Santiago Solari
A cultured left-footed winger for Real Madrid who later stepped into the managerial dugout, guiding the club through a turbulent transition.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Argentine footballer and manager·Birthday: October 7·Generation X
Biography
Santiago Solari's football life is woven into the fabric of Real Madrid. The Argentine midfielder, with his elegant touch and incisive left foot, arrived at the Bernabéu after spells with River Plate and Atlético Madrid. For five seasons, he was a reliable and technically gifted contributor in a galaxy of superstars, winning two La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2002. His deep understanding of the club's culture made his transition to management seem almost destined. When he took over the first team in 2018, it was as a steady hand during a crisis, leading them to a Club World Cup victory. His story is one of a student of the game who became, temporarily, its master at the highest level.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Santiago was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Santiago Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Santiago's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002.
- Secured two La Liga titles as a player with Real Madrid (2001, 2003).
- As Real Madrid's interim manager, he won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2018.
Did You Know?
He is part of a footballing family; his brothers David and Esteban were also professional players.
He holds both Argentine and Italian passports.
Before managing Real Madrid's first team, he was highly successful with their youth team, Real Madrid Castilla.
“The ball is the protagonist; we are just actors on its stage.”
