Keko (footballer, born 1991)

Sergio Gontán Gallardo (born 27 December 1991), known as Keko, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña as a right winger.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gontán and the second or maternal family name is Gallardo.

Keko
Keko with Valladolid in 2019
Personal information
Full name Sergio Gontán Gallardo
Date of birth (1991-12-27) 27 December 1991
Place of birth Brunete, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Deportivo La Coruña
Number 20
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– Deportivo La Coruña 7 (0)
National team
2007 Spain U16 4 (0)
2007–2008 Spain U17 11 (5)
2009 Spain U18 3 (1)
2009–2010 Spain U19 10 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 August 2020

Club career

Atlético Madrid

Keko was born in Brunete, Community of Madrid. A product of hometown 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 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 fellow league club Real Valladolid 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 0–2 away loss on 6 February.[3]

Keko split the 2010–11 campaign with two Segunda División sides, FC Cartagena and Girona FC,[4] appearing in 25 matches combined (nine starts, 952 minutes) as both managed to retain their league status.

Catania

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 U.S. Grosseto F.C. 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.

Albacete

On 28 August 2014, Keko signed a 1+1 contract with Albacete Balompié, recently promoted to the second level.[8] He totalled more than 2,500 minutes of action during his first and only season, notably scoring a brace in a 3–2 victory at UE Llagostera on 21 May 2015 that confirmed the club's survival.[9]

Eibar

On 9 July 2015, Keko moved to SD Eibar in the top division after agreeing to a two-year contract.[10] He scored his first goal in the competition on 30 December, netting the first in a 2–0 home win against Sporting de Gijón.[11]

Málaga

On 21 June 2016, Keko joined Málaga CF on a four-year deal.[12] He appeared in 22 scoreless matches in his first season, helping his team finish in 11th position.[13]

On 29 July 2018, after suffering relegation, Keko agreed to a one-year loan deal back at former club Valladolid, now in the top flight.[14] On 31 January 2020, he terminated his contract with the Andalusians.[15]

Deportivo

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 the second tier.[16]

International career

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.[17]

Honours

International

Spain

References
  1. "Atletico Madrid's Keko delighted with debut against Racing Santander". Goal. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  2. "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.
  3. "Villa strikes as Valencia triumph". ESPN Soccernet. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  4. "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.
  5. "Keko ficha por el Catania" [Keko signs for Catania]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 20 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  6. "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.
  7. "Parma 1–2 Catania". ESPN FC. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  8. "Keko Gontán llega al Albacete Balompié" [Keko Gontán arrives at Albacete Balompié] (in Spanish). Vavel. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.
  11. 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.
  12. "Málaga CF signs Sergio Gontán 'Keko'". Málaga CF. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  13. "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.
  14. "Keko will play on loan at Real Valladolid". Málaga CF. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  15. "Keko Gontán leaves the club". Málaga CF. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  16. "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.
  17. 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 Futbolme (in Spanish)
  • Keko at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
  • Keko at Soccerway
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