1. Early career
Stracqualursi's early career saw him develop through Argentine football clubs, culminating in a significant rise as a prolific goalscorer.
1.1. Early life and professional debut
Denis Andrés Stracqualursi was born on October 20, 1987, in Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina. He holds dual Argentine and Italian nationality. His professional playing career began in 2007 with Unión de Sunchales in the third division of Argentine football. During his initial spell from 2007 to 2008, he made 24 appearances and scored 11 goals for the club.
1.2. Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
In 2008, Stracqualursi joined Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 victory over Colón de Santa Fe. A notable moment during his time at Gimnasia occurred on February 3, 2010, when he scored two goals to help the team win the Clásico PlatenseSpanish 3-1 against Estudiantes, effectively ending their rival's streak of five consecutive derby victories. Overall, he made 46 appearances for Gimnasia, scoring 6 goals.
1.3. Rise at Tigre
Stracqualursi joined Tigre for the 2010-11 Argentine Primera División season on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy. While his former club Gimnasia struggled to find the net, scoring only 13 goals in the 2010 Apertura tournament, Stracqualursi scored freely for Tigre. His 11th and final goal of the Apertura tournament came in a postponed game against Independiente played on February 6, 2011. His tally of 11 goals made him the joint top scorer of the 2010 Apertura, alongside Santiago Silva of Vélez Sársfield. This achievement made him the first player in Tigre's history to become a top scorer in the Primera División Argentina. He continued his strong goalscoring form into the Clausura tournament, netting nine goals in his first ten games, including a hat-trick against Boca Juniors at the Bombonera stadium on April 17, 2011. This meant he had scored the same number of goals as the entire Gimnasia team combined at that stage of the tournament.
2. Club career
Denis Stracqualursi embarked on a diverse club career, playing for teams in multiple countries following his success in Argentina.
2.1. Everton
In August 2011, Stracqualursi secured a season-long loan move to English Premier League club Everton and was assigned squad number 11. He made his first appearance as a substitute in a 3-1 home victory against Wigan Athletic. In that match, he notably assisted the third goal. His first full start for Everton came in a 2-1 League Cup home win against West Brom. He had to wait until January 4, 2012, for his first league start, playing the full game in a 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
Stracqualursi scored his first goal for Everton against Fulham in a 2-1 victory in the 4th round of the FA Cup. In the subsequent game, he received a standing ovation from the Goodison Park crowd after his instrumental role in a 1-0 win over league leaders Manchester City. He netted his first Premier League goal in a 2-0 win against Chelsea at Goodison Park on February 11. Stracqualursi continued his goalscoring streak by scoring his second FA Cup goal and third goal in five games against Blackpool in the fifth round of the competition. Despite spending only one season at the club, his hard work and commitment endeared him to the fans, leading him to achieve "cult hero" status at Everton.
2.2. San Lorenzo
In July 2012, following his loan spell at Everton, Stracqualursi moved on a free transfer from Tigre to fellow Argentine Primera División side San Lorenzo. He scored his first goal for the club, which was the winning goal, in a 2-1 league victory over Colón in September. By December, when the league began its two-month winter break, Stracqualursi had scored seven goals and provided four assists in eighteen games, contributing to San Lorenzo's 11th place standing in the league. In April 2013, he was sent off in the 38th minute of a league match against Godoy Cruz, with the score at 0-0; the match ultimately finished 1-1.
2.3. Emelec
In July 2013, Stracqualursi signed for Ecuadorian Serie A club Emelec. He made an immediate impact, scoring two goals on his debut in a league game against Barcelona Sporting Club. He would later have a second spell with the club in 2016.
2.4. Later career
Following his initial period at Emelec, Stracqualursi continued his career across various clubs and leagues. In July 2015, he signed for Argentine Primera División side Lanús, where he played for the 2015-2016 season. He then moved to Baniyas SC in the United Arab Emirates for the 2014-2015 season. After his second spell at Emelec in 2016, he joined Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia for the 2017 season. On July 31, 2017, it was announced that he would return to Tigre for a second spell.
After his second stint at Tigre, Stracqualursi joined Aldosivi for the 2018-2019 season. He then moved to Atlético de Rafaela for the 2019-2020 season. In 2020, he had a brief spell in Italy's Serie D with Taranto FC 1927, followed by a period with Città di Fasano from 2020 to 2021. In February 2021, Stracqualursi returned to Argentina to rejoin Unión de Sunchales, the club where he began his professional career, playing through the 2021-2022 season.
3. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Unión de Sunchales | 2007-08 | Torneo Argentino A | 24 | 11 | - | - | - | 24 | 11 | |||
| 2021-22 | Torneo Federal A | 21 | 2 | - | - | - | 21 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 13 | - | - | - | 45 | 13 | |||||
| Gimnasia La Plata | 2008-09 | Argentine Primera División | 12 | 1 | - | - | - | 12 | 1 | |||
| 2009-10 | 34 | 5 | - | - | - | 34 | 5 | |||||
| Total | 46 | 6 | - | - | - | 46 | 6 | |||||
| Tigre | 2010-11 | Argentine Primera División | 38 | 21 | - | - | - | 38 | 21 | |||
| Everton (loan) | 2011-12 | Premier League | 20 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 27 | 4 | |
| San Lorenzo | 2012-13 | Argentine Primera División | 31 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 32 | 8 | |
| Emelec | 2013 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 10 |
| 2014 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 6 | ||
| Total | 29 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 40 | 16 | ||
| Baniyas SC | 2014-15 | UAE Pro League | 20 | 7 | - | - | - | 20 | 7 | |||
| Lanús | 2015-16 | Argentine Primera División | 12 | 0 | - | - | - | 12 | 0 | |||
| Emelec | 2016 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 25 | 4 | - | - | - | 25 | 4 | |||
| Santa Fe | 2017 | Categoría Primera A | 18 | 1 | - | - | - | 18 | 1 | |||
| Tigre | 2017-18 | Argentine Primera División | 19 | 0 | - | - | - | 19 | 0 | |||
| Aldosivi | 2018-19 | Argentine Primera División | 13 | 2 | - | - | - | 13 | 2 | |||
| Atlético de Rafaela | 2019-20 | Primera Nacional | 16 | 0 | - | - | - | 16 | 0 | |||
| Taranto FC 1927 | 2020 | Serie D | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | 4 | 1 | |||
| Città di Fasano | 2020-21 | Serie D | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 345 | 79 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 362 | 82 | ||
4. Honours
Individual
- Primera División top scorer: 2010 Apertura (shared with Santiago Silva)
5. Playing style
Denis Stracqualursi primarily played as a forward, specifically often as a centre-forward. He is right-footed and is known for his physical presence and goalscoring ability, particularly during his impactful periods in Argentina. He is 75 in (191 cm) tall and weighs 192 lb (87 kg).
6. Legacy and reception
Stracqualursi's career left a lasting impression, particularly during his loan spell at Everton. Despite only being at the club for one season, his hard work and commitment on the field, even when goals were not abundant, resonated deeply with the Everton fanbase. This dedication earned him a "cult hero" status among the supporters, who admired his relentless effort and passion for the team.