Santiago Ascacíbar Explained

Santiago Ascacíbar
Fullname:Santiago Lionel Ascacíbar
Birth Date:1997 2, df=yes
Birth Place:La Plata, Argentina
Height:1.68 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Estudiantes
Clubnumber:5
Youthyears1:2006–2015
Youthclubs1:Estudiantes
Years1:2016–2017
Clubs1:Estudiantes
Caps1:41
Goals1:0
Years2:2017–2020
Clubs2:VfB Stuttgart
Caps2:69
Goals2:1
Years3:2020–2023
Clubs3:Hertha BSC
Caps3:49
Goals3:1
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Cremonese (loan)
Caps4:13
Goals4:0
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Estudiantes (loan)
Caps5:20
Goals5:4
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:Estudiantes
Caps6:37
Goals6:2
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Argentina U20
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016
Nationalteam2:Argentina U23
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018
Nationalteam3:Argentina
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:19:49, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:27 September 2019 (UTC)

Santiago Lionel Ascacíbar (born 25 February 1997) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Estudiantes. He has also represented the Argentina national team.

Ascacíbar began his career at hometown club Estudiantes. He then moved to Bundesliga team VfB Stuttgart in 2017, developing a reputation as a natural leader alongside criticism for his temperament. He completed a transfer to Hertha BSC in January 2020 after Stuttgart had suffered relegation the previous season, with manager Jürgen Klinsmann describing him as "one of the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga". After a loan move to Cremonese in the 2022–23 season, Ascacíbar returned to hometown club Estudiantes in 2023.

Ascacíbar was part of the Argentine team that competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He made his senior debut in 2018.

Early years

Ascacíbar was born on 25 February 1997 in La Plata, Argentina, as part of an extended family: son of Mariana Rollero and Javier Ascacíbar, he was raised in Villa Elvira alongside his four brothers.[1] [2] His family also took in two of his teammates who for various reasons could not stay in the academy of his youth club Estudiantes; also considering both to be his brothers.[3] [4]

Club career

Estudiantes

Ascacíbar arrived at Estudiantes in 2006 at the age of 8, after performing a trial in which coach Omar Rulli –father of goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli – was surprised by his tenacity, describing Ascacíbar as "a fan of practice, very obsessive from a young age to improve his technique, as well as with his daily work".[5] Denoting his skill as a central midfielder from early on, and a strong presence on the pitch rarely seen among academy players, Rusito ("The Little Russian"), as he was nicknamed since childhood due to his blond hair and blue eyes, quickly became a key player in his age class.[6]

After recording impressive performances in his first four years in AFA youth divisions, the team's youth football coordinator Hermes Desio promoted him to the reserves for the first time in late 2014, and Ascacíbar made his debut in a match against the reserves of Rosario Central away at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito.[7]

Already in early 2015, he represented Estudiantes at the Frenz International Cup in Malaysia and Indonesia with a team consisting of players born in 1997 and 1998. Although Estudiantes lost the final to Brazilian club Internacional, the organisers chose him as the best player of the tournament.[8] Once back in Argentina, Nelson Vivas, manager of the first team, made him the starting central midfielder of the reserves.[9]

That same year, and on the recommendation of former international Juan Sebastián Verón who was now president of the club, Ascacíbar finished his secondary studies at the Colegio de Estudiantes and enrolled in Anthropology at the National University of La Plata, despite not being able to regularly attend classes due to his professional debut with the first team.16In this sense, Ascacibar was seen as the antithesis of the typical professional footballer: he still lived with his parents and siblings and lead a life away from lavishness, valuing an education.[10]

On 8 February 2016, Ascacíbar made his professional debut for Estudiantes, playing the entire match against Lanús in the Argentine Primera División which ended in a 1–0 loss.[11] Over the course of the season, his performances with the first team improved and he became a starter for the team.[12] [13] In his first full season as a first-team player, he appeared in all games and was the player who recovered the most balls.[14] At the end of the season, he was awarded the Olimpia Award in the category Best Player of Local Football.[15]

His final appearance for the club came on 3 August 2017 in a 2–0 victory against Nacional Potosí in the Copa Sudamericana. When he was subbed off, he received a standing ovation at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata.[16]

VfB Stuttgart

On 22 August 2017, Ascacíbar signed a five-year deal with VfB Stuttgart.[17] [18] [19] He made his debut on 10 September, coming off the bench in the 62nd minute for Orel Mangala in a 3–1 away defeat against Schalke 04.[20]

In August 2018, Ascacíbar extended his contract with Stuttgart until June 2023.[21] At the end of the season, the club suffered relegation to the 2. Bundesliga.[22]

He scored his first goal for Stuttgart against Dynamo Dresden on 3 November 2019 in the 2. Bundesliga, slotting home from short distance in an eventual 3–1 victory at Mercedes-Benz Arena.[23] This came after a period, where Ascacíbar had been suspended by the team due to his demands of being the starting defensive midfielder. Manager Tim Walter afterwards called him a "temperamental boy" who could sometimes "get carried away".[24]

Hertha BSC

On 1 January 2020, Ascacíbar signed a long-term contract with Bundesliga club Hertha BSC.[25] He made his debut for the club on 19 January in a 4–0 home loss to Bayern Munich. Despite the defeat, Hertha manager Jürgen Klinsmann praised Ascacíbar, calling him "one of the best Number 6 in the Bundesliga".[26] In May 2020, however, following the upheaval of the COVID-19 suspension of German football, he suffered a foot injury that kept him out for several weeks.[27] Several injuries would keep him sidelined the following months, and he failed to make any more appearances in 2020.[28] [29]

Ascacíbar returned to the pitch on 30 January 2021 under new manager Pál Dárdai, playing 89 minutes of the 3–1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.[30] In a Berliner Derby against Union Berlin on 4 April, Ascacíbar was shown a yellow card after a verbal altercation with opposing player Nico Schlotterbeck, which prompted a subsequent investigation by the German Football Association (DFB).[31] The investigation was, however, discontinued on 8 April after the conditions for blatantly anti-sports conduct were not met.[32] In the following game, on 10 April, Ascacíbar was also the centre of attention. Despite scoring the opening goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach in an eventual 2–2 draw, he sneered when substituted off in the second half, which coach Dárdai criticised afterwards.[33]

Ahead of the 2021–22 season, in a pre-season friendly against Liverpool, Ascacíbar suffered a concussion after colliding with opposing goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher after scoring the opening goal in a 4–3 victory.[34] [35] He returned to the pitch for the first competitive game of the season, playing the entire DFB-Pokal match against SV Meppen.[36]

Loan to Cremonese

On 23 July 2022, Ascacíbar joined Serie A club Cremonese on loan with an option to buy.[37] On 14 August he made his debut for the club in Cremonese's 3–2 Serie A loss to Fiorentina.[38]

Return to Estudiantes

On 18 January 2023, Ascacíbar returned to Estudiantes on loan.[39] On 26 May 2023, Hertha announced that the transfer was made permanent.[40]

International career

He represented Argentina in the football competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He made his senior international debut for Argentina on 8 September 2018 in a 3–0 international friendly against the Guatemala national football team.[41] With the U20 team, Argentina finished in 4th place at the 2017 South American Youth Championship, thus qualifying to the 2017 U20 FIFA World Cup. As the case at the Olympics which was held a year prior, Argentina did not make it past the group stage.

Career statistics

Club

[42]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Estudiantes2016Primera División170170
2016–17Primera División2401080330
Total4101080500
Stuttgart2017–18Bundesliga29020310
2018–19Bundesliga2700010280
2019–202. Bundesliga13120151
Total6914010741
Hertha2019–20Bundesliga801090
2020–21Bundesliga13100131
2021–22Bundesliga2802010310
Total4913010531
Cremonese (loan)2022–23Serie A13010140
Estudiantes (loan)2023Argentine Primera División000000
Career total17229080201912

International

Honours

Estudiantes

2023[43]

2024[44]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Cabrera . Martin . Me dan vergüenza los autógrafos . El Dia . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170831092048/https://www.eldia.com/nota/2016-3-3--me-dan-verguenza-los-autografos . 31 August 2017 . es.
  2. News: Randrup . Máximo . Santiago Ascacibar, el juvenil de Estudiantes que vive con sus padres, quiere estudiar antropología y es ovacionado por sus hinchas . LA NACION . 16 April 2016 . es.
  3. News: Randrup . Máximo . Santiago Ascacibar: el pequeño gigante . LA NACION . 16 April 2016 . es.
  4. News: Ascacíbar, el mejor compañero . Cielo Sports . 25 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170822223510/http://cielosports.com/nota/64454/ascacibar_el_mejor_companero/ . 22 August 2017 . es.
  5. News: Ascacíbar es un obsesivo desde chiquito . Diario Hoy . 13 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180709040120/https://diariohoy.net/el-clasico/ascacibar-es-un-obsesivo-desde-chiquito-72975 . 9 July 2018.
  6. News: Plotycia . Gonzalo . Ascacibar y Grasso: voces de ganadores Inferiores Platenses . Inferiores Platenses . 22 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190622023722/http://www.inferioresplatenses.com.ar/noticia/ascacibar-y-grasso-voces-de-ganadores . 22 June 2019 . es.
  7. News: Bonafini . Blas . De Villa Elvira a Río de Janeiro: Ascacibar irá a los Juegos Olímpicos . 5 April 2022 . Todo Juveniles . https://web.archive.org/web/20170118052645/http://www.todojuveniles.com.ar/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3564:de-villa-elvira-a-rio-de-janeiro-ascacibar-ira-a-los-juegos-olimpicos&catid=51:sub-20 . 18 January 2017 . es.
  8. Web site: Segura . Lautaro . Estamos tranquilos porque dejamos todo Inferiores Platenses . Inferiores Platenses . 5 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220318104322/http://www.inferioresplatenses.com.ar/noticia/estamos-tranquilos-porque-dejamos-todo . 18 March 2022 . es . 2 July 2015 . live.
  9. Web site: Orgullo albirrojo: Ascacibar jugará en Río 2016 Estudiantes de La Plata . Estudiantes de La Plata . 5 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170118052705/http://www.estudiantesdelaplata.com/orgullo-albirrojo-ascacibar-jugara-en-rio-2016/ . 18 January 2017 . es . 6 July 2016 . live.
  10. Web site: Mejido . Gonza . Ascacibar: El clásico siempre tiene un plus especial y el jugador de Estudiantes lo sabe muy bien . Info Futbol . 5 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170118053955/http://infofutbolweb.com.ar/2016/04/13/ascacibar-el-clasico-siempre-tiene-un-plus-especial-y-el-jugador-de-estudiantes-lo-sabe-muy-bien/ . 18 January 2017 . es . 13 April 2016 . dead.
  11. News: Torneo de Primera División 2016: Lanús venció a Estudiantes en Sarandí - TyC Sports . 5 April 2022 . TyC Sports . 8 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200101212621/https://www.tycsports.com/futbol/torneo-de-primera-division-2016-lanus-vencio-estudiantes-en-sarandi.html . 1 January 2020 . es.
  12. News: Ochoa . Pablo . Resumen Estudiantes de La Plata VAVEL: Ascacibar, el pibe que se convirtió importante . 5 April 2022 . VAVEL . 26 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210509083602/https://www.vavel.com/ar/futbol-argentino/2016/05/26/estudiantes/652013-paso-de-ser-un-pibe-a-ser-importante.html . 9 May 2021 . es-ar.
  13. News: Ascacibar fue el debutante que más minutos jugó el torneo pasado . Diario Popular . 29 August 2016 . es-AR.
  14. News: Ascacibar, un gran recuperador y pasador Estudiantes de La Plata . Estudiantes de La Plata . 5 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170908163125/http://www.estudiantesdelaplata.com/ascacibar-un-gran-recuperador-y-pasador/ . 8 September 2017 . es . 6 June 2016 . live.
  15. Web site: Ascacibar, ternado en los Premios Olimpia Estudiantes de La Plata . Estudiantes de La Plata . 5 April 2022 . es . 2 December 2016.
  16. News: Ascacibar y una emotiva despedida del Pincha – TyC Sports . 5 April 2022 . TyC Sports . es.
  17. News: VfB holt Ascacibar "aus tiefster Überzeugung". 22 August 2017. kicker Online. 22 August 2017. German.
  18. Web site: Stuttgart seal deal for Argentina ace Ascacibar. Bundesliga. 22 August 2017. 22 August 2017.
  19. Web site: VfB sign Santiago Ascacíbar. VfB Stuttgart. 22 August 2017. 22 August 2017.
  20. News: Burgstaller sticht: Stuttgart verschläft den Wiederanpfiff . kicker . 10 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210215193101/https://www.kicker.de/schalke-gegen-stuttgart-2017-bundesliga-3827610/analyse . 15 February 2021 . de-DE.
  21. Web site: VfB secure Santiago Ascacibar until 2023. VfB Stuttgart. 9 August 2018. 9 August 2018.
  22. News: Muth . Carsten . VfB Stuttgart: Der Abstieg 2019 ist ein Desaster – ein Kommentar . Südwest Presse . 28 May 2019 . de.
  23. News: 3:1 - Blitz-Eigentor bringt Stuttgart früh auf Kurs . 5 April 2022 . kicker . 3 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327205305/https://www.kicker.de/stuttgart-gegen-dresden-2019-bundesliga-4589045/analyse . 27 March 2022 . de-DE.
  24. News: Walter: Manchmal gehen Ascacibar halt die Gäule durch . 5 April 2022 . kicker . 1 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411121623/https://www.kicker.de/walter_manchmal_gehen_ascacibar_halt_die_gaeule_durch_-759252/artikel . 11 April 2021 . de-DE.
  25. Web site: Jürgen Klinsmann's Hertha Berlin sign Santiago Ascacibar from VfB Stuttgart. Bundesliga. 1 January 2020.
  26. News: Klinsmann adelt Ascacibar: Einer der besten Sechser in der Bundesliga . kicker . 20 January 2020 . de-DE.
  27. News: Ascacibar fällt wochenlang aus . kicker . 23 May 2020 . de-DE.
  28. News: Ascacibar: Wieder der Mittelfuß . kicker . 27 August 2020 . de-DE.
  29. News: Pechvogel Ascacibar bricht ab: Für ihn ist es eine Katastrophe . kicker . 12 October 2020 . de-DE.
  30. News: Für Dardai ist "eigentlich alles okay, nur das Ergebnis nicht" . 5 April 2022 . kicker . 30 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210130191314/https://www.kicker.de/fuer-dardai-ist-eigentlich-alles-okay-nur-das-ergebnis-nicht-796103/artikel . 30 January 2021 . de-DE.
  31. News: Krass sportwidriges Verhalten: DFB ermittelt gegen Ascacibar . 5 April 2022 . kicker . 7 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210423103101/https://www.kicker.de/krass-sportwidriges-verhalten-dfb-ermittelt-gegen-ascacibar-801654/artikel . 23 April 2021 . de-DE.
  32. Web site: Verfahren gegen Ascacibar eingestellt . DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. . 5 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422110906/https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/verfahren-gegen-ascacibar-eingestellt-226312/ . 22 April 2021 . de . 8 April 2022 . live.
  33. News: Dardai rügt Ascacibar: "Soll ich mich bei ihm bedanken?" . 5 April 2022 . kicker . 11 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411091752/https://www.kicker.de/dardai-ruegt-ascacibar-soll-ich-mich-bei-ihm-bedanken-801966/artikel . 11 April 2021 . de-DE.
  34. News: Heise . Wolfgang . Gehirnerschütterung! Herthas Santi Ascacibar erhält Sportverbot . 5 April 2022 . Berliner Kurier . 30 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211106162027/http://www.berliner-kurier.de/hertha/gehirnerschuetterung-herthas-santi-ascacibar-erhaelt-sportverbot-li.174083 . 6 November 2021 . de-DE.
  35. Web site: 3-0 win in friendly called early Hertha BSC . Hertha BSC . 5 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210801062417/https://www.herthabsc.com/en/news/2021/07/bscgfk-report . 1 August 2021 . 31 July 2021 . live.
  36. Web site: Meppen vs. Hertha Berlin – 8 August 2021 – Soccerway . Soccerway . Perform Group . 5 April 2022.
  37. Web site: Cremonese. ASCACIBAR NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLA CREMONESE. 23 July 2022. 22 July 2022. it.
  38. News: Giuliani . Marco . Fiorentina-Cremonese 3-2: vittoria viola all'ultimo respiro . 26 November 2022 . FirenzeToday . 14 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220814213425/https://www.firenzetoday.it/sport/calcio/fiorentina-cremonese-3-2--tabellino-serie-a-14-agosto-2022.html . 14 August 2022 . it.
  39. Web site: Hertha BSC. SANTIAGO ASCACÍBAR KEHRT ZURÜCK IN SEINE HEIMAT. 18 January 2023. 18 January 2023. de.
  40. Web site: Hertha BSC. Ascacíbar und Alderete verlassen Hertha BSC. 26 May 2023. de.
  41. Web site: Argentina vs. Guatemala - 8 September 2018 - Soccerway. us.soccerway.com.
  42. Web site: Santiago Ascacibar. SofaScore. 24 June 2020.
  43. Web site: 2023-12-14 . Estudiantes de La Plata campeón de la Copa Argentina 2023: así fue el camino al título . 2024-07-26 . LA NACION . es.
  44. Web site: 5 May 2024 . ¡ESTUDIANTES CAMPEÓN! Venció a Vélez por penales y se consagró en la Copa de la Liga 2024 . 8 May 2024 . ESPN.com.ar . es.