Francisco Gento Legendary Spanish football player Date of Birth: 21.10.1933 Country: Spain

Biography of Francisco Gento

Francisco Gento, also known as "Paco," was a legendary Spanish football player who became one of the most successful players of the 20th century. He was born in 1933 in the town of Real Astillero de Guarnizo, Spain. Gento grew up there and spent his childhood and the years of the Spanish Civil War in the town. It was during this time that he developed a passion for football.

From a young age, Gento showed exceptional talent and skill in the game, surpassing his peers. This led him to pursue a career in professional football. In the early 1950s, Gento traveled to the city of Santander, Spain, where he joined the recently formed football club, Real Racing Club de Santander. Despite facing difficulties, he managed to impress the club's coach during a training session and signed his first professional contract that evening.

However, Gento's time at the club was short-lived. After scoring 10 goals in just two years, he was noticed by a scout from Real Madrid, one of the country's leading clubs. In 1953, Gento officially joined the first team of Real Madrid, known as "Los Blancos." In his first season, he quickly gained recognition as "The Storm of the Cantabrian Sea" due to his unstoppable performance on the left flank. His incredible speed caught the attention of the team's head coach, who utilized his quick bursts down the wings with pinpoint crosses into the 11-meter zone.

Gento's speed was truly remarkable, as he was one of the few players in the club who could cover a distance of 100 meters in less than 11 seconds. But his achievements did not stop at his speed. Throughout his career with Real Madrid, Gento won the UEFA Champions League a record-breaking six times, scoring a total of 30 goals in 90 matches—the highest tally in the history of the competition. Although he represented the national team on several occasions, Gento only scored five goals during his international career.

In 1971, Gento announced his retirement from professional football. He played a total of 438 games, scoring 128 goals. After leaving the sport, Gento hoped to secure a coaching position but was not offered such an opportunity. Instead, he became the official representative of the team in Europe. It is worth noting that both of Gento's brothers also played for Real Madrid, but neither of them could replicate the success of their older brother.