Nicolás Sebastián Canales Calas (; born 27 June 1985) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Club career
Early career Canales debuted with Universidad de Chile where he won the Apertura in 2004 and reached the final of the Clausura in 2005.
He scored five goals in nine matches in the Liga de Honra while playing for Benfica B.
On 1 August 2007, he signed with Romanian squad CFR Cluj by £450.000. However his time there was short, because at the beginning of 2008 Canales returned to Chile to play for Unión Española.
Palestino In 2010, he was transferred to Palestino where he scored 34 times in 73 appearances. Their great performances give him the opportunity to play internationally with the Chile national football team.
Neftchi Baku In June 2012, he signed for Neftchi Baku of the Azerbaijan Premier League in a one-year deal. He played his first game for Neftchi in a friendly against Dinamo București. He made his competitive debut in a UEFA Champions League fixture against Zestaponi on 17 July. He scored the third goal of the 3–0 home victory. In the 2012–13 season, he played in 31 games and scored 26 goals, helping his team win the league and becoming the top goalscorer of the championship. He also won the Azerbaijan Cup in the 2012–13 edition playing five games and scoring one goal in the competition.
Colo-Colo On 13 August 2013, he signed for Colo-Colo of the Chilean Primera División in a one-year deal.
Return to Neftchi Baku On 14 August 2014, Canales resigned for Neftchi Baku on a one-year contract, with the option of a second year.
Krylia Sovetov In September 2015, Canales signed a one-year contract with FC Krylia Sovetov Samara of the Russian Premier League. After playing several games for the Under-21 squad and failing to make a single appearance in the Premier League, Canales has been released from his contract by Krylia Sovetov on 7 December 2015.
Second return to Neftchi Baku In February 2016 Canales returned to Neftchi Baku for a third stint at the club. After six-months with Neftçi Baku, scoring once in nine games, Canales left Neftçi Baku in June 2016.
Okzhetpes On 5 July 2016, Canales signed with FC Okzhetpes until the end of the 2016 season.
Deportes Temuco On 11 January 2017, Canales signed for Deportes Temuco.
International career Canales made his senior international debut in the 2–0 defeat by Paraguay on 15 February 2012. He also participated in the U-20 2005 Sudamericano in Colombia. He went on to later play at the 2005 U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsUniversidad de Chile2004–04Chilean Primera División7000–––702005–053000–––30Total10000000000100Benfica B2005–06Segunda Divisão – Série D1230000––123Gondomar2006–07Segunda Divisão – Série D2680000––268Cluj2007–08Liga I1000–00–102008–090000–00–002009–100000–00–00Total100000000010Unión Española (loan)2008Chilean Primera División18300–––183Cobresal (loan)2009Chilean Primera División231300–––2313Palestino2010Chilean Primera División291320–––31132011291610–––3016201215500–––155Total7334300000007634Neftchi Baku2012–13Azerbaijan Premier League312651–123–4830Colo-Colo2013–14Chilean Primera División7310–––83Santiago Wanderers (loan)2013–14Chilean Primera División12200–––122Neftchi Baku2014–15Azerbaijan Premier League271143–20–3314Krylia Sovetov2015–16Russian Premier League0000–––00Neftchi Baku2015–16Azerbaijan Premier League7120–00–91Okzhetpes2016Kazakhstan Premier League11200–––112Deportes Temuco2016–17Chilean Primera División17120–––191Rangers2018Primera B de Chile11200–––112Career total2871091640014300317117
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsChile201210Total10
After football Since 2021, Canales has a company called Nibec focused on products for storehouses and industrial organization.
Honours Club Universidad de Chile Primera División de Chile: 2004 Apertura
Neftchi Baku Azerbaijan Premier League: 2012–13 Azerbaijan Cup: 2012–13 Individual Azerbaijan Premier League top scorer: 2012–13
References
External links