View source for Paco Gento

{{Short description|Spanish footballer (1933–2022)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Gento|López|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Paco Gento
| image = Francisco Gento 1962.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Gento in 1962
| fullname = Francisco Gento López
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|10|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Guarnizo]], [[Second Spanish Republic|Spain]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|01|18|1933|10|21|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Madrid]], Spain
| height = 1.68 m<ref name="bdf"/>
| position = [[Outside left]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = SD Nueva Montaña
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = [[SD Unión Club|Unión Club Astillero]]
| youthyears3 = 
| youthclubs3 = [[Racing de Santander B|Rayo Cantabria]]
| years1 = 1952–1953
| clubs1 = [[Racing de Santander|Racing Santander]]
| caps1 = 10
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 1953–1971
| clubs2 = [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]]
| caps2 = 427
| goals2 = 127
| totalcaps = 437
| totalgoals = 129
| nationalyears1 = 1956
| nationalteam1 = [[Spain B national football team|Spain B]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1955–1969
| nationalteam2 = [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]]
| nationalcaps2 = 43
| nationalgoals2 = 5
| manageryears1 = 
| managerclubs1 = [[Real Madrid Castilla]]
| manageryears2 = 1974
| managerclubs2 = [[CD Castellón|Castellón]]
| manageryears3 = 1977–1980
| managerclubs3 = [[Palencia CF (I)|Palencia]]
| manageryears4 = 1980–1981
| managerclubs4 = [[Granada CF|Granada]]
| manageryears5 = 1997–2000
| managerclubs5 = [[Cantabria autonomous football team|Cantabria]]
}}'''Francisco''' "'''Paco'''" '''Gento López''' (21 October 1933 – 18 January 2022) was a Spanish [[association football|footballer]] who played as an [[outside left]]. A fast runner, Gento was referred to as the "Gale of the Cantabrian Sea" ({{langx|es|La Galerna del Cantábrico}}) in reference to his speed down the wing.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=Paco Gento obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jan/18/paco-gento-obituary|access-date=17 February 2023|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|last=Glanville|first=Brian}}</ref> He was voted by IFFHS ([[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|International Federation of Football History and Statistics]]) as the greatest Spanish footballer and 30th greatest world footballer of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=Fallece Paco Gento, 'La Galerna del Cantábrico', único futbolista en ganar seis Copas de Europa.|url=https://www.newtral.es/muere-paco-gento-presidente-honor-real-madrid-copas-europa/20220118/|access-date=20 January 2022|website=Newtral|language=es}}</ref> Gento is also widely regarded as one of the greatest wingers in the history of the sport.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hayward |first=Ben |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/best-wingers-in-football-history|title=Best wingers in football history|work=[[FourFourTwo]]|date=28 November 2023|accessdate=28 November 2024}}</ref>

Gento began his career at [[Racing de Santander|Racing Santander]] in 1952 and moved to [[Real Madrid C.F.|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 men's national football team|Spain]], playing at the World Cup in [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]] and [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]].

Following the death of [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] in 2014, Gento was appointed the Honorary President of Real Madrid.<ref>{{cite web|date=23 October 2016|title=Paco Gento, Honorary President of Real Madrid|url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2016/10/paco-gento-honorary-president-of-real-madrid|website=Realmadrid.com}}</ref>

==Club career==
Gento debuted in the [[La Liga|''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 C.F.|Real Madrid]]. Such was his performance in the match, that Madrid signed him three days later.<ref name="transfer">Ball 2011, 135</ref> 
[[File:Amsterdam_tegen_Real_Madrid_1-4_in_het_Olympisch_Stadion_te_Amsterdam,_vlnr,_Gento,_Leo_Horn_,_Di_Stefano_en_Wilkes;_Bestanddeelnr_910-4823.jpg|thumb|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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ortego |first1=Enrique |title=Gento: "Lo que hizo Bale ya lo hacía yo"|trans-title=Gento: "I already did what Bale is doing now"|url=https://www.marca.com/2014/04/19/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1397896164.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Marca |date=19 April 2014 |language=Spanish}}</ref> 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 (Real Madrid)|Ye-yé]]'', because of the popularity of [[The Beatles]] at that time.<ref name="captain">Ball 2011, 136</ref>

Gento did not score in his first season and was under pressure from club president [[Santiago Bernabéu (footballer)|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".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Siguero |first1=Santiago |title=Di Stéfano, a Santiago Bernabéu sobre Paco Gento: "Le enseñaremos"|trans-title=Di Stéfano, to Santiago Bernabéu on Paco Gento: "We will teach him"|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-madrid/2022/01/18/5e727038e2704e563f8b45da.html |access-date=18 January 2022 |work=Marca |date=18 January 2022 |language=Spanish}}</ref>
Among other honors, Gento won the [[UEFA Champions League|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 (footballer, born 1990)|Nacho]], [[Luka Modrić]] and [[Dani Carvajal]]).<ref name=Titles>{{cite web|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/12/29/in-celebration-of-paco-gento-the-habitual-european-cup-winner/|title=Paco Gento: the habitual European Cup winner|website=These Football Times|date=29 December 2015|accessdate=11 March 2021}}</ref> He contributed with 31 goals in 88 European Cup career matches.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Azzoni |first1=Tales |title=Muere Paco Gento, mítico delantero del Real Madrid|trans-title=Paco Gento, Real Madrid legendary forward, dies|url=https://apnews.com/article/deportes-0cc506d4edf55a251bbb3a3e8882bd64 |access-date=19 January 2022 |publisher=Associated Press |date=18 January 2022 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

Gento played in eight European Cup finals, with a 6–2 record, and he also appeared in a ninth European final appearance in the [[1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup|1970–1971 Cup Winners' Cup]] final that Real Madrid lost to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/12/14/the-emperors-of-athens-how-chelsea-won-the-cup-winners-cup-in-1971/|title=The emperors of Athens|website=These Football Times|date=14 December 2018|accessdate=11 March 2021}}</ref> He holds this record jointly with [[A.C. Milan|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0221-0e90f325d671-3e169a0ee9bb-1000--eight-days-to-go-maldini-and-gento-s-record/|title=Eight days to go ... Maldini and Gento's record|website=UEFA|date=29 May 2015|accessdate=11 March 2021}}</ref>[[File:Sharif_El-Far_1960.jpg|thumb|Gento shaking hands with [[Zamalek SC|Zamalek]]'s captain [[Sharif El-Far]] before their friendly match on the occasion for celebrating 50 years on Zamalek's establishment in [[Cairo International Stadium|Cairo Stadium]] on 10 March 1961]]Domestically, Gento collected 12 [[La Liga]] titles during his time with Madrid.<ref name=Titles /> 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.<ref name=Titles /> He won 23 trophies for the club, which remained an outright record until equalled by [[Marcelo (footballer, born 1988)|Marcelo]] days before Gento's death.<ref>{{cite news |title=Real Madrid: Six-time European Cup winner Francisco 'Paco' Gento dies aged 88 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60037044 |access-date=18 January 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Marcelo alcanza a Gento|trans-title=Marcelo reaches Gento|url=https://as.com/futbol/2022/01/16/primera/1642369341_498282.html |access-date=18 January 2022 |work=Diario AS |date=16 January 2022 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

After he retired from football in 1971, he coached various lower-league teams, such as [[Real Madrid Castilla|Castilla]], [[CD Castellón|Castellón]], [[Palencia CF (I)|Palencia]], and [[Granada CF|Granada]]. In [[1978–79 Segunda División B|1978–79]], he led Palencia to promotion to the [[Segunda División]] for the first time in their history.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sánchez Barreda |first1=Julio J. |title=El día en que el Castilla ganó al Palencia de Paco Gento en el Bernabéu|trans-title=The day that Castilla beat Paco Gento's Palencia in the Bernabéu|url=https://www.adnblanco.com/el-dia-en-que-el-castilla-gano-al-palencia-de-paco-gento/ |access-date=18 January 2022 |publisher=ADN Blanco |date=30 March 2020 |language=Spanish}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Murió Francisco Gento, leyenda del Real Madrid|trans-title=Francisco Gento, Real Madrid legend, died |url=https://www.elgrafico.com.ar/articulo/1053/48457/murio-francisco-gento-leyenda-del-real-madrid |access-date=18 January 2022 |work=El Gráfico |date=18 January 2022 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

==International career==
Gento played for the [[Spain men's national football team|Spain national team]] from 1955 to 1969, winning 43 [[cap (sport)|caps]] and scoring five times. His debut came on 18 May 1955 in a 1–1 draw with [[England national football team|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.<ref name=pais>{{cite news |last1=Relaño |first1=Alfredo |title=Gento, el caso Villa de los sesenta|trans-title=Gento, the sixties equivalent of Villa|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2017/09/03/actualidad/1504467196_941499.html |access-date=18 January 2022 |work=El País |date=3 September 2017 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

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 national football team|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.<ref name=pais/>

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]] [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification|qualification]]. He ended short of the record of 46 caps by [[Ricardo Zamora]].<ref name=pais/>

==Personal life and death==
[[File:Paco_Gento_2005.jpg|thumb|upright|Gento in 2005]]
Gento's two younger brothers, [[Julio Gento|Julio]] (1939–2016) and [[Antonio Gento|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IFFHS|url=https://www.iffhs.com/legends/37|access-date=19 January 2022|website=www.iffhs.com}}</ref>

His nephews were also athletes – [[José Luis Llorente]] and [[Toñín Llorente]] played basketball, whilst [[Paco Llorente]] and [[Julio Llorente]] were footballers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/baloncesto/2003/01/10/mas_baloncesto/1042264901_850215.html|title=Fallece María Antonia Gento, madre de la saga Llorente|date=10 January 2003|website=AS.com}}</ref> Grand-nephew [[Marcos Llorente]], son of Paco Llorente, is also a footballer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2015/10/17/primera/1445096623_689050.html|title=Real Madrid - Levante: Debutó con el Madrid Marcos Llorente, sobrino-nieto de Gento|date=17 October 2015|work=Diario AS}}</ref>

Gento died in his sleep on 18 January 2022, at the age of 88.<ref>[https://www.antena3.com/noticias/deportes/futbol/muere-francisco-gento-leyenda-real-madrid-unico-futbolista-6-copas-europa_2022011861e680a839375200018167d0.html Muere Francisco Gento, leyenda del Real Madrid y único futbolista con 6 Copas de Europa] {{in lang|es}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official Announcement: Passing of Francisco Gento {{!}} Real Madrid CF|url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2022/01/18/official-announcement-passing-of-francisco-gento|access-date=18 January 2022|website=Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial|language=en}}</ref> 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.”<ref>{{Cite web|title=Spain, Real Madrid great Paco Gento dies aged 88|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/origin1904-p.cxm.fifa.comspain-real-madrid-great-paco-gento-dies-aged-88|access-date=20 January 2022|website=www.fifa.com|language=en}}</ref>

==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 [[winger (association football)|left winger]], which made him an effective assist provider with high accuracy in his crosses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=174556/profile.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910051229/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=174556/profile.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2015|title=Full-throttle Paco, Real's winning legend|publisher=FIFA.com|access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diggita.it/v.php?id=1413181|title=Francisco "Paco" Gento|language=it|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925164933/http://www.diggita.it/v.php?id=1413181|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gento {{!}} Real Madrid CF|url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/about-real-madrid/history/football-legends/francisco-gento-lopez|access-date=20 January 2022|website=Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial|language=en}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="bdf">{{BDFutbol|6063}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[Copa del Rey]]
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA|Europe]]{{efn|All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]], unless otherwise noted}}
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Racing de Santander|Racing Santander]]
|[[1952–53 La Liga|1952–53]]
|[[La Liga|Primera División]]
|10||2||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||3
|-
|rowspan="19"|[[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]]
|[[1953–54 Real Madrid CF season|1953–54]]
|rowspan="18"|Primera División
|17||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||21||0
|-
|[[1954–55 Real Madrid CF season|1954–55]]
|24||6||3||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=lc|Appearances in [[Latin Cup]]}}||0||29||6
|-
|[[1955–56 Real Madrid CF season|1955–56]]
|29||7||6||3||7||1||colspan="2"|—||42||11
|-
|[[1956–57 Real Madrid CF season|1956–57]]
|27||7||3||0||8||1||2{{efn|name=lc}}||3||40||11
|-
|[[1957–58 Real Madrid CF season|1957–58]]
|28||7||5||1||6||3||colspan="2"|—||39||11
|-
|[[1958–59 Real Madrid CF season|1958–59]]
|21||7||4||2||8||1||colspan="2"|—||33||10
|-
|[[1959–60 Real Madrid CF season|1959–60]]
|27||15||5||3||6||2||colspan="2"|—||38||20
|-
|[[1960–61 Real Madrid CF season|1960–61]]
|28||9||8||3||2||1||1{{efn|name=ic|Appearance in [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||1||39||14
|-
|[[1961–62 Real Madrid CF season|1961–62]]
|25||6||9||4||10||2||colspan="2"|—||44||12
|-
|[[1962–63 Real Madrid CF season|1962–63]]
|25||7||4||1||2||1||colspan="2"|—||31||9
|-
|[[1963–64 Real Madrid CF season|1963–64]]
|24||12||2||0||9||3||colspan="2"|—||35||15
|-
|[[1964–65 Real Madrid CF season|1964–65]]
|23||4||3||0||6||5||colspan="2"|—||32||9
|-
|[[1965–66 Real Madrid CF season|1965–66]]
|28||10||3||2||9||3||colspan="2"|—||40||15
|-
|[[1966–67 Real Madrid CF season|1966–67]]
|20||11||5||0||4||0||1{{efn|name=ic}}||0||30||11
|-
|[[1967–68 Real Madrid CF season|1967–68]]
|24||8||1||0||7||5||colspan="2"|—||32||13
|-
|[[1968–69 Real Madrid CF season|1968–69]]
|26||8||2||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||30||9
|-
|[[1969–70 Real Madrid CF season|1969–70]]
|24||3||4||1||3||2||colspan="2"|—||31||6
|-
|[[1970–71 Real Madrid CF season|1970–71]]
|7||0||2||0||6{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||15||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!427!!127!!73!!21!!95!!30!!6!!4!!601!!182
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!437!!129!!77!!22!!95!!30!!6!!4!!615!!185
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[Spain men's national football team|Spain]]
|1955||1||0
|-
|1956||1||0
|-
|1957||7||0
|-
|1958||2||0
|-
|1959||5||1
|-
|1960||4||0
|-
|1961||7||1
|-
|1962||6||0
|-
|1963||3||1
|-
|1966||3||1
|-
|1967||2||1
|-
|1968||2||0
|-
|1969||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!44!!5
|}

:''Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gento goal.''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Relaño|first=Alfredo|date=3 September 2017|title=Gento, el caso Villa de los sesenta|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2017/09/03/actualidad/1504467196_941499.html|access-date=19 January 2022|issn=1134-6582}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Francisco Gento
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 14 October 1959 || [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]], [[Madrid]], Spain || {{fb|POL|1928}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [[1960 European Nations' Cup qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 2 April 1961 || Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain || {{fb|FRA|1830}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 30 October 1963 || [[Windsor Park]], [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland || {{fb|NIR}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|4 || 23 June 1966 || [[Estadio Riazor|Riazor]], [[A Coruña]], Spain || {{fb|URU}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|5 || 31 May 1967 || [[San Mamés Stadium (1913)|San Mamés]], [[Bilbao]], Spain || {{fb|TUR}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying#Group 1|UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying]]
|}

==Honours==
[[File:Real Madrid (1966).jpg|thumb|[[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] before the [[1966 European Cup Final]] against [[FK Partizan]]]]
'''Real Madrid'''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gil-Vernet |first1=Pepe |title=Los 23 títulos de Paco Gento|trans-title=Paco Gento's 23 titles|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-madrid/20220118/1001738847/23-titulos-paco-gento.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Mundo Deportivo |date=18 January 2022 |language=Spanish}}</ref>
*[[La Liga]]: [[1953–54 La Liga|1953–54]], [[1954–55 La Liga|1954–55]], [[1956–57 La Liga|1956–57]], [[1957–58 La Liga|1957–58]], [[1960–61 La Liga|1960–61]], [[1961–62 La Liga|1961–62]], [[1962–63 La Liga|1962–63]], [[1963–64 La Liga|1963–64]], [[1964–65 La Liga|1964–65]], [[1966–67 La Liga|1966–67]], [[1967–68 La Liga|1967–68]], [[1968–69 La Liga|1968–69]]
*[[Copa del Rey|Copa del Generalísimo]]: [[1961–62 Copa del Generalísimo|1961–62]], [[1969–70 Copa del Generalísimo|1969–70]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1955–56 European Cup|1955–56]], [[1956–57 European Cup|1956–57]], [[1957–58 European Cup|1957–58]], [[1958–59 European Cup|1958–59]], [[1959–60 European Cup|1959–60]], [[1965–66 European Cup|1965–66]]
*[[Latin Cup]]: [[1955 Latin Cup|1955]], [[1957 Latin Cup|1957]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1960 Intercontinental Cup|1960]]

;Non-official
*[[Small Club World Cup]]: [[1956 Small Club World Cup|1956]]

'''Individual'''
*[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]] World XI: 1960, 1961, 1962<ref>[https://beyondthelastman.com/2013/04/29/eric-battys-world-xis-the-sixties/ "ERIC BATTY’S WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES"] Retrieved on 29 November 2015</ref>
*[[Golden Foot#Award legends|Golden Foot Legends Award]]: 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |title=Legends |publisher=Golden Foot |access-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120930/http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
*[[World Soccer Magazine|World Soccer]]: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Soccer 100 Players of the Century|url=https://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/greatest-all-time/soccer-worldsoccer100.htm|access-date=19 January 2022|website=www.topendsports.com}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS]] Legends<ref>{{cite web|date=25 January 2016|title=IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players|url=http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/|url-access=registration|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202182723/http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/|archive-date=2 February 2016|access-date=14 September 2016|publisher=IFFHS}}</ref>

'''Records'''
*Most La Liga titles: 12<ref>{{Cite web|title=He won 12 league titles, another all-time record. {{!}} Real Madrid CF|url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2022/01/18/he-won-12-league-titles-another-all-time-record|access-date=19 January 2022|website=Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial|language=en}}</ref>
*Most European Cup titles: 6 (tied with [[Dani Carvajal]], [[Toni Kroos]], [[Luka Modrić]] and [[Nacho (footballer, born 1990)|Nacho]])<ref name="UEFA CC – Player Records – Titles">{{cite web|last=Saffer|first=Paul|date=18 May 2016|title=Reyes's fifth win: top UEFA club cup winners|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/022d-0e9458554d19-9e9caf57a328-1000--reyes-s-fifth-win-top-uefa-club-cup-winners/|access-date=19 May 2016|publisher=UEFA}}</ref>
*Most European Cup final appearances: 8 (tied with [[Paolo Maldini]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Champions League final records and statistics |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0e98c715bb79-dea77f56e2bd-1000--champions-league-final-records-and-statistics/ |publisher=UEFA|date=1 June 2019|access-date=5 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of La Liga players]] (400+ appearances)
* [[List of Real Madrid CF records and statistics]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* Ball, Phil (2011) ''Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football''. WSC Books.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{FIFA player|174556}}
* {{BDFutbol|6063}}
* {{NFT player|id=18125}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120717084949/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1193041516860/1202817478535/jugador/JugadorLegendario/Gento.htm Francisco Gento] at [[Real Madrid]] {{in lang|en|es}}
* [http://www.realmadridfans.org/gento.htm Biography at Real Madrid Fans] {{in lang|es}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091222210612/http://futbol.sportec.es/seleccion/ficha_jugador.asp?j=238&n=gento%2Ffrancisco%2Fgento%2Flopez National team data] {{in lang|es}}
* [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/gento-intl.html International Appearances and Goals] at RSSSF
* [https://www.rsssf.org/players/gento-in-ec.html Goals in European Cups] at RSSSF

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{{1960 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1961 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1962 World Soccer World XI}}
{{Latin Cup top scorers}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
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{{Spain squad 1962 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Spain squad 1966 FIFA World Cup}}
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{{CD Castellón managers}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gento, Paco}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Spanish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Cantabria]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Rayo Cantabria players]]
[[Category:Racing de Santander players]]
[[Category:Real Madrid CF players]]
[[Category:Spain men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:Spain men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1962 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1966 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Spanish football managers]]
[[Category:Real Madrid Castilla managers]]
[[Category:CD Castellón managers]]
[[Category:Granada CF managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:People from the Bay of Santander]]
[[Category:Gento family]]
[[Category:SD Unión Club players]]
[[Category:20th-century Spanish sportsmen]]
[[Category:Tetuán Walk of Fame]]