Santiago Hernan Solari Biography

Santiago Hernán Solari was born on October 7, 1976 in Santa Fe Province. He is an Argentine football player, who currently plays left midfielder for the Italian Internazionale, and the Argentina national team. El Indiecito Solari played for Newell's Old Boys and local amateur Renato Cesarini before moving to Buenos Aires' CA River Plate in 1996. After 3 seasons with River Plate he transfered to Spanish Atlético de Madrid and, upon the club's relegation in 2000, Solari moved across the city to Real Madrid. Although he struggled with form in the his first season with his club, he established himself in the 2001/2 season, playing an important role in Real's successful UEFA Champions League campaign. Yet he was relegated to primarily playing a substitute's role in 2002/3; he nevertheless helped Real win yet another Spanish League title. Even though he recovered his starting position with the club in 2003/4, Real's season was disappointing as they stumbled to a fourth place finish in Spain, and failed to win any domestic or international title. Real Madrid fans always supported Santiago Solari, even when he didn't have a big participation, perhaps because he used well the few minutes he got to play. After the 2004/05 season, Real Madrid sold Solari to Internationale for 12 million euros, and a 3 year contract. Before moving starting in Newell's Old Boys, Solari played one year of college soccer at Richard Stockton College, making him the only college soccer player to have won the UEFA Champions League