Paco Gento

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Paco Gento
Francisco Gento 1962.jpg
Gento in 1962
Personal information
Full name Francisco Gento López
Date of birth(1933-10-21)21 October 1933
Place of birth Guarnizo, Spain
Date of death 18 January 2022(2022-01-18) (aged 88)
Place of death Madrid, Spain
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) [1]
Position(s) Outside left
Youth career
SD Nueva Montaña
Unión Club Astillero
Rayo Cantabria
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1952–1953 Racing Santander 10 (2)
1953–1971 Real Madrid 427 (127)
Total437(129)
International career
1956 Spain B 1 (0)
1955–1969 Spain 43 (5)
Managerial career
Real Madrid Castilla
1974 Castellón
1977–1980 Palencia
1980–1981 Granada
1997–2000 Cantabria
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Francisco "Paco" Gento López (21 October 1933 – 18 January 2022) was a Spanish footballer who played as an outside left. A fast runner, Gento was referred to as the "Gale of the Cantabrian Sea" (Spanish : La Galerna del Cantábrico) in reference to his speed down the wing. [2] He was voted by IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) as the greatest Spanish footballer and 30th greatest world footballer of the 20th century. [3] Gento is also widely regarded as one of the greatest wingers in the history of the sport. [4]

Contents

Gento began his career at Racing Santander in 1952 and moved to Real Madrid the following season. He appeared in a joint record eight European Cup finals, winning a joint record six, as well as winning a record 12 La Liga titles. In a 14-year international career, Gento earned 43 caps for Spain, playing at the World Cup in 1962 and 1966.

Following the death of Alfredo Di Stéfano in 2014, Gento was appointed the Honorary President of Real Madrid. [5]

Club career

Gento debuted in the Primera División with Racing Santander in the 1952–53 season. He was still playing mostly for the B team at Santander when a flu virus saw him promoted to the first team ahead of a home game against Real Madrid. Such was his performance in the match, that Madrid signed him three days later. [6]

Gento, Leo Horn, Alfredo Di Stefano and Faas Wilkes in 1959 Amsterdam tegen Real Madrid 1-4 in het Olympisch Stadion te Amsterdam, vlnr, Gento, Leo Horn , Di Stefano en Wilkes; Bestanddeelnr 910-4823.jpg
Gento, Leo Horn, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Faas Wilkes in 1959

La Galerna del Cantábrico (The Gale of the Cantabrian Sea), as he was known, played outside left and was noted for his exceptional pace, his skills with the ball and his scoring prowess from the midfield position. [7] In 1967, following Alfredo Di Stéfano's departure and Ferenc Puskás's retirement, he became the captain of a young side, known in Spain as Ye-yé , because of the popularity of The Beatles at that time. [8]

Gento did not score in his first season and was under pressure from club president Santiago Bernabéu. The president was won over by Di Stéfano's argument "he is quick and hits the ball like a cannon. That can't be learned, it's innate. We can teach him the rest". [9] Among other honors, Gento won the European Cup a record six times with Real Madrid between 1955 and 1966 being the only Madrid player to figure in all of the wins (a record since equalled by Nacho, Luka Modrić and Dani Carvajal). [10] He contributed with 31 goals in 88 European Cup career matches. [11]

Gento played in eight European Cup finals, with a 6–2 record, and he also appeared in a ninth European final appearance in the 1970–1971 Cup Winners' Cup final that Real Madrid lost to Chelsea. [12] He holds this record jointly with Milan's Paolo Maldini, who has an inferior 5–3 record. Gento's legendary Real Madrid teammate, Alfredo Di Stéfano's 5–2 record comes third. [13]

Gento shaking hands with Zamalek's captain Sharif El-Far before their friendly match on the occasion for celebrating 50 years on Zamalek's establishment in Cairo Stadium on 10 March 1961 Sharif El-Far 1960.jpg
Gento shaking hands with Zamalek's captain Sharif El-Far before their friendly match on the occasion for celebrating 50 years on Zamalek's establishment in Cairo Stadium on 10 March 1961

Domestically, Gento collected 12 La Liga titles during his time with Madrid. [10] He scored 128 times in 428 league appearances for the club, a strong return for a winger, especially as he was often providing goals for teammates Di Stéfano and Puskás. [10] He won 23 trophies for the club, which remained an outright record until equalled by Marcelo days before Gento's death. [14] [15]

After he retired from football in 1971, he coached various lower-league teams, such as Castilla, Castellón, Palencia, and Granada. In 1978–79, he led Palencia to promotion to the Segunda División for the first time in their history. [16] He later took up a role as an ambassador for Real Madrid throughout Europe, alongside Di Stéfano. After Di Stéfano died in 2014, Gento became the honorary president of the club. [17]

International career

Gento played for the Spain national team from 1955 to 1969, winning 43 caps and scoring five times. His debut came on 18 May 1955 in a 1–1 draw with England in Madrid. He was initially known as "La tercera G" (the third G) for succeeding Agustín Gaínza and Guillermo Gorostiza in his position. His rival for his position was his friend Enrique Collar of Atlético Madrid, and the pair played together at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile. [18]

In 1964 European Nations' Cup qualification, Gento was included alongside Collar under new manager José Villalonga, but was dropped after a home defeat to Belgium on 1 December 1963; Carlos Lapetra took his place for the finals which Spain won. Due to improved form and fitness in the second half of the 1965–66 season, he was recalled for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, playing all three games of a group-stage elimination. [18]

Shortly before turning 36, Gento was given his 43rd and final cap on 15 October 1969 by his former teammate László Kubala, in a 6–0 win over already eliminated Finland in 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification. He ended short of the record of 46 caps by Ricardo Zamora. [18]

Personal life and death

Gento in 2005 Paco Gento 2005.jpg
Gento in 2005

Gento's two younger brothers, Julio (1939–2016) and Antonio (1940–2020) also played football professionally; the latter played for Real Madrid, too, but they were not as successful as their older brother Francisco. [19]

His nephews were also athletes – José Luis Llorente and Toñín Llorente played basketball, whilst Paco Llorente and Julio Llorente were footballers. [20] Grand-nephew Marcos Llorente, son of Paco Llorente, is also a footballer. [21]

Gento died in his sleep on 18 January 2022, at the age of 88. [22]

Real Madrid announced in a statement, "Real Madrid would like to express its condolences and its love and affection to his wife Mari Luz, his sons Francisco and Julio, his granddaughters Aitana and Candela and all his relatives, colleagues and loved ones, he will always be remembered by Madridistas and all football fans as one of their greatest." [23] FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “I am deeply saddened to learn of Paco Gento’s passing today at the age of 88. One of the greatest players of his generation, Paco leaves behind a lifetime of memories for all fans of football, but especially those of Spain and Real Madrid. Our thoughts and best wishes go to Paco’s family and friends, to Real Madrid, to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and to all those who treasure memories of this great player.” [24]

Legacy

Regarded as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time and one of the greatest ever players in his position, Gento was an extremely fast left winger, which made him an effective assist provider with high accuracy in his crosses. [25] [26] [27]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition [1]
ClubSeasonLeague Copa del Rey Europe [a] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Racing Santander 1952–53 Primera División 10241143
Real Madrid 1953–54 Primera División17040210
1954–55 246302 [b] 0296
1955–56 29763714211
1956–57 27730812 [b] 34011
1957–58 28751633911
1958–59 21742813310
1959–60 271553623820
1960–61 28983211 [c] 13914
1961–62 25694924312
1962–63 2574121319
1963–64 241220933515
1964–65 2343065329
1965–66 281032934015
1966–67 201150401 [c] 03011
1967–68 24810753213
1968–69 2682120309
1969–70 2434133317
1970–71 70206 [d] 0150
Total4271277321943164600183
Career total4371297822943164614186
  1. All appearances in European Cup, unless otherwise noted
  2. 1 2 Appearances in Latin Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearance in Intercontinental Cup
  4. Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 195510
195610
195770
195820
195951
196040
196171
196260
196331
196631
196721
196820
196910
Total445
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gento goal. [28]
List of international goals scored by Francisco Gento
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
114 October 1959 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, SpainFlag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 3–03–0 1960 European Nations' Cup qualifying
22 April 1961Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, SpainFlag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg  France 2–02–0 Friendly
330 October 1963 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern IrelandUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1–01–0 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying
423 June 1966 Riazor, A Coruña, SpainFlag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 1–11–1Friendly
531 May 1967 San Mamés, Bilbao, SpainFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 2–02–0 UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying

Honours

Real Madrid before the 1966 European Cup Final against FK Partizan Real Madrid (1966).jpg
Real Madrid before the 1966 European Cup Final against FK Partizan

Real Madrid [29]

Non-official

Individual

Records

See also

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