47)[1]
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1994–1995 Newell's Old Boys
1995–1996 Renato Cesarini
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994 Stockton Ospreys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1998 River Plate 67 (13)
1999–2000 Atlético Madrid 46 (7)
2000–2005 Real Madrid 131 (10)
2005–2008 Inter Milan 39 (4)
2008–2009 San Lorenzo 26 (4)
2009–2010 Atlante 33 (5)
2010–2011 Peñarol 9 (0)
Total 351 (43)
International career
1999–2004 Argentina 11 (1)
Managerial career
2013–2016 Real Madrid (youth)
2016–2018 Real Madrid B
2018 Real Madrid (interim)
2018–2019 Real Madrid
2020–2022 América
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent the better part of his 16-year professional career in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 177 matches and 17 goals mainly with Real Madrid, but also played in Italy for Inter Milan, winning 13 major titles between both teams.

Solari began working as a coach in 2013, going on to spend several years associated with Real Madrid in different capacities.

Playing career edit

Club edit

Early career and River edit

Born in Rosario, Santa Fe,[2] Solari played youth football for Newell's Old Boys and Renato Cesarini, after returning from the United States where he attended Richard Stockton College in New Jersey.[3] He joined Club Atlético River Plate midway through the 1995–96 season, making his Primera División debut on 12 May.

Solari appeared in 24 league games in his first full campaign, helping River to both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments.[4]

Atlético Madrid edit

Solari moved to Spain late in the 1999 January transfer window, signing with Atlético Madrid. He played his first La Liga game on 7 February, in a 2–1 away loss against UD Salamanca.[5]

Solari had his best individual season in 1999–2000 when he scored six goals in 34 matches, but the Colchoneros were relegated from the top division.[6]

Real Madrid edit

Subsequently, Solari moved across the city to join Real Madrid, who paid Atlético his buyout clause of 600 million pesetas.[6] After a poor first season he became a regular, albeit as a substitute; in the final of the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, in which he played the full 90 minutes, he was involved in the play that led to Zinedine Zidane's wonder strike against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in an eventual 2–1 win.[7]

Solari's best season with Real was 2003–04, but his five goals from 34 appearances – 15 starts, 1,539 minutes of action – could only help the side to the fourth position in the league. During his five-year spell he also played 49 matches in the Champions League, netting seven times.[8]

Inter and later years edit

Solari signed a three-year contract with Inter Milan in the summer of 2005 for 6 million,[9][10] being sparingly used during his three-year stint (maximum 21 games in his second season) but winning three consecutive Serie A titles to add to his trophy cabinet, the 2006 edition due to the Calciopoli scandal.[11][12]

On 30 June 2008, Solari's contract with the Nerazzurri expired and he joined San Lorenzo de Almagro shortly after.[13] On 9 July of the following year, he moved teams and countries again and signed with Atlante F.C. from Mexico, again on a free transfer.[14]

In early September 2010, the 34-year-old Solari signed with Uruguayan club Peñarol for one year, yet again as a free agent.[15] He retired after only a couple of months.

International edit

Solari won 11 caps for Argentina in five years. He was not selected for any major international tournaments, however.[16]

Coaching career edit

Real Madrid edit

Solari started working as a manager in 2013, first being in charge of Real Madrid's youths.[17][18] Ahead of the 2016–17 season, he was appointed at the reserves who competed in Segunda División B.[19]

On 29 October 2018, Solari was named caretaker manager of the first team after the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui. He assumed the role the next day,[20] and became the official coach 14 days later because in Spain no club was allowed to have a caretaker for more than two weeks.[21][22] He won the FIFA Club World Cup during his tenure, extending Real's reign in the competition to three consecutive titles.[23]

Solari was sacked on 11 March 2019.[24]

América edit

On 29 December 2020, Solari was unveiled as the new manager of Club América from Mexico after signing a two-year contract, replacing the fired Miguel Herrera.[25] He did not obtain his work permit in time, and as a result could not be on the sideline for the team's opening match of the season against Atlético San Luis.[26] He made his Liga MX debut the following week in a 1–0 away defeat to C.F. Monterrey,[27] and earned his first win against FC Juárez on 26 January.[28] He led the side to a second-place finish in the general table, but was eliminated in the quarter-finals by C.F. Pachuca.[29]

América began the Apertura 2021 tournament with four victories and one draw from five matches, taking Solari's total tally with the club to 18 wins from his first 27 games, tying the mark set by Leo Beenhakker during the 1994–95 campaign.[30] He guided them to the final of the CONCACAF Champions League in late October, losing 1–0 to Monterrey.[31] The team finished the Apertura regular phase first in the table with 37 points, though once again falling at the quarter-final stage, being ousted by Club Universidad Nacional 3–1 on aggregate; they had managed to remain unbeaten at home throughout the 2021 calendar year (winning 13 and drawing three).[32]

Solari was dismissed on 2 March 2022, after a poor run of results, departing after eight games in the Grita México Clausura 2022.[33]

Style of play edit

A dynamic and versatile left-footed winger, with excellent technical ability, Solari was mainly known for his dribbling skills, although he was also an accurate passer and was capable of striking the ball from distance with both feet.[34]

Broadcasting edit

Since 2010, Solari worked as pundit for ESPN.[35][36]

Personal life edit

 
Solari playing in the 2014 Match Against Poverty

Nicknamed Indiecito (Little Indian in Spanish), Solari came from a sporting family: his uncle Jorge, his father Eduardo and two of his four siblings, younger Esteban and David, were also footballers.[37][38][39] His younger sister, Liz, worked as an actress.[40] He is of Spanish and Italian descent.[41]

His uncle Jorge played for several clubs during his career, mostly River Plate, whilst his cousin Natalia married Fernando Redondo who also represented Real Madrid. All but David played for Argentina.[42][43]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

Club performance[44][45] League Cup Continental Other Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Argentina League CONMEBOL Other Total
1996–97 River Plate Primera División 24 2 1 0 25 2
1997–98 27 6 9 1 36 7
1998–99 16 5 16 5
Spain League Copa del Rey UEFA Other Total
1998–99 Atlético Madrid La Liga 12 1 3 0 1 0 16 1
1999–2000 34 6 4 0 7 0 45 6
2000–01 Real Madrid La Liga 14 1 1 0 10 1 0 0 25 2
2001–02 28 1 9 0 14 4 2 0 53 5
2002–03 28 0 3 1 11 0 2 0 44 1
2003–04 34 5 9 2 9 2 1 0 53 9
2004–05 27 3 2 2 5 0 34 5
Italy League Coppa Italia UEFA Other Total
2005–06 Inter Milan Serie A 13 3 7 2 6 0 0 0 26 5
2006–07 21 1 5 0 4 0 0 0 30 1
2007–08 5 0 5 1 5 0 0 0 15 1
Argentina League CONMEBOL Other Total
2008–09 San Lorenzo Primera División 26 4 3 0 29 4
Mexico League CONCACAF Other Total
2009–10 Atlante Liga MX 29 4 5 0 34 4
2010–11 4 1 4 1
Uruguay League CONMEBOL Other Total
2010–11 Peñarol Primera División 9 0 2 0 11 0
Total Argentina 93 17 13 1 106 18
Spain 177 17 31 5 57 7 5 0 270 29
Italy 39 4 17 3 15 0 0 0 71 7
Mexico 33 5 5 0 38 5
Uruguay 9 0 2 0 11 0
Career total 351 43 48 8 87 8 10 0 496 59

International edit

Argentina[46]
Year Apps Goals
1999 1 0
2000 1 1
2001 0 0
2002 3 0
2003 4 0
2004 2 0
Total 11 1
Argentina score listed first, score column indicates score after the Solari goal.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 20 December 2000 Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States   Mexico 1–0 2–0 Friendly[47]

Managerial statistics edit

As of 2 March 2022[48]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Real Madrid B   19 July 2016 29 October 2018 86 32 29 25 112 92 +20 037.21 [49]
Real Madrid   30 October 2018 11 March 2019 32 22 2 8 71 37 +34 068.75 [50]
América   29 December 2020 2 March 2022 50 26 12 12 68 48 +20 052.00 [51]
Total 168 80 43 45 251 177 +74 047.62

Honours edit

Player edit

River Plate

Real Madrid

Inter Milan

Manager edit

Real Madrid

América

References edit

  1. ^ a b "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 presented by Toyota: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 9 December 2009. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  2. ^ Fernandes, Mariana (12 November 2018). "Solari deixa de ser interino e deve ser anunciado como novo treinador principal do Real Madrid" [Solari is no longer interim and must be announced as Real Madrid's new head coach]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ "2010 Stockton Men's Soccer" (PDF). Stockton University. p. 31. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b Álvarez, José Carlos (5 August 2015). "River Plate 1996–1997: Cinco millonarias copas" [River Plate 1996–1997: Five cups worth a million] (in Spanish). Dechalaca. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  5. ^ Miguelez, José (8 February 1999). "Al Atlético le sacan los colores" [Atlético drained]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  6. ^ a b González-Martín, Tomás (8 February 2019). "Solari, jugador rojiblanco hasta el descenso" [Solari, red-and-white player until the relegation]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Real crowned champions of Europe". BBC Sport. 15 May 2002. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  8. ^ Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Real Madrid CF – All the players in European Cups". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  9. ^ Page 18–19: Attivo: immobilizzazioni immateriali: Acquisti: FC Internazionale Milano SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2006 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA
  10. ^ Page 7: Movimentazione diritti pluriennali alle prestazioni calciatori, FC Internazionale Milano SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2007 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA
  11. ^ a b "Solari ricorda: "Ho fatto parte di un'Inter incredibile che vinse tre Scudetti di fila"" [Solari rememberes: "I was part of an amazing Inter who won three Scudetti in a row"] (in Italian). Tribuna. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Rotondaro, Vittorio (7 October 2021). "Il Real Madrid, l'Inter e il flop da tecnico: la carriera del 'Principito' Solari" [Real Madrid, Inter and failure as manager: the career of 'Little Prince' Solari] (in Italian). Goal. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Solari llega mañana" [Solari arrives tomorrow] (in Spanish). Infobae. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Santiago Solari presentado en el Atlante" [Santiago Solari presented at Atlante]. La Prensa (in Spanish). 23 July 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  15. ^ Magrini, Matteo (2 September 2010). "Penarol, preso Solari" [Peñarol, Solari acquired] (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  16. ^ "Padres e hijos que jugaron para la selección argentina" [Fathers and sons who played for the Argentina national team]. La Voz del Interior (in Spanish). 8 September 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Santiago Solari entrenará al Juvenil A del Real Madrid" [Santiago Solari will coach Real Madrid's Juvenil A]. Diario Popular (in Spanish). 5 January 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  18. ^ Borinsky, Diego (13 May 2016). "Santiago Solari, a paso firme en la Casa Blanca" [Santiago Solari, going steady in the White House]. El Gráfico (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  19. ^ Gómez Bermejo, Carlos V. (19 July 2016). "Solari ya es nuevo entrenador del Castilla" [Solari is already the new manager of Castilla] (in Spanish). Capital Deporte. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Official announcement". Real Madrid CF. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  21. ^ Lara, Miguel Ángel; Brooke, Charlie (12 November 2018). "Solari is officially the new Real Madrid coach". Marca. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Official announcement: Solari". Real Madrid CF. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  23. ^ a b Rodríguez, José María (22 December 2018). "El Madrid agranda su leyenda" [Madrid largen their legend]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Official announcement". Real Madrid CF. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Ex-Madrid coach Solari unveiled as new America boss". Goal. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  26. ^ Espinosa, Ernesto (8 January 2021). "Por qué Santiago Solari no podrá debutar en el banquillo del América" [Why will Santiago Solari not be able to debut in América's bench] (in Spanish). Telemundo Deportes. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  27. ^ Serrano, Rodrigo (17 January 2021). "Club América loses to Monterrey on Solari's debut". Diario AS. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  28. ^ "América derrotó a Juárez FC en el Estadio Azteca" [América beat Juárez FC at the Azteca Stadium]. El Universal (in Spanish). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Santiago Solari revolucionó América" [Santiago Solari undertook revolution at América]. Olé (in Spanish). 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  30. ^ Bourgeois, Blaise (19 August 2021). "Santiago Solari has tied Leo Beenhakker's record". One Football. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Monterrey gana su quinta Concachampions con dos decisiones polémicas de VAR" [Monterrey win their fifth Concachampions with two controversial VAR decisions]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 October 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  32. ^ Pérez, Salvador (28 November 2021). "Estadio Azteca, la guarida infranqueable que Solari no pudo hacer pesar" [Azteca Stadium, the unsurmountable fortress Solari could not make prevail] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  33. ^ Suárez, Tania (2 March 2022). "Santiago Solari es destituido del América" [Santiago Solari is dismissed by América]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  34. ^ Olivero, Giovanni Battista (23 August 2002). "Solari è l' esterno che manca – Garantisce qualità e quantità" [Solari is the missing winger – He guarantees quality and quantity]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  35. ^ Reynolds, Mike (3 December 2013). "ESPN taps quintet of analysts". Multichannel News. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  36. ^ "Sr. Soccer Analyst". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Esteban Solari" (in Greek). Pathfinder. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  38. ^ "Santiago Solari está feliz: Bombini" [Santiago Solari is happy: Bombini] (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  39. ^ Goren, Boaz (1 February 2012). "Kiryat Shmona shaking up Israel". UEFA. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  40. ^ Álvarez, Lorena (31 October 2018). "La "barbie perfecta": así es la hermana de Solari, el nuevo entrenador del Real Madrid" [The "perfect barbie": meet the sister of Solari, the new manager of Real Madrid]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  41. ^ ""Habe das Gefühl, dass er weg will": Baumgart bestätigt Merés Wechselwunsch – FC sucht Alternative". EXPRESS. 13 January 2022.
  42. ^ Romero, Enrique (30 October 1999). "Que hoy nos dejen muy bien parados" [May our name be held very high today]. Olé (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  43. ^ Brandão, Caio (20 December 2011). "Familiares na Seleção Argentina – Parte 2: os Solari" [Relatives in the Argentine national team – Part 2: the Solaris] (in Portuguese). Futebol Portenho. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  44. ^ Santiago Solari at BDFutbol  
  45. ^ "Santiago Solari". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  46. ^ Santiago Solari at National-Football-Teams.com  
  47. ^ "Argentina blank Mexico in friendly". ESPN FC. 21 December 2000. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  48. ^ Santiago Solari coach profile at Soccerway
  49. ^ "Solari: Santiago Hernán Solari Poggio". BDFutbol. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
    "Solari: Santiago Hernán Solari Poggio". BDFutbol. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
    "Solari: Santiago Hernán Solari Poggio". BDFutbol. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  50. ^ "Solari: Santiago Hernán Solari Poggio". BDFutbol. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  51. ^ "Club América: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  52. ^ a b c d e "Class and reliability on the left wing". Real Madrid CF. Retrieved 11 February 2022.

External links edit