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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"matchScheduleId":"bltb15444520f7d565f","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><ul><li>Two-time European Championship winner</li><li>Graced the Premier League with Gunners</li><li>Helped boyhood club back to the big time</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

VIDEO: Former Arsenal star Santi Cazorla scores dramatic free-kick with his weaker foot at 40 years of age to put boyhood club into La Liga play-off final

<p>The ex-Spain international <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-legend-decides-against-return-new-contract-revealing-talks-reunite-mikel-arteta-santi-cazorla/blta11408e727eacbba" target="_blank">returned to his boyhood club in 2023</a>, with the lowest possible salary being agreed as he endeavoured to help them clamber back into La Liga. After 25 years outside of the top-flight, Oviedo are one step away from fulfilling that dream.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"The fairytale story continues!" 🎙️<br><br>At 40 years old, Santi Cazorla scores the free kick that sends his boyhood club Real Oviedo through to the LALIGA promotion playoff final 🙌<br><br>What a moment 💙 <a href="https://t.co/ntVEVO71gw">pic.twitter.com/ntVEVO71gw</a></p>— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/PremSportsTV/status/1932909793993252907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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WATCH THE CLIP

<p>That is thanks to Cazorla, who stepped off the bench to make a decisive contribution in the second leg of their play-off semi-final clash with Almeria. He fired in a free-kick from the edge of the box, with the ball sent fizzing into the bottom corner.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>What made that strike even more impressive is the fact Cazorla - who once endured eight operations on an ankle problem and saw <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/dont-give-up---how-former-arsenal-ace-cazorla-resurrected-his-career-at-villarreal-after-two-year-injury-nightmare/p8ymo13ubsxd17u5rz3v0vbtq" target="_blank">gangrene pose an amputation risk</a> - took said set-piece with his left foot.</p><center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKxsScTN2Tu/?hl=en" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Cazorla, who won the European Championship with Spain in 2008 and 2012, said of potentially securing a spot in La Liga: "Getting promoted with Oviedo would be on the same level as winning the first Euro Cup.</p><p>"This will be the most beautiful achievement for me, for my family and friends, because I grew up here and I have deep feelings for this club. I'm not thinking about playing in Primera yet. I want to see how I feel and what the club wants first."</p>

WHAT SANTI CAZORLA SAID

<p>The evergreen playmaker added on his future, having emulated Portuguese GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo by playing beyond his 40th birthday: "I've taken a couple of breaks, and maybe I'll take another soon, but right now, it's working out well. I play two years on, two years off, for as long as I can keep going."</p>

WHAT NEXT?

VIDEO: Former Arsenal star Santi Cazorla scores dramatic free-kick with his weaker foot at 40 years of age to put boyhood club into La Liga play-off final | Goal.com

Former Arsenal star Santi Cazorla scored a dramatic free-kick, with his weaker foot and at 40 years of age, to book a play-off final berth for Oviedo.