Born in Montevideo to Spanish parents,[2] Santamaría played for local Club Nacional de Football in his country, winning five national championships during his spell.

[4] Having earned the nickname 'The Wall' for his consistent defensive displays, Santamaría retired at the end of the 1965–66 campaign aged 36, featuring twice in that year's European Cup en route to another triumph (against Feyenoord and at Kilmarnock).

He led the Catalans to two top-four finishes in a six-year tenure, including a third place in the 1972–73 season just three points behind champions Atlético Madrid,[7] being dismissed on 21 December 1977 following a 4–0 away loss against Racing de Santander.

[8] Santamaría was first called up to play for Uruguay in the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, being selected to fill an inside forward slot in the squad but seeing the request denied by his club on the grounds that he was a defender.

[9][5] After working with the youth sides and spending two years with the under-21s,[5] Santamaría was appointed full manager for the 1982 World Cup, due to be played on home soil.