Dani Cancela

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Cancela and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Daniel "Dani" Cancela Rodríguez (Chinese: 丹尼; born 23 September 1981) is a former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Dani Cancela

Cancela playing with Kitchee in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Cancela Rodríguez
Date of birth	(1981-09-23) 23 September 1981 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth	A Coruña, Spain
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s)	Left-back
Youth career
	Deportivo La Coruña
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2006	Deportivo B
2004–2005	→ Malpica (loan)
2006–2008	Fuenlabrada	60	(0)
2008–2010	Lugo	38	(1)
2010–2022	Kitchee	155	(4)
Total		253	(5)
International career
2017–2019	Hong Kong	15	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Born in Spain, he spent most of his career with Kitchee in Hong Kong after signing in 2010, eventually going on to represent the Hong Kong national team.

Club career

Spain

Born in A Coruña, Galicia, Cancela played several years for Deportivo de La Coruña, but only appeared officially for the reserves where he spent five seasons, four in the Tercera División. He was also loaned to amateurs Malpica SDC during his contract.^[2]

After leaving the Estadio Riazor in 2006, Cancela moved to the Segunda División B, competing two seasons apiece with CF Fuenlabrada and CD Lugo.^[3]

Hong Kong

Cancela signed for Kitchee SC in Hong Kong on 26 July 2010, alongside compatriots Fernando Recio and Jordi Tarrés. On 28 January of the following year, he renewed his contract for another two years.^[4]

On 19 August 2022, after a match against BG Pathum United F.C. in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, Cancela announced his retirement at the age of 40. He made 250 competitive appearances during his spell at the Mong Kok Stadium, winning several honours including eight Premier Leagues.^[5]

International career

Cancela received his Hong Kong passport in October 2017, at the age of 36.^[6] He made his debut for the national team on 5 October, in a 4–0 friendly win over Laos.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[8][9]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fuenlabrada	2006–07	Segunda División B	29	0	1	0	0	0	30	0
	2007–08		31	0	0	0	0	0	31	0
	Total		60	0	1	0	0	0	61	0
Lugo	2008–09	Segunda División B	16	0	1	0	0	0	17	0
	2009–10		22	1	0	0	0	0	22	1
	Total		38	1	1	0	0	0	39	1
Kitchee	2010–11	Hong Kong First Division League	15	0	3	0	0	0	18	0
	2011–12		15	0	5	0	7	0	27	0
	2012–13		10	0	5	0	0	0	15	0
	2013–14		19	3	4	0	0	0	23	3
	2014–15	Hong Kong Premier League	11	0	8	0	0	0	19	0
	2015–16		12	0	7	1	0	0	19	1
	2016–17		19	1	7	0	0	0	26	1
	2017–18		8	0	10	0	4	0	22	0
	2018–19		17	0	8	0	7	1	32	1
	2019–20		10	0	3	0	0	0	13	0
	2020–21		16	0	6	0	5	0	27	0
	2021–22		3	0	5	0	1	0	9	0
	Total		155	4	71	1	24	1	250	6
Career total			253	5	73	1	24	1	350	7

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[10]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Hong Kong	2017	4	0
	2018	6	0
	2019	5	0
Total		15	0

Honours

Kitchee

• Hong Kong Premier League: 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21
• Hong Kong First Division: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
• Hong Kong Senior Shield: 2016–17, 2018–19
• Hong Kong FA Cup: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
• Hong Kong Sapling Cup: 2017–18, 2019–20
• Hong Kong League Cup: 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16