Roberto Santamaría Ciprián

Roberto Santamaría Ciprián (born 27 February 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Santamaría was a product of CA Osasuna's youth ranks, and was transferred to UD Las Palmas in summer 2006. In the Canary Islands, he spent his first two seasons with the reserves, making his debut with the first team on 23 February 2008 in a second division match against RC Celta de Vigo in which he saved a penalty kick, helping to a 1–0 home win.

In the 2009 off-season, Santamaría was loaned to Málaga CF. During the campaign, he played as backup to also newly signed Gustavo Munúa, appearing in all of the club's four matches in the Copa del Rey.

On 12 August 2010, after terminating his Las Palmas contract, Santamaría joined Girona FC in the second level, replacing Albert Jorquera who retired earlier in the summer. He continued to compete in that tier in the following years, representing SD Ponferradina (two spells), Osasuna, RCD Mallorca, CF Reus Deportiu and SD Huesca.

Santamaría entered Huesca's first season in La Liga as second-choice behind Atlético Madrid loanee Axel Werner, and moved further down the depth chart when Serbian Aleksandar Jovanović was signed from Danish club Aarhus Gymnastikforening at the end of August. He was given his debut in the competition against Valencia CF on 23 December 2018 – aged 33 years and 10 months – by manager Francisco Rodríguez after the team had let in 40 goals in 18 competitive fixtures, making six saves in the 1–2 away defeat and being beaten by Cristiano Piccini with the last kick of the game.

Personal life

Santamaría's uncle, Roberto Santamaría Calavia, was also a footballer and a goalkeeper. He too represented Osasuna and Málaga, in the 80s/90s.

His brother, Mikel, was also groomed at Osasuna.