Spanish Gem Who Lived a Family Dream: Saul Niguez’s Story

Once a Chelsea favourite, Saul Níguez remains appreciated by Blues fans for his contributions and passion for the London club. At one point, he was considered among the best midfielders in Europe, catching the attention of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea—a move that solidified his place in the hearts of Chelsea supporters.

Now, let’s tell you his story away from football. Saul Niguez grew up in a home where football wasn’t just a sport—it was a way of life. Coming from a family with all-male siblings, each one with football in their blood, the game was woven into the fabric of their everyday existence. His father, José Antonio, once a professional footballer, struggled to let go of the sport when he retired. Instead, he chose to keep the dream alive through his sons, guiding them into the world he once dominated.

As the youngest child, Saúl’s natural drive to compete was heightened by his family dynamics. Being last in line meant he was always pushing harder, eager to prove himself and stand out. This fiery ambition and relentless competitiveness helped shape him into the remarkable midfielder he is today, one of the most cherished of his generation.

This biography dives into Saúl Ñíguez’s journey, from growing up in a football-obsessed household to becoming a key player admired across Europe. We’ll explore his early challenges, his evolution on the pitch, and the qualities that make him stand out. Now, without further ado, let’s begin Saúl’s incredible story.

Saul Niguez Childhood Story – Early Life:

For starters, of his Biography, Saul Níguez Esclapez was born on the 21st day of November 1994 to his mother, Pilar Esclápez and father, José Antonio Ñíguez, in Elche, Spain. Find here a photo of Saul Niguez’s parents, who are proud of the accomplishments of their last-born child.

Family Origin:

Saul Niguez’s Family comes from the Valencian autonomous community of Spain. This tribe speaks the Valencian language, and its 4.9 million inhabitants constitute the fourth most populous ethnic group after Andalusia, Catalonia and Madrid.

Saul Niguez Family Background:

Niguez comes from a sporting household, a family in which football runs in the genes of all-male sons. Did you know?… Saul’s father, José Antonio, pictured below, played as a striker for their hometown club Elche for several years.

It was hard for José Antonio to deal with retirement after his football career was over. The ex-footballer, upon retirement, decided to continue living his dream through his sons. Saul Niguez and his two big brothers, namely Jonathan and Aaron, all grew up to become footballers like their father.

Saul Niguez Biography – Early Career Life:

The personality traits of being the youngest child made Saul Niguez the most overly ambitious and highly competitive child in the family. Among his brothers, he was the one who had the strongest fighting spirit.

Saul Niguez’s love for soccer saw his dad enrolling him into the academy roster of their hometown’s club, Elche CF, which gave him the stage to showcase his talents.

Niguez made an immediate impact in Elche, which saw him rising quickly above his age group ranks to become his team’s captain.

Niguez made a lot of sacrifices in the academy, which saw him edging out among his peers. There were times he had to miss birthday parties.

But on the flip side, he was very happy to do what he loved. Being the best among his age group made him a subject of attention for Real Madrid Academy, which acquired him in 2006.

Road to Fame:

The youngster was bullied when he was at Real Madrid Academy:

Saul Niguez became a Real Madrid youth player after being captured by the club at the age of 11 in 2006.

Saul never had the best time at the academy despite being nurtured with utmost care.

According to Sportskeedia, Saul Niguez claimed he was the subject of bullying and harsh treatment by people unknown to him. In an interview with ‘El Mundo’, he said,

“During that year with Madrid I learned many things, I matured a lot. It was also a difficult time for me too because many non-sporting things were happening.”

Saul claimed that unknown persons robbed his boots and food and stopped him from going to training for two weeks.

These evil persons also framed him by passing a letter to his youth manager, who falsely claimed he wrote it.

It got to a time when little Saul couldn’t endure these tournaments. After consulting with friends and family members, he made the decision to leave the club. This was in the year 2008.

Saul Niguez Bio – Rise to Fame Story:

Joining Real Madrid neighbours from Atlético Madrid was a wise decision given how Saul has developed to date. While at Atlético Madrid’s youth academy, Saul got the best treatment.

He went on to appear in more than 200 competitive matches for the club’s youth team and avoided attractive destinations such as Manchester United and Arsenal.

At the time of writing, Saul Niguez cemented his name in Atlético Madrid’s Hall of Fame thanks to his collection of titles.

Saúl Ñíguez, in the 2024/2025 season, brought his long chapter with Atlético Madrid to a close, finalizing a contract termination and bidding farewell to his teammates. Back in 2017, he signed an impressive nine-year contract with the club, cementing his place as one of the team’s highest earners. Over the years, Saúl became a cornerstone for Atlético, playing 427 official matches—making him the seventh-most capped player in the club’s history. Koke and Jan Oblak are among the most capped players in the club. Saul’s time with Atlético was filled with success, as he left with six trophies to his name.

Saul Niguez and Yaiza – The Love Story:

Behind the successful footballer, there is a stunning girlfriend in the person of Yaiza, whom, if you are not mistaken, you will think is Celine Dion’s sister.

Judging from the photo above, you’ll agree that being a handsome player deserves an equally beautiful wag. Yaiza is a beautiful brunette who oozes confidence in every one of her snaps. She is a selfless person who does nothing more than provide emotional support for her man, even though it means putting her own life on hold.

The fact that both lovers have been dating for a while leaves no doubt that a wedding could be the next formal step.

Personal Life:

Getting to know Saul Niguez’s personal life would help you get a complete picture of him. Starting off, he is someone who values three things most in his life. They are his family, girlfriend and dogs; one of them is pictured below.

Soccer players, much like anyone else, have a special place in their hearts for their pets, and Saúl Ñíguez is no different. His love for animals is just as strong as his passion for the game. Even though there is a saying that there is no loyalty left in the modern game, this surely doesn’t take into account the strong bond shared between Yaiza, Saul, and his dog.

Did you know?… When Saul Nuguez’s wife Yaiza isn’t busy cheering for her man, she spends most of her time taking care of their dogs, whose names are; Boris and Thaila.

Saul Niguez Family Life:

About Saul Niguez’s Parents:

Saul comes from a humble family background, one whose members see meaning in their soccer careers and nothing else.

Both Pilar Esclápez and José Antonio Ñíguez currently live happy, successful lives thanks to their ability to get the best out of their children. Birthday moments define the most celebrated time in the family.

About Saul Niguez Siblings:

The man in the middle, Aaron, is Saul’s second to the eldest brother. He is six years younger than Saul. Aaron was raised through the Valencian Academy youth system.

As at the time of writing, he plays as a winger for Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C.

Jonathan is the eldest of the Niguez brothers. He is 9 years older than Saul. Just like Aaron, he was also brought up in the Valencia youth system. Jonathan currently plays as a midfielder for Elche.

LifeStyle:

Throughout a look into his social life history, we observed that Saul isn’t the type of footballer who lives the Lavish Lifestyle easily noticeable by a handful of pretty impressive cars, booze, swagger, girls, and a great house. He just prefers to look shiny outside football.

Saul Niguez Facts:

Once Placed Football Before His Health:

Did you know?… Saul Niguez once had to spend months in pain and discomfort, urinating blood. This was a time when he was being diagnosed with a kidney disorder. Even at that, all Saul wanted to do was to play football.

According to The Guardian, the intervention of Athletico Madrid’s assistant coach salvaged the situation. El Mono Burgos, the former Athletico Madrid goalkeeper, looked Saul in the eyes and offered him advice.

“And then I saw,” … said Saúl.

For Saul, listening to German El Mono Burgos made sense as he spoke to him with experience, as he himself was once diagnosed with cancer in 2003. At that time, the doctors asked him to wait until Monday to remove the tumour. Mono did not want that as he insisted it should be immediate.

Loyalty to Diego Simeone: 

Saul Niguez recently stated in an interview that he wants to stay at Atletico for his entire life. A big reason came as a result of his respect for Diego Simeone.

His Best Goals:

Credit to Atleti Studio, Saul has proved beyond doubt he is named the “centre of the park” midfielder who is never afraid to shoot from a distance.

Credit to Soccer Eleven, Saul has for long been proven to be a master of “Barcelona style“, as seen in his goal below. This explains why FC Barcelona, at the time of writing, plot a €110 million raid on him.

Fact Check:

Thanks for reading our Saul Niguez Childhood Story plus Untold Biography Facts. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our delivery of Spanish Football Stories.

Stay tuned for more Spanish soccer biographies of male and female stars. From the male’s perspective, you will enjoy reading the story of Iago Aspas and Bryan Gil. From the female’s point of view, the life story of Surely, the Life history of Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas will excite you.

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