Riazor Reignited — Part One: A Turco’s Destiny
Hello and welcome to the first story to ever be told by TheGamingHakawati. This tale takes us to the seaside city of A Coruña in the year 2021, where a once mighty football club can barely keep its footing in Primera Federación, Spain’s 3rd tier. However, one of its long-lost sons returns to take the helm, hoping that his passion for the club rekindles the fire that once burned through all of Spain and Europe. Can Santiago be the man to revive the fallen, or will his stint be as chaotic as the club’s recent history?
Santiago Mendoza was a man born and bred in the heart of A Coruña, a city that breathed football as much as the crisp Atlantic air. The sailors may have sung their shanties, and the nanas may have hummed their canciones, but to little Santi, only one song truly spoke to him: “Y digo Deportivo!”. The spirited echoes of the Riazor Stadium reverberated through the city, a beacon of pride and passion that united the people. The taste of salty sea spray mingled with the electric anticipation of match day, a unique blend that marked the soul of A Coruña.
As a child, Santi was obsessed with football. His madre would often reminisce about how her chico ran the length of Coruña’s coastline with the football every single day, his dark curls damp with sweat and determination. And run he did; Santiago’s quick feet and agility saw him scouted into the hallowed youth ranks of Deportivo La Coruña, his hometown club and the epicenter of his devotion.
Young Mendoza bore witness to history in 1995 when the mighty Depor clinched their first Copa del Rey title in front of over 80,000 fans at Madrid’s hallowed Santiago Bernabeu. He marveled as he saw legends like Bebeto and Rivaldo don los blanquiazules. The taste of victory was sweet, and the rise of Deportivo up the ranks of La Liga even sweeter, but bittersweet it became when fate intervened three years later. On the cusp of breaking into the first team, Santiago tore his ACL after a horrendous tackle, sidelining him for more than a year. The pain in his knee was only matched by the ache in his heart, as he watched the club he loved so dearly release him. As Santiago hobbled along the rocky path of recovery, Deportivo embarked on a journey to see them evolve into the legendary Super Depor.
And what a team that was. Diego Tristan, Roy Makaay, Juan Carlos Valeron, Albert Luque, Joan Capdevila, Walter Pandiani, and Fran, just to name a few of the greats who were part of this once-in-a-generation team. In five years between 1999 and 2004, Depor was on another level, defeating clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, PSG, Juventus, and AC Milan. This formidable team would go on to conquer La Liga in 2000, the Copa del Rey again in 2002, and reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2004.
The team dazzled, leaving an indelible mark on Spanish football history. But for Santiago, the bright lights of their success cast a shade on his modest career. He wore the colors of CD Lugo, Pontevedra CF, and SD Compostela, but in his heart, he remained a Turco — a true son of Deportivo.
His once quick feet were accompanied by a quick mind, and his eye for the tactical side of the game was evident, even if his legs had failed him. Realizing that his intellect and tactical acumen could be his ticket to footballing success, Santiago retired early at the age of 29 to earn his coaching badges.
Years of hard work and dedication saw Santiago’s reputation grow, his name spreading throughout the local football community of Galicia. In 2016, as the once-mighty Depor found themselves struggling to retain their place in La Liga, let alone regain their former glory, they turned to a familiar face. Santiago Mendoza, the former youth product who still carried the fire of Deportivo in his heart, was asked to join the coaching staff. Over the years, his role within the club expanded, even as managers came and went, and results continued to spiral downwards.
Now, with Deportivo languishing in the 3rd tier of Spanish football and their latest managerial hire backing out, the board took a chance on Santiago. The responsibility was enormous, but the dream of becoming the club’s savior was even more immense. Santiago Mendoza knew the weight of history and the burning passion of the Turcos. He understood the importance of reigniting the Riazor fire that had once scorched its way through Spain.
For Santiago, this was more than just a job — it was destiny. Deep within, he felt the stirrings of doubt and fear, but he refused to let them hold him back. He would stop at nothing to restore the pride of A Coruña, to bring Deportivo La Coruña back to the pinnacle of Spanish football, and to make the Riazor roar once more.
As Santiago prepared to face the challenges ahead, he knew the road would be arduous and fraught with obstacles. He would confront the ghosts of the club’s past, as well as his own, and grapple with the pressures that came with his newfound responsibility. But he had a vision: to see the Riazor ablaze with the passion and determination of its people once more.
The time was now for Depor to become Super again; the time was now for the Riazor to reignite. And so began the journey of Santiago Mendoza, the prodigal son who dared to dream of a new era for Deportivo La Coruña, one in which the Riazor would once more be a fortress, and its people united in their love for the beautiful game.
