Mercedes Castellanos

This article is about the Spanish handball player. For the Argentine philanthropist, see Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena.

Mercedes Castellanos Soánez^[a] (born 21 July 1988), known as Merche Castellanos, is a Spanish female handball player for CBF Málaga Costa del Sol and the Spanish national team.^[1][2][3]

Mercedes Castellanos
Personal information
Full name	Mercedes Castellanos Soánez
Born	(1988-07-21) 21 July 1988 (age 37) Ciudad Real, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	CBF Málaga Costa del Sol
Number	38
Senior clubs
Years	Team
2006–2011	BM Alcobendas
2011–2012	Mar Alicante
2012–2015	Le Havre AC
2015–2017	BM Zuazo
2017–2020	BM Bera Bera
2020–	CBF Málaga Costa del Sol
National team 1
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–	Spain	106	(4)
Medal record Mediterranean Games 2018 Tarragona Team
1 National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2024

Career

Merche Castellanos is a renowned Spanish handball goalkeeper currently playing for Costa del Sol Málaga in the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola. She has been a key player for various teams, including Alcobendas, Mar Alicante, Le Havre (France), Balonmano Zuazo, and Bera Bera,^[4] where she won multiple titles including two Spanish Leagues, two Queen's Cups, and one Spanish Supercup.

In 2020, she left^[5] San Sebastian and joined Rincón Fertilidad Málaga, winning the Queen's Cup,^[6] the Spanish Supercup,^[7] and the EHF European Cup in her first season. She played a decisive role in leading her team to their first league title^[8] in 2023.

Achievements

• División de Honor:
  • Winner: 2018, 2020, 2023
• Queen's Cup:
  • Winner: 2019, 2020,^[9] 2022
• Spanish Super Cup:
  • Winner 2020, 2021
• EHF European Cup:
  • Winner: 2021
  • Second place: 2022

Individual awards

• MVP Final Queen's Cup: 2021–22^[10]
• Best Goalkeeper Liga Guerreras Iberdrola: 2021–22^[11]

National team achievements

Merche Castellanos has been a significant player for the Spanish national team, contributing to their gold medal victory at the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona.^[12] She was part of the squad for the 2022 European Championships but had to withdraw^[13] due to injury.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Alongside Silvia Navarro, Merche Castellanos represented Spain as a goalkeeper in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.^[14]

Legacy

In recognition of her contributions, the city of Ciudad Real named sports facilities after her: Mercedes Castellanos Sports Courts.^[15]

Notes

1. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Castellanos and the second or maternal family name is Soánez.