| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jesus Manuel Santana Abreu | ||
| Date of birth | 2 March 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Hearts | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2004 | Tenerife | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2005 | → Atlético Arona (loan) | ||
| 2005–2006 | → Laguna (loan) | ||
| 2006–2009 | Tenerife | 23 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | → San Isidro (loan) | 27 | (3) |
| 2008–2009 | → Fuerteventura (loan) | 30 | (9) |
| 2009– | Hearts | 46 | (6) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Jesus 'Suso' Manuel Santana Abreu (born 2 March 1985 in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Heart of Midlothian in Scotland, as a right winger.
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Santana began his professional career at local CD Tenerife, signing in 2002 with its youth system. Early on, he was loaned to fourth-tier sides Atlético Arona and AD Laguna, in order to gain experience.
Suso played one full season with the Canary Islands outfit, in Segunda División, but opportunities continued to be limited for him in Tenerife's first team, and another two loan spells ensued, now in division three teams CD San Isidro and UD Fuerteventura. With the former, he finished as top scorer in the 2008–09 season, with nine goals in 30 appearances from the right side of midfield, although the club would be relegated for financial problems.[1]
Suso's performances caught the eye of Heart of Midlothian F.C. manager Csaba László, who signed him on a free transfer from Tenerife on 30 June 2009.[2] He got off to a good start at Tynecastle Stadium, playing in every pre-season game, and particularly impressing in friendlies against English Premier League sides Bolton Wanderers, when he set up Hearts' only goal of the match, and Sunderland, putting in a Man of the match performance.
However, in the Scottish Premier League, Santana's performances were somewhat erratic: during Hearts' 2–2 draw with St. Johnstone, he was replaced after an alleged spitting incident.[3] He improved from there onwards, again being named Man of the match in the side's 1–0 win over Kilmarnock on 15 September 2009; he scored his first goal for the club five days later, opening the scoresheet in a 1–2 defeat against Celtic at Celtic Park, with a long-range shot.[4]
Suso's second goal for Hearts came a week later, the second in a 2–1 win over Hamilton Academical. He also netted against eventual champions Rangers in a 1–4 home loss, from a volley.
Suso's second season in Scotland was hit by injuries, and he never really managed to get a consistent run together, also having to undergo knee surgery in late April 2011.[5]
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