# Dani Cancela

Daniel "Dani" Cancela Rodríguez (Chinese: 丹尼; born 23 September 1981) is a former professional footballer who played as a left-back.
Born in Spain, he spent most of his career with Kitchee in Hong Kong after signing in 2010, eventually going on to represent the Hong Kong national team.

## Club career
### Spain

Born in A Coruña, Galicia, Cancela played several years for Deportivo de La Coruña, but only appeared officially for the reserves where he spent five seasons, four in the Tercera División. He was also loaned to amateurs Malpica SDC during his contract.
After leaving the Estadio Riazor in 2006, Cancela moved to the Segunda División B, competing two seasons apiece with CF Fuenlabrada and CD Lugo.

### Hong Kong

Cancela signed for Kitchee SC in Hong Kong on 26 July 2010, alongside compatriots Fernando Recio and Jordi Tarrés. On 28 January of the following year, he renewed his contract for another two years.
On 19 August 2022, after a match against BG Pathum United F.C. in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, Cancela announced his retirement at the age of 40. He made 250 competitive appearances during his spell at the Mong Kok Stadium, winning several honours including eight Premier Leagues.

## International career

Cancela received his Hong Kong passport in October 2017, at the age of 36. He made his debut for the national team on 5 October, in a 4–0 friendly win over Laos.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Fuenlabrada | 2006–07 | Segunda División B | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Fuenlabrada | 2007–08 | Segunda División B | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| Fuenlabrada | Total | Total | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 0 |
| Lugo | 2008–09 | Segunda División B | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Lugo | 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Lugo | Total | Total | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
| Kitchee | 2010–11 | Hong Kong First Division League | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2011–12 | Hong Kong First Division League | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2012–13 | Hong Kong First Division League | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2013–14 | Hong Kong First Division League | 19 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| Kitchee | 2014–15 | Hong Kong Premier League | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2015–16 | Hong Kong Premier League | 12 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Kitchee | 2016–17 | Hong Kong Premier League | 19 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| Kitchee | 2017–18 | Hong Kong Premier League | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2018–19 | Hong Kong Premier League | 17 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 32 | 1 |
| Kitchee | 2019–20 | Hong Kong Premier League | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2020–21 | Hong Kong Premier League | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2021–22 | Hong Kong Premier League | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Kitchee | Total | Total | 155 | 4 | 71 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 250 | 6 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 253 | 5 | 73 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 350 | 7 |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Hong Kong | 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2018 | 6 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2019 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 15 | 0 |

## Honours

Kitchee
* Hong Kong Premier League: 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21
* Hong Kong First Division: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
* Hong Kong Senior Shield: 2016–17, 2018–19
* Hong Kong FA Cup: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
* Hong Kong Sapling Cup: 2017–18, 2019–20
* Hong Kong League Cup: 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16