Santi Cazorla has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 41.The playmaker spent the last three seasons at boyhood club Real Oviedo and confirmed his decision via social media on Thursday.The former Spain international, who won two European Championship titles with the national team, has ended a 25-year career that began at Oviedo in 2001 and saw him play for clubs including Arsenal, Villarreal and Malaga.In the video, Cazorla said: “It started in Fonciello (a village near Oviedo), on just another pitch with a ball and a kid that wanted to play football. That’s where I came from. I had some great experiences, and I also had some difficult moments, but I never stopped trying.“In the end, I came back (to Real Oviedo). Not to close anything but rather to feel it again. Now that everything is ending, everything fits together. I ended (my career) at home. In the same place where the magic began.”
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— Santi Cazorla (@19SCazorla) July 2, 2026After spending the majority of his career in Spain with Oviedo, Villarreal, Recreativo Huelva, and Malaga, Cazorla joined Arsenal in the summer of 2012.He made 180 appearances for the north London club across six years, but his final seasons in England were significantly curtailed by a serious ankle injury that eventually became infected and resulted in lengthy periods on the sidelines.His final game for Arsenal came in October 2016, and his last two years in north London passed without making a first-team appearance.However, Cazorla recovered from his injury issues to end his career, first rejoining Villarreal in 2018, before a three-year stint in Qatar with Al-Sadd and then ending his career at Oviedo.Cazorla returned to boyhood club Real Oviedo in the summer of 2023 (Juan Manuel Serrano via Getty Images)Cazorla returned to his boyhood club in 2023, having been one of several former players who bought shares in the club in 2012 when Oviedo faced financial difficulties.In 2025, the midfielder helped the club earn promotion to La Liga for the first time in 24 years and made 28 top-flight appearances last season. However, Oviedo were relegated last season.The former Spain international, who scored 15 goals in 81 appearances for the national team, told The Athletic in 2025 that he had thought about returning to Arsenal as a coach and reuniting with former teammate Mikel Arteta.What next for intelligent and determined Cazorla?Analysis from The Athletic’s Spanish football correspondent Dermot CorriganCazorla finally hanging up his boots was no surprise at this point, and there will be a lot of expectation now to see what his next steps will be.The Asturian’s connection to Oviedo is huge, and being able to end his career by helping them gain promotion back to the Primera Division after 24 years away was hugely emotionally satisfying.Oviedo’s struggles in the top flight last season and eventual relegation will then have been painful, although a bright spot was Cazorla regularly drawing applause from rival stadiums, with fans appreciative of all he achieved over his career.What comes next remains to be seen. When speaking to The Athletic in January 2025 he spoke openly about the role of both coach and sporting director at the top level. He was well aware of the ups and downs experienced by former team-mates Mikel Arteta and Xavi at Arsenal and Barcelona respectively.The door will always be open for him at Oviedo, and at some point he could always return there in whatever role he decided was best.However, the intelligent and determined character will also have other opportunities and ambitions, so it will be fascinating to see what he decides on now.
