Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero (born 16 August 1981) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Paraguay national football team. Holder of a Spanish passport, Santa Cruz is eligible for unrestricted selection in all European Union-based sides.
Olimpia
Born in Asunción, Santa Cruz joined the Olimpia's youth academy at the age of nine where he became the top scorer during several seasons until the head coach of Olimpia's first team, the Uruguayan Luis Cubilla, invited Santa Cruz to practice with the first team squad at the age of 15. His professional debut was in 1997 at the age of sixteen. Santa Cruz's club performance led Olimpia to a Paraguayan championship in the 1998–99 season, and the winning of the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year award. Aged 17, Santa Cruz participated in the 1998 Copa Mercosur where Olimpia reached the semi-finals. During the first-leg quarter-finals match against Vélez Sársfield on 27 October he scored in the 65th minute as Olimpia won 4–3. In the second leg on 4 November he scored two first half goals as Olimpia won 2–1 to advance to the semi-finals. All three goals were scored past his international goal keeper team mate Jose Chilavert. During his time at Olimpia he earned the nickname 'Babygoal'. Olimpia's president, who at the time was Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb, had assessed Santa Cruz to value from around US$20 million due to his involvement in Paraguay's national teams. However, when Germany's Bayern Munich came knocking he was signed for only US$7 million for the 1999–2000 Bundesliga season.
Bayern Munich
Showing his excellence with Olimpia and the Paraguay national football team, Santa Cruz was noticed by German club Bayern Munich, who eventually signed him in the second half of 1999. Santa Cruz was unexceptional at Bayern as he only scored five goals in his first season with the club, a series of injuries, and heavy competition between forwards (including Élber Giovane, Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro) for the German giants limited his impact. Nonetheless, he was part of the latest successes for Bayern, winning the German league and cup double, the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.
2007–08 season
Santa Cruz agreed a four-year deal with Blackburn Rovers on 28 July 2007. Blackburn agreed to pay Bayern Munich £3.5 million for the player. He scored his first goal for Rovers after just three touches of the ball when he came on as a substitute for the injured Benni McCarthy against Middlesbrough in the opening game of the 2007–08 Premier League season. Santa Cruz celebrated his 26th birthday and his first full Rovers start when he scored the winner away to MYPA in the UEFA Cup. Santa Cruz scored his first hat-trick for Blackburn in a 5–3 loss to Wigan Athletic on 15 December 2007, becoming the first player in over ten years in English football to score a hat-trick for the losing side, since Dwight Yorke's hat-trick on 30 September 1996 for Aston Villa in their 4–3 away loss to Newcastle United. On 12 January 2008, he was named Premier League "Player of the Month" for December 2007.
2008–09 season
Following a successful 2007–08 campaign, there was much transfer speculation surrounding Santa Cruz at the start of the 2008–09 season. However, Santa Cruz signed a four-year contract with Blackburn in August to end the speculation. He became a target for Manchester City following their takeover by the billionaire Abu Dhabi United Group. In January 2009, they had bids of £12 million and £16 million rejected by Blackburn, with the club stating it would take £25 million for them to even consider selling their star striker. On 2 February 2009, City failed to meet the reported £25 million asking price. On 20 April 2009, there were rumours that Santa Cruz was planning to leave Rovers after the 2008–09 season, less than 12 months after signing a new deal with the Premier League club, although he denied these rumours, saying that they were "lost in translation."
Manchester City
On 21 June 2009, it was reported that Santa Cruz was undergoing a medical at Manchester City ahead of a proposed summer transfer worth £17.5 million on a four-year deal. Confirmation that the deal had been completed was released later that same day. Santa Cruz scored his first City goal on 28 October 2009 against Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup. Santa Cruz grabbed his first league goals for City against Sunderland, scoring a brace in a thrilling 4–3 win which proved to be Mark Hughes's last game at the club. However his appearances have been limited due to a succession of injuries coupled with a lack of form.
Roberto Mancini continued to leave out Santa Cruz during the 2010–11 season. A loan deal for him to join S.S. Lazio collapsed and he remained at City. Santa Cruz made it clear he wanted to leave, and Mancini did not object.
Roque Santa Cruz Manchester City Striker
On 9 July 2011, Santa Cruz scored in a 2–2 draw against Brazil in Paraguay's second group stage game at the 2011 Copa América. His goal brought him to a total of 25 goals for Paraguay making him the joint all-time leading goal scorer, with José Saturnino Cardozo, of the Paraguayan national team's history.
Olimpia
Bayern Munich
2007–08 season
2008–09 season
Manchester City
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