Christian Santos


Christian Robert Santos Freire is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña.

Club career

Early career

Born in Ciudad Guayana, Bolívar, Santos moved to Germany at the age of six as his father received a new job in the country. After starting his career at SV Lippstadt 08 he moved to Arminia Bielefeld in 2003, and made his senior debut for the latter's reserve team on 6 May 2007, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 Oberliga Westfalen home win against Sportfreunde Lotte.
Santos scored his first senior goal on 1 April 2009, netting his team's second in a 3–1 away win against Delbrücker SC. After failed to make a single appearance with the first team, he left the club in 2011.

Belgium

On 9 August 2011, Santos signed for KAS Eupen in the Belgian Second Division. He scored a 15 goals during his first season, and added a further ten in his second.
In April 2013, Santos moved to Belgian Pro League club Waasland-Beveren, but failed to appear in a single match due to a severe knee injury.

NEC

In July 2014, Santos signed a one-year contract with Dutch Eerste Divisie side NEC Nijmegen, after impressing on a trial basis. He made his professional debut on 10 August, starting in a 3–1 home win against FC Eindhoven.
Santos scored his first professional goal on 15 August 2014, netting the last in a 2–0 win at FC Volendam. He finished the campaign with 23 goals in only 34 appearances, as his side achieved promotion to Eredivisie as champions; highlights included braces against FC Den Bosch, MVV Maastricht and FC Oss.
Santos made his debut in the main category of Dutch football on 12 August 2015, starting in a 1–0 home win against SBV Excelsior. He scored his first goals in the division on 18 September, netting all his team's goals in a 2–0 success over SC Heerenveen.
Santos added another doubles against ADO Den Haag and De Graafschap, totalling 16 goals in 30 matches.

Alavés

On 12 July 2016, free agent Santos signed a three-year deal with Deportivo Alavés, newly promoted to La Liga. He made his debut in the league on 21 August, replacing Gaizka Toquero in a 1–1 away draw against Atlético Madrid.

Deportivo La Coruña

On 28 June 2018, Santos signed a two-year deal with Deportivo de La Coruña, after cutting ties with Alavés. He scored his first goal in an away match against Gimnàstic de Tarragona on 1 October 2018, one minute after entering as a substitute in 85th minute. On 27 January 2019, he scored a decisive goal in 1-2 away victory against Sporting de Gijón. On 18 August 2019, he scored a decisive goal in 88th minute after coming from the bench three minutes earlier in a 3-2 victory against Real Oviedo.

International career

After being allowed to play for Venezuela in January 2015, Santos made his full international debut on 27 March of that year, starting and being booked in a 1–2 friendly loss against Jamaica. He scored his first international goal on 13 October, but in a 1–3 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers loss against Brazil.
Santos was also included in Rafael Dudamel's 23-man list ahead of the Copa America Centenario. His first and only appearance of the tournament occurred on 13 June 2016, in a 1–1 draw against Mexico.

International goals

Scores and results lists Venezuela's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreFinalCompetition
1.13 October 2015Castelão, Fortaleza, Brazil
1–2
1–3
2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Honours

;NEC