Forty-year-old Santi is carried in his arms.
Ovedo will play for Laby for the first time in 24 years.
After leaving in 2001, Ovedo did not represent the top division. Previously, Viktor Onopko played for the club, and he holds the highest number of appearances for the Legionnaires. For the Russian national team defender, Santi Kasorla was ill as a child, as it was in Ovedo that the future European champion and Arsenal midfielder was raised. Santi began the adult part of his career at Villarreal, but promised to return to his homeland. He kept his word; even at the age of 40, the cassock can score important goals. In the semifinals of the playoffs for the right to advance to La Liga, Ovedo drew 2-1. In a comeback, the opponents leveled the score on the amount of matches, but the record-breaking blow meant access to the final. There was a tough rival: Mirandes beat Real Ovedo in the first meeting. In the second match, the rivals opened the scoring, but Blue Stands and Casement worked hard on the pitch. Santi helped recover from a penalty in the center of the goal, then his young midfield partners activated.
The mid-level teams fought hard, but in this case, execution was even more important. The opponents missed, but Ovedo managed to take the lead and take the game into extra time. There, former Hovbek Hetafe Francisco Porilo proved to be the fastest and scored the third ball, which Ovedo’s players and fans celebrated as if they had won the Champions League. At the end of extra time, they staged a brawl, the referee issued two red cards, but did not reach the penalty.
Ovedo successfully finished the season in Segund. His undefeated run at the end of the championship allowed him to finish third and advance to the playoffs. Mirandes also scored 75 points, so in the final battles, there were rivals who deserved this chance. As a result, some fans were in tears due to the defeat, while others wept with happiness. Kasorla embraced his wife in a cinematic style with one hand on her waist, then his partner carried him in his arms into a crowd of fans. Santi demonstrated genuine love for Ovedo.
Kasorla avoided foot amputation and became a hero.
Eight years ago, doctors told the Spanish national team midfielder that he would have to end his career. And it wasn’t a recommendation, but a statement of fact. Twelve years ago, Kassorla’s ankle was constantly inflamed, and after a new injury, problems with his Achilles tendon began. The poor man underwent about 10 serious surgeries and, during treatment, developed an infection in the wound. Bacteria aggressively “ate” the tendon, and in the worst case, doctors allowed the foot to be amputated due to gangrene.
The footballer’s heel was blackened, and necrosis had begun. They used the latest technology, transplanted skin from his hand onto his leg, and the footballer endured two years of pain and the understanding that his career could be cut short. Kassorla showed incredible willpower and love for football. Santi was a happy exception to the rule when injuries kill dreams. Havbek left Arsenal but played successfully for Villarreal. Then he left for Qatar to work, and in 2023, he remembered his childhood dream of representing Ovedo.
The Cassock wanted to play for free for the club, but League rules prohibit him from doing so. Santi gets the minimum possible salary. Havbek transferred the image rights for free and 10% of the revenue they bring in is spent on the club’s academy. In 2012, Kasorla already recalled Ovedo when the club threatened bankruptcy. Then the former graduates of the Academy, who had known each other since childhood, managed to find money to continue the performances. Havbeki Mata and Kasorila and striker Michu saved the club.
Ovedo sold 10 euros of club promotion, and the story became famous. Fans from 90 countries, including fans of Arsenal and Chelsea, where they played KAS. And Mata launched those days that the club collected almost 2 million euros and closed urgent debts. Not without a billionaire from Mexico Slim, who supported Ovedo, but it all started with an appeal to fans. In 2022, the club sold the Mexican Martinez family, their Pachuk will play with Real Madrid after an unsuccessful start at the club
Championship world .Paunovich returned the old debt to the fans “Ovedo”
In 2001, Kasorla was a schoolboy, but the current head coach Velko Paunovich played in Ovyedo’s attack. An experienced Serbian has constantly made a rent from Atletico, and this season was represented by Real Ovedo. With Onopko he flew in the Segund, but no one knew that he would have to move to the lower leagues for 24 years. Paunovich has several matches for Rubin, but ended his career not
Russian Premier League or the league, but in Major League Soccer . While coach Paunovich worked with Serbia’s young teams.Then he started his career with adults
American States He tried to gain a foothold in England, where he didn’t represent the team for long, and then gained experience in Mexico. It was from there that he retired at the end of March. Santi decided that betting on a mentor, who fans remember with experience, would help him on the path to a dream. For a modest club, any mistake with a coach is a leap off a cliff, but this time they hired someone who quickly turned around. Paunovich paid off the old debts.As a football player, he couldn’t save Ovedo a place in Los Angeles, but he returned the club to the Elite Division as a coach. “Mirandes” looked worthy in recent matches, but the one who scored a decisive goal in extra time will play against Real Madrid and Barcelona. Joyful for the gray line, but I also want to note the Ovedo fans. The club, which could easily have ceased to exist, stayed afloat and grew thanks to popular support, not just players’ money.
Kasorla, Mata, and Michu wouldn’t have saved a club no one needed. The popular love for the provincial team provided the second chance it took advantage of. A wonderful story that won’t spoil their subsequent rise in La Liga. Ovedo is still a modest team; they could barely break into La Liga. They have managed to achieve victories at a low level, but Paunovich must prove to be a consistent and strong coach for the Casorla Club to continue its fairy tale.
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