Mercedes Castellanos
Spanish handball player (born 1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
Ciudad Real, Spain
| Mercedes Castellanos | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Mercedes Castellanos Soánez | ||
| Born |
21 July 1988 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 | |||
|
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
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
- In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Castellanos and the second or maternal family name is Soánez.
