Paco Gento

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Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biographyFrancisco "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" (Template:Langx) in reference to his speed down the wing.[1] 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.[2] Gento is also widely regarded as one of the greatest wingers in the history of the sport.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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
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.[6] 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.[7]

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".[8] 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).[9] He contributed with 31 goals in 88 European Cup career matches.[10]

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.[11] 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.[12]

File: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.[9] 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.[9] He won 23 trophies for the club, which remained an outright record until equalled by Marcelo days before Gento's death.[13][14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17]

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.[17]

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.[17]

Personal life and death

File: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.[18]

His nephews were also athletes – José Luis Llorente and Toñín Llorente played basketball, whilst Paco Llorente and Julio Llorente were footballers.[19] Grand-nephew Marcos Llorente, son of Paco Llorente, is also a footballer.[20]

Gento died in his sleep on 18 January 2022, at the age of 88.[21]

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."[22] 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.”[23]

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.[24][25][26]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[27]
Club Season League Copa del Rey EuropeTemplate:Efn Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Racing Santander 1952–53 Primera División 10 2 4 1 — — 14 3
Real Madrid 1953–54 Primera División 17 0 4 0 — — 21 0
1954–55 24 6 3 0 — 2Template:Efn 0 29 6
1955–56 29 7 6 3 7 1 — 42 11
1956–57 27 7 3 0 8 1 2Template:Efn 3 40 11
1957–58 28 7 5 1 6 3 — 39 11
1958–59 21 7 4 2 8 1 — 33 10
1959–60 27 15 5 3 6 2 — 38 20
1960–61 28 9 8 3 2 1 1Template:Efn 1 39 14
1961–62 25 6 9 4 9 2 — 43 12
1962–63 25 7 4 1 2 1 — 31 9
1963–64 24 12 2 0 9 3 — 35 15
1964–65 23 4 3 0 6 5 — 32 9
1965–66 28 10 3 2 9 3 — 40 15
1966–67 20 11 5 0 4 0 1Template:Efn 0 30 11
1967–68 24 8 1 0 7 5 — 32 13
1968–69 26 8 2 1 2 0 — 30 9
1969–70 24 3 4 1 3 3 — 31 7
1970–71 7 0 2 0 6Template:Efn 0 — 15 0
Total 427 127 73 21 94 31 6 4 600 183
Career total 437 129 78 22 94 31 6 4 614 186

Template:Notelist

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
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
Total 44 5
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. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 October 1959 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain {{ Template:Yesno alias = Poland flag alias = Flag of Poland.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms).svg flag alias-1815 = Flag of the Congress of Poland.svg flag alias-1919 = Flag of Poland (1919-1928).svg flag alias-1928 = Flag of Poland (1928–1980).svg flag alias-1955 = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms, 1955-1980).svg flag alias-1980 = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms, 1980-1990).svg flag alias-1990 = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms).svg flag alias-naval = PL navy flag IIIRP.svg border-naval = flag alias-naval-1919 = Naval Ensign of IIRP v1.svg border-naval-1919 = flag alias-naval-1946 = Naval Ensign of PRL v1.svg border-naval-1946 = flag alias-naval-auxiliary = Flaga pomocniczych jednostek pływających Polskiej Marynarki Wojennej.svg flag alias-naval-auxiliary-1955 = POL Bandera pjp PRL v1.svg link alias-naval = Polish Navy flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Poland.svg border-navy = link alias-navy = Polish Navy flag alias-marines = Flag of the Polish Land Forces.svg border-marines = link alias-marines = Polish 7th Coastal Defense Brigade flag alias-air force = Flag of the Polish Air Force.svg border-air force = link alias-air force = Polish Air Force flag alias-army = Flag of the Polish Land Forces.svg border-army = link alias-army = Polish Land Forces size = size flag alias-naval = 25px size flag alias-naval-1919 = 25px size flag alias-naval-1946 = 25px size flag alias-air force = 25px name = altlink = national football team variant = 1928

}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || 1960 European Nations' Cup qualifying

2 2 April 1961 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain {{ Template:Yesno alias = France flag alias = Flag of France.svg flag alias-1790 = Flag of France (1790–1794).svg flag alias-1794 = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg flag alias-1814 = Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg flag alias-1830 = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg flag alias-1848 = Drapeau france 1848.svg flag alias-1848a = Drapeau france 1848.svg flag alias-1848b = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg flag alias-1974 = Flag of France (lighter variant).svg flag alias-naval = Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg flag alias-naval-1790 = Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg flag alias-air force = Flag of France.svg link alias-air force = French Air and Space Force flag alias-coast guard = French Maritime Gendarmerie racing stripe.svg border-coast guard = link alias-coast guard = French Maritime Gendarmerie flag alias-army = Flag of France.svg link alias-army = French Army link alias-naval = French Navy flag alias-navy = Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg link alias-navy = French Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant = 1830

}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || Friendly

3 30 October 1963 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Northern Ireland flag alias = Ulster Banner.svg flag alias-assembly = Flag of Northern Ireland Assembly.svg flag alias-saltire = St Patrick's saltire.svg flag alias-union = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying

4 23 June 1966 Riazor, A Coruña, Spain {{ Template:Yesno alias = Uruguay flag alias = Flag of Uruguay.svg flag alias-1828 = Flag of Uruguay (1828-1830).svg link alias-naval = National Navy of Uruguay flag alias-army = Flag of Uruguayan Army.svg National Army of Uruguay link alias-air force = Uruguayan Air Force flag alias-air force = Flag of the Uruguayan Air Force.svg link alias-navy = National Navy of Uruguay size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly

5 31 May 1967 San Mamés, Bilbao, Spain {{ Template:Yesno alias = Turkey flag alias = Flag of Turkey.svg link alias-naval = Turkish Naval Forces link alias-navy = Turkish Navy link alias-air force = Turkish Air Force link alias-army = Turkish Land Forces link alias-military = Turkish Armed Forces size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying

Honours

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

Real Madrid[29]

Non-official

Individual

Records

See also

References

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  5. ↑ Ball 2011, 135
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Ball 2011, 136
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Muere Francisco Gento, leyenda del Real Madrid y único futbolista con 6 Copas de Europa Template:In lang
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  27. ↑ Template:BDFutbol
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ "ERIC BATTY’S WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES" Retrieved on 29 November 2015
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  • Ball, Phil (2011) Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football. WSC Books.

External links

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