Santiago Homenchenko Explained

Santiago Homenchenko
Full Name:Santiago Damián Homenchenko Bianchi[1]
Birth Date:2003 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Mercedes, Uruguay
Height:1.85 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Mirandés
(on loan from Peñarol)
Youthclubs1:Con Los Mismos Colores
Youthyears2:2013–2016
Youthclubs2:Peñarol
Youthyears3:2016–2017
Youthclubs3:Danubio
Youthyears4:2018–2020
Youthclubs4:Con Los Mismos Colores
Youthyears5:2020–2021
Youthclubs5:Plaza Colonia
Youthyears6:2021–2022
Youthclubs6:Peñarol
Years1:2022–
Clubs1:Peñarol
Caps1:23
Goals1:0
Years2:2024
Clubs2:Oviedo (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Mirandés (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2022–2023
Nationalteam1:Uruguay U20
Nationalcaps1:13
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2024
Nationalteam2:Uruguay U23
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:2
Club-Update:14 August 2024

Santiago Damián Homenchenko Bianchi (born 30 August 2003) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club CD Mirandés, on loan from Peñarol.

Early life

Homenchenko was born on 30 August 2003 in Mercedes, the capital of Soriano Department. Homenchenko grew up in a working-class family of paternal Ukrainian and maternal Italian descent. The youngest of ten siblings, Homenchenko promised his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer when he was six-years-old, that he would become a professional footballer. In an interview describing his upbringing, Homenchenko said, "We spent nights without eating, relying on milk with rice or sweet cornstarch, but those things give you personality. [...] When I left Danubio at 15, I had to work, because my mother had no money. We were poor, but we weren't sad. I worked to buy my clothes, but we just had what we needed. That confronts you with reality."[2]

Club career

Homenchenko began his football career with his neighborhood club Con los Mismos Colores. At the age of 10, he was recruited by Néstor Gonçalves and signed for Peñarol where he finished his childhood training. Homenchenko joined Danubio three years later, moving to Montevideo and beginning his youth training. He was released two years in the process after suffering an accident in which he broke a piece of his heel. During his recovery, he returned to his boyhood club of Con los Mismos Colores under their youth system. After a series of good performances, including winning an under-18 team national championship, he signed with Plaza Colonia for the 2020-21 season.[3]

On July 2021, Homenchenko returned to Peñarol. On 8 September 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the club.[4] He made his professional debut on 19 September 2022 as a 84th minute substitute for Brian Lozano in a 3–1 league win over Cerrito.[5] Homenchenko has also represented the under-19 system, in which he was part of the squad that won the 2022 U-20 Copa Libertadores.[6] [7]

On 15 January 2024, a transfer agreement between Peñarol and Real Oviedo was made for Homenchenko to join the Spanish club, whereas Ecuadorian winger Romario Ibarra, who was playing for Oveido on loan from Pachuca, will join Peñarol. Homenchenko's contract with Peñarol was ending in the middle of the year, therefore the club decided to sell 70% of his contract.[8] [9] [10]

On 13 August 2024, Homenchenko moved to fellow Spanish second division side CD Mirandés on a one-year loan deal from Peñarol.[11]

International career

Homenchenko currently represents Uruguay in their under-20 national team. In October 2022, Homenchenko was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2022 South American Games.[12] He played all five matches in the tournament as Uruguay eventually finished fourth after reaching semi-finals.[13] Homenchenko was part of the Uruguayan side that won the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.[14] [15] In January 2024, he was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament under Marcelo Bielsa.[16]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Peñarol2022Uruguayan Primera División1000000010
202390003[17] 0120
Career total100003000130

Honours

Peñarol U20

Uruguay U20

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Uruguay (URU) . FIFA . 22 . 22 May 2023 . 11 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Redacción . Homenchenko: su dura infancia cenando arroz con leche y el sueño de comprarle la casa a su madre, que tiene cáncer . 2024-01-09 . El Observador.
  3. Web site: Santiago Homenchenko: "Yo no juego por mí, juego para hacer feliz a la gente que amo". es. 26 January 2023. 12 June 2023.
  4. Web site: Santiago Homenchenko, de cortarse un pedazo del talón a regalarle a su madre un clásico con Peñarol. es. 29 January 2023. 12 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Un nuevo juvenil de la cantera aurinegra debutó en Peñarol ante Cerrito. es. 18 September 2022. 12 June 2023.
  6. Web site: 24 January 2023. 21 February 2022. CONMEBOL. Peñarol, campeón de la CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub 20.
  7. Web site: 24 January 2023. Cozza. 20 February 2022. Marcelo. Tenfield. Sub 20: Peñarol Campeón de América.
  8. Web site: El ecuatoriano Romario Ibarra llegará a Peñarol y Santiago Homenchenko se irá a España . 2024-01-16 . futbol.com.uy - Montevideo Portal . es.
  9. Web site: Infobae . Por Newsroom . 2024-01-16 . El uruguayo Santiago Homenchenko, nuevo fichaje del Real Oviedo . 2024-01-16 . infobae . es-ES.
  10. Web site: 15 January 2024. 14 January 2024. La Nueva España. Homenchenko, objetivo del Oviedo, se sale con Bielsa: así fue su gol con la selección de Uruguay sub23.
  11. Web site: Santiago Homenchenko, un campeón del mundo sub-20 que llega al C.D. Mirandés. Santiago Homenchenko, an under-20 world champion who arrives at C.D. Mirandés. CD Mirandés. es. 13 August 2024. 13 August 2024.
  12. Web site: Juegos Odesur: Marcelo Broli confirmó los 18 futbolistas que representarán a Uruguay. es. 1 October 2022. 12 June 2023.
  13. Web site: La sub-20 en los Juegos #Asu2022. 12 October 2022. 12 June 2023.
  14. Web site: 11 June 2023 . Uruguay es Campeón del Mundo . 12 June 2023 . Uruguayan Football Association.
  15. Web site: Lopesino . Juan . 12 June 2023 . Luciano Rodríguez vale un Mundial . 12 June 2023 . . es.
  16. Web site: Lista final para el CONMEBOL Preolímpico 2024. es. 5 January 2024. 6 January 2024.
  17. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana.
  18. Web site: Peñarol, campeón de la CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub 20. 21 February 2022. 11 June 2023.