Koke (footballer born 1983)
 Koke playing for Marseille |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sergio Contreras Pardo | ||
| Date of birth | 27 April 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Málaga, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | FC Baku | ||
| Number | 98 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Málaga | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2004 | Málaga B | ||
| 2002–2003 | Málaga | 6 | (1) |
| 2004–2006 | Marseille | 43 | (6) |
| 2006 | → Sporting CP (loan) | 6 | (2) |
| 2006–2011 | Aris | 132 | (28) |
| 2011 | Houston Dynamo | 7 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | Rayo Vallecano | 5 | (1) |
| 2012– | FC Baku | 0 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 January 2012. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Sergio Contreras Pardo, commonly known as Koke (born 27 April 1983), is a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Baku in Azerbaijan, as a striker.
Contents |
[edit] Football career
[edit] Málaga
Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Koke started his football career at hometown club Málaga CF, being essential as the B team reached the second division for the first time its history, in 2003.
On 23 February 2003, he scored a late equalizer in a 1–1 home draw against Celta de Vigo in La Liga, where he appeared in six matches, five from the bench, totalling 176 minutes during the 2002–03 season.
[edit] Marseille
In January 2004, after seeing very little playing time in the first team, blocked by veteran goal-poacher Salva, Koke joined Ligue 1 powerhouse Olympique de Marseille,[1] playing ten times without scoring the remainder of the season. The following one was much better, with him netting five goals in 24 appearances.
In 2005–06, with the arrival of Mamadou Niang (in August 2005) and Toifilou Maoulida (in January 2006), Koke was deemed surplus to requirements, scoring one goal in nine league games and, in January 2006, was sent on loan to Portugal's Sporting Clube de Portugal, where he played almost no part in the club's season, although he did score twice as a substitute against Gil Vicente F.C. on 5 March, in a 2–0 home win.
[edit] Aris
The arrival (initially on loan) of Djibril Cissé in August 2006 meant the end of Koke's adventure in France. He would eventually sign for Aris Thessaloniki FC, a team that was filled with Spanish players, in a three-year deal.[2] He produced the best football of his career to date, notching up 10 league goals for a team that finished fourth in the league, after being promoted the previous season.
In 2007–08, Koke added another ten in the league's regular season, adding one in the UEFA Cup group stage game against Red Star Belgrade. In July 2008, he signed a new five-year contract with Aris, while also attaining club vice-captaincy, second to Konstantinos Nebegleras, and becoming himself captain in the 2009–10 campaign.
[edit] Houston Dynamo
Koke signed with Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo on 15 April 2011. He joined the team officially on the 26th after being awarded his international transfer certificate.
On 29 April 2011, Koke made his debut for his new team, coming on as a late substitute in a 4–1 win against D.C. United.[3] However, after failing to settle in Houston and struggling in the league, he had his contract termination request accepted by the club on 30 May, leaving the club after little more than a month.[4]
[edit] Return to Spain
Koke returned to Spain in September 2011, signing with Rayo Vallecano, freshly promoted to the top division. On 23 October, in his very first game, he scored his first goal for the club: after having replaced Piti midway through the second half of the away match against Real Betis, he netted the final 2–0 in the 88th minute, through a penalty kick.[5]
Koke was released by the Madrid club in the 2012 January transfer window.
[edit] Personal
 |
This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2012) |
On 13 August 2008, Koke's girlfriend gave birth to their first daughter, Maria-Ameera (Maria after the Madonna and Ameera after an Arabian princess). The following day, he dedicated the goal, scored in a UEFA Cup contest against NK Slaven Belupo (1–0 home win), to his newborn.
In his spare time, he attended Aris BC's basketball matches during his spell in Greece.
[edit] References
- ^ Koke in the can for Marseille; UEFA.com, 2 February 2004
- ^ Koke is it for Aris; UEFA.com, 15 August 2006
- ^ Bruin leads explosive Dynamo offense in rout of DC
- ^ Dynamo oblige Koke's wish to leave team
- ^ Rayo see off Betis at the death; ESPN Soccernet, 23 October 2011
[edit] External links
- 1983 births
- Living people
- People from Málaga
- Spanish footballers
- Andalusian footballers
- Association football forwards
- La Liga footballers
- Málaga CF footballers
- Rayo Vallecano footballers
- Ligue 1 players
- Olympique de Marseille players
- Primeira Liga players
- Sporting Clube de Portugal footballers
- Superleague Greece players
- Aris Thessaloniki F.C. players
- Major League Soccer players
- Houston Dynamo players
- FK Baku players
- Spanish expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in France
- Expatriate footballers in Portugal
- Expatriate footballers in Greece
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
- Expatriate footballers in Azerbaijan
