Mercedes Castellanos Soánez (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.
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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, where she won multiple titles including two Spanish Leagues, two Queen's Cups, and one Spanish Supercup.
In 2020, she left San Sebastian and joined Rincón Fertilidad Málaga, winning the Queen's Cup, the Spanish Supercup, and the EHF European Cup in her first season. She played a decisive role in leading her team to their first league title in 2023.
Achievements
División de Honor:
Winner: 2018, 2020, 2023
Queen's Cup:
Winner: 2019, 2020, 2022
Spanish Super Cup:
Winner 2020, 2021
EHF European Cup:
Winner: 2021
Second place: 2022
Individual awards
MVP Final Queen's Cup: 2021–22
Best Goalkeeper Liga Guerreras Iberdrola: 2021–22
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. She was part of the squad for the 2022 European Championships but had to withdraw due to injury.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Alongside Silvia Navarro, Merche Castellanos represented Spain as a goalkeeper in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Legacy
In recognition of her contributions, the city of Ciudad Real named sports facilities after her: Mercedes Castellanos Sports Courts.