Denis Caniza
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Denis Ramón Caniza Acuña | ||
| Date of birth | 29 August 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Bella Vista, Paraguay | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Full back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–1999 | Olimpia Asunción | 97 | (3) |
| 1999–2001 | Lanús | 61 | (1) |
| 2001–2005 | Santos Laguna | 191 | (8) |
| 2005–2008 | Cruz Azul | 51 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Atlas (loan) | 39 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | Olimpia Asunción | 35 | (0) |
| 2009 | Nacional Asunción | 20 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | León | 35 | (2) |
| 2011 | Nacional Asunción | 20 | (0) |
| 2011 | Irapuato | 15 | (1) |
| 2012 | Nacional Asunción | 19 | (1) |
| 2013 | Sportivo Luqueño | 33 | (0) |
| 2014 | Rubio Ñu | 32 | (2) |
| Total | 648 | (19) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1996–2010 | Paraguay | 100 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 December 2014. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 June 2010 |
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Denis Ramón Caniza Acuña (born 29 August 1974 in Bella Vista, Amambay) is a Paraguayan retired football defender who last played for Rubio Ñu in the Primera División Paraguaya.
He started his career in Olimpia of Paraguay. He also played in Lanús of Argentina, Santos Laguna, Atlas, Cruz Azul, Leon, and Irapuato of Mexico.
Caniza has always been a regular in the Paraguay national football team because of his versatility, as he can play as a side defender or as a centre-back. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Caniza announced his retirement from the Paraguay national team. However, when coach Gerardo Martino took the helm of the national team Caniza was called back and accepted to return to play for Paraguay. After Gerardo Martino took the head coach job in the Paraguay national football team, Caniza was voted for his teammates to become the captain of the team, so every time he plays (when he is not injured or suspended) he captains the Paraguay national football team.
Caniza holds the distinction as the only Paraguayan footballer to be selected for 4 consecutive FIFA World Cup Finals, having been chosen in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Due to his small size and industrial play, he has been described by BBC South American reporter Tim Vickery as "the Paraguayan Nobby Stiles".
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