Santi Cazorla Helps Real Oviedo Earn Historic Promotion To La Liga

By Sportsgister

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has helped Real Oviedo earn promotion to La Liga for the first time in 24 years after securing a 3-2 aggregate victory over Mirandes in the Segunda promotion play-off final.

Cazorla, 40, returned to his boyhood club in the summer of 2023, having been one of several former players who bought shares in the club in 2012 when Oviedo faced financial difficulties.

The former Spain international came off the bench to score a free-kick with his weaker foot in the semi-final victory over Almeria on June 11. That set up a two-legged play-off final against Mirandes.

Having lost the first leg of the play-off final 1-0 on June 15, Cazorla was on the scoresheet in the second leg as Oviedo went on to win 3-1 on Saturday.

The memorable victory, a year after Oviedo lost in the play-off final in 2024, will see Oviedo play in the Spanish top flight for the first time in over two decades.

Cazorla came through Oviedo’s youth academy before leaving in 2003 due to the club’s financial troubles. He went on to play for clubs including Villarreal, Malaga, Arsenal, Al-Sadd in Qatar, before returning to Oviedo in 2023.

He told The Athletic in 2025 that Oviedo made him a hefty salary offer but he asked for the minimum contract allowed under La Liga rules (€90,000 a year). Ten per cent of all proceeds from jerseys bearing his name also goes to help fund the club’s youth system.

“Thankfully, I’ve had a successful career, so the last thing I wanted was to be a weight on my club,” Cazorla said. “I’m delighted with these conditions — I’d play for free, but the regulations must be respected.

“Returning here to Oviedo, where I dreamed of playing as a kid, was in my mind for a long time. Now I’m back, trying to help where I can.”

Oviedo almost went bust in 2012 before an international fundraising campaign raised the €2million (£1.7m/$2.1m) required to save it. Cazorla was among those to contribute, as were former Oviedo youth team players Juan Mata and Michu.

Cazorla also made 81 appearances for Spain, winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.

Speaking at the Club World Cup, the Real Madrid coach and former Spain international Xabi Alonso offered Cazorla his congratulations. “The first thing is to congratulate Oviedo,” he said. “I feel a little sorry for Mirandes too, because I have friends there. I’m happy for my friend Santi Cazorla who had the great gesture of going back there at his age and I’m sure he has been very influential for the promotion. Because of his charisma and because he has an impressive quality, he is a unique player”