Ismael Santiago López

Ismael

Personal information
Full name	Ismael Santiago López López
Date of birth	(1978-02-27) 27 February 1978
Place of birth	Jaén, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1985–1993	Granada 74
1993–1996	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1996	Barcelona C	14	(2)
1996–1998	Barcelona B	28	(2)
1998–1999	Alavés	2	(0)
1999	→ Logroñés (loan)	21	(1)
1999–2000	Granada	34	(14)
2000–2001	Extremadura	38	(5)
2001–2003	Murcia	69	(12)
2003–2005	Betis	36	(1)
2005	→ Elche (loan)	21	(0)
2005–2007	Xerez	54	(3)
2007–2008	Hércules	32	(6)
2008–2009	Alicante	36	(1)
2010	Sporting Mahonés	11	(1)
2010–2011	Pierikos	28	(0)
Total		424	(48)
International career
1996	Spain U18	6	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ismael Santiago López López (born 27 February 1978), known simply as Ismael, is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder.

Over the course of ten seasons he amassed Segunda División totals of 276 games and 28 goals in representation of eight clubs, mainly Murcia and Xerez (two years apiece).

Football career

Born in Jaén, Andalusia, Ismael started playing for FC Barcelona's B-team, representing the side in the second and third divisions. In 1998 he moved to Deportivo Alavés, making his La Liga debut on 25 October 1998 in a 0–1 home loss against CF Extremadura, but he was not very successful there, finishing the season with CD Logroñés also in the second level.

Ismael's career blossomed at Real Murcia, and he was instrumental in the side's top flight promotion in his second season after scoring 11 goals. This prompted the interest of Real Betis, where he was an important offensive element in 2003–04, being however rarely used in the following campaign as the Verdiblancos won the Copa del Rey and achieved qualification honours to the UEFA Champions League after finishing fourth.

Subsequently Ismael returned to division two, having stints with Elche CF, Xerez CD, Hércules CF and Alicante CF. From January–June 2010 he played in the third category with CF Sporting Mahonés and, at 32, moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Pierikos F.C. of the Greek second division.

Honours

Murcia

• Segunda División: 2002–03

Betis

• Copa del Rey: 2004–05

External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• Ismael profile at BDFutbol
• Ismael at Soccerway