Keko (footballer, born 1991)
![]() Keko with Valladolid in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Sergio Gontán Gallardo | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 27 December 1991 | ||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Brunete, Spain | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Winger | ||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
2004–2008 | Atlético Madrid | ||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
2008–2010 | Atlético Madrid B | 43 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
2009–2011 | Atlético Madrid | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2010 | → Valladolid (loan) | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2010–2011 | → Cartagena (loan) | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2011 | → Girona (loan) | 11 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2011–2014 | Catania | 23 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
2012 | → Grosseto (loan) | 10 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2014–2015 | Albacete | 33 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
2015–2016 | Eibar | 29 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
2016–2020 | Málaga | 50 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | → Valladolid (loan) | 26 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | Deportivo La Coruña | 23 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
2022–2023 | Sacramento Republic | 63 | (9) | ||||||||||||||
International career | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | Spain U16 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2007–2008 | Spain U17 | 11 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
2009 | Spain U18 | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
2009–2010 | Spain U19 | 10 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:07, 7 November 2023 (UTC) |
Sergio Gontán Gallardo (born 27 December 1991), known as Keko, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right winger.
Formed at Atlético Madrid, he made 112 La Liga appearances for that club, Valladolid, Eibar and Málaga. He also played in Serie A for Catania.
Club career
[edit]Atlético Madrid
[edit]Keko was born in Brunete, Community of Madrid. A product of local Atlético Madrid's youth ranks, he made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 12 September 2009, taking the field as a 63rd-minute substitute for Florent Sinama Pongolle in a 1–1 home draw against Racing de Santander, aged just 17. Speaking to Diario AS after the match, he said: "The truth is that I have always dreamed of playing in this stadium, despite the draw, it was a dream come true. I did not think about the protests outside the ground, and I only wanted to score. I hope to have more chances, but I have to be calm and see what the coach decides."[1]
Late in January 2010, Keko was loaned to Real Valladolid in the same league until the end of the season.[2] He made his debut for his new team against Valencia CF, appearing as a late replacement in an eventual 2–0 away loss on 6 February.[3]
Keko split the 2010–11 campaign with two Segunda División sides, FC Cartagena and Girona FC,[4] totalling 25 matches (nine starts, 952 minutes) as both managed to retain their league status.
Catania
[edit]On 19 July 2011, after he failed to renew his contract with Atlético Madrid, Keko completed a transfer to Calcio Catania in Italy, signing a three-year deal and being awarded the No. 15 jersey at the Sicilian club.[5] On 7 January 2012, however, along with teammate Fabio Sciacca, he joined Serie B's F.C. Grosseto S.S.D. on loan.[6]
Keko scored on his Serie A debut on 24 February 2013, starting and contributing to a 2–1 away win over Parma FC.[7] In May 2014, he was released; valued at €10 million by Catania, he remained unemployed for nearly four months and hired a personal trainer while contemplating leaving football.[8]
Albacete
[edit]On 28 August 2014, Keko signed a 1+1 contract with Albacete Balompié, recently promoted to the second tier.[9] He totalled more than 2,500 minutes of action during his only season, notably scoring a brace in a 3–2 victory at UE Llagostera on 21 May 2015 that confirmed the side's survival.[10]
Eibar
[edit]On 9 July 2015, Keko moved to SD Eibar in the top division after agreeing to a two-year contract.[11] He scored his first goal in the competition on 30 December, opening the 2–0 home win against Sporting de Gijón.[12]
Málaga
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Real_Valladolid_-_FC_Barcelona%2C_2018-08-25_%28102%29.jpg/220px-Real_Valladolid_-_FC_Barcelona%2C_2018-08-25_%28102%29.jpg)
On 21 June 2016, Keko joined Málaga CF on a four-year deal.[13] He appeared in 22 scoreless matches in his first season, helping his team to finish in 11th position.[14]
After suffering relegation, Keko agreed to a one-year loan back at former club Valladolid on 29 July 2018, now in the top flight.[15] On 31 January 2020, he terminated his contract with the Andalusians.[16]
Deportivo
[edit]On 31 January 2020, just hours after leaving Málaga, Keko signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Deportivo de La Coruña, still in division two.[17] After relegation, he extended it until 2024.[18]
Keko left the Estadio Riazor in August 2021.[19]
Sacramento Republic
[edit]On 11 January 2022, Keko joined Sacramento Republic FC of the USL Championship for the upcoming season.[20] He made his debut for the Californians on 12 March as a late substitute in a 3–1 home defeat of El Paso Locomotive FC, concluding the scoring.[21]
Keko played in the final of the U.S. Open Cup on 7 September, which his team lost 3–0 to Major League Soccer club Orlando City SC, as the third lower-league team to contest the fixture since MLS began in 1996.[22] He left at the end of the 2023 campaign.[23]
International career
[edit]Keko participated in the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Championship with Spain, helping his country to eventual victory in the tournament and scoring in the final, a 4–0 win over France.[24]
Career statistics
[edit]Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Atlético Madrid B | 2008–09 | Segunda División B | 27 | 3 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||
2009–10 | 16 | 3 | — | — | 16 | 3 | ||||
Total | 43 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 6 | ||
Atlético Madrid | 2008–09 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
2009–10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
Valladolid (loan) | 2009–10 | La Liga | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
Cartagena (loan) | 2010–11 | Segunda División | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
Girona (loan) | 2010–11 | Segunda División | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |
Catania | 2011–12 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
2012–13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | |||
2013–14 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |||
Total | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
Grosseto (loan) | 2011–12 | Serie B | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
Albacete | 2014–15 | Segunda División | 33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | 36 | 6 | |
Eibar | 2015–16 | La Liga | 29 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 3 | |
Málaga | 2016–17 | La Liga | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |
2017–18 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |||
2019–20 | Segunda División | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | ||
Total | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
Valladolid (loan) | 2018–19 | La Liga | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | |
Total Valladolid | 39 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2 | ||
Deportivo La Coruña | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
2020–21 | Segunda División B | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | ||
Total | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | ||
Career total | 271 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 285 | 19 |
Honours
[edit]Spain
References
[edit]- ^ "Atletico Madrid's Keko delighted with debut against Racing Santander". Goal. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
- ^ "Keko se marcha cedido al Valladolid hasta final de temporada" [Keko goes on loan to Valladolid until end of the season]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 January 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ "Villa strikes as Valencia triumph". ESPN Soccernet. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ "Keko se va al Girona y el Pontevedra pide la cesión de Riau" [Keko goes to Girona and Pontevedra ask for Riau loan]. La Verdad (in Spanish). 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ "Keko ficha por el Catania" [Keko signs for Catania]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 20 July 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Catania, ufficiale Keko e Sciacca a Grosseto" [Catania, official Keko and Sciacca to Grosseto] (in Italian). Calcio Mercato. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ "Parma 1–2 Catania". ESPN FC. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ^ "Keko, lo spagnolo che valeva 10milioni. "Dopo Catania volevo lasciare il calcio"" [Keko, the Spaniard who was worth 10 million. "After Catania I wanted to leave football"] (in Italian). Mondo Catania. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ Cebrián, Ángel (28 August 2014). "Keko Gontán llega al Albacete Balompié" [Keko Gontán arrives at Albacete Balompié] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- ^ "El Albacete sella la salvación a costa de la gran racha azulgrana" [Albacete seal salvation at the expense of great azulgrana run]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 May 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "El Eibar firma por dos temporadas al delantero Keko, procedente del Albacete" [Eibar sign forward Keko for two seasons, from Albacete] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ Martínez, Jonathan (30 December 2015). "Keko y Bastón sonríen al fin de año" [Keko and Bastón smile at the end of the year]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 December 2015.
- ^ "Málaga CF signs Sergio Gontán 'Keko'". Málaga CF. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ "Hace un año... Keko firmó por el Málaga" [One year ago... Keko signed for Málaga] (in Spanish). Merchan en Directo. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "Keko will play on loan at Real Valladolid". Málaga CF. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "Keko Gontán leaves the club". Málaga CF. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Keko, nuevo jugador del Deportivo 2019–2020" [Keko, new player of Deportivo 2019–2020] (in Spanish). Deportivo La Coruña. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Keko Gontán se compromete con el Deportivo hasta 2024" [Keko Gontán commits to Deportivo until 2024]. La Opinión A Coruña (in Spanish). 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ "Keko Gontán no continuará en el Deportivo" [Keko Gontán will not continue at Deportivo] (in Spanish). Deportivo La Coruña. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "La Liga and Serie A veteran Keko joins Republic FC". Sacramento Republic FC. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Ochoa, Arian (12 March 2022). "El Paso Locomotive fall, 1–3, in season opener against Sacramento Republic". KVIA-TV. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ "Orlando City crowned 2022 U.S. Open Cup champions". United States Soccer Federation. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ Murray, Nicholas (28 November 2023). "Sacramento Republic FC announces initial roster moves". USL Championship. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ a b Saffer, Paul (16 May 2008). "Stupendous Spain win U17 crown". UEFA. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ Keko at BDFutbol
- ^ Keko at Soccerway
External links
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1991 births
- Living people
- Spanish men's footballers
- Footballers from the Community of Madrid
- Men's association football wingers
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- Segunda División B players
- Atlético Madrid B players
- Atlético Madrid footballers
- Real Valladolid players
- FC Cartagena footballers
- Girona FC players
- Albacete Balompié players
- SD Eibar footballers
- Málaga CF players
- Deportivo de La Coruña players
- Serie A players
- Serie B players
- Catania FC players
- US Grosseto 1912 players
- USL Championship players
- Sacramento Republic FC players
- Spain men's youth international footballers
- Spanish expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Spanish expatriate sportspeople in the United States