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Frantsisko HentoFootball player
Date of Birth: 22.10.1933
Country:  Spain |
Biography of Francisco Gento
Early Life and Career
Francisco Gento, also known as Paco, was born on October 22, 1933, in Guarnizo, a village near Santander in Cantabria, Spain. His father worked as a long-distance truck driver while also managing a farm with a herd of cows. Gento, along with his five brothers and one sister, helped his father with the farm work. Before attending school, Gento would herd the cows.
Gento's early exposure to physically demanding agricultural work helped him develop a strong and athletic physique. He honed his football and speed skills by playing with a ball on the beach in his free time. Gento's father encouraged his sons to play football, seeing it as an opportunity to achieve success. Unfortunately, his father, who lived through the Spanish Civil War, was unable to pursue a career in football himself.
Gento began his football journey in small Cantabrian clubs such as "Nueva Montaña," "Astillerio," and "Rayo Cantabria." At the age of 19, he was recruited by Racing Santander, the largest club in the province. A few months later, Gento moved to Real Madrid, alongside Alfredo Di Stefano, with whom he would play side by side for 11 years.
Club and International Success
Gento gained European recognition in the spring of 1955 after the Latin Cup final between Real Madrid and Stade de Reims. His relentless speed and dangerous runs down the left flank impressed everyone. He earned the nickname "The Galloping Cantabrian" due to the piercing northeasterly wind prevalent in his native region.
His game qualities were quickly noticed by the Spanish national team coaches, who gave him the opportunity to debut on May 18, 1955, in a match against England. The match took place in Madrid and ended in a 1-1 draw.
Gento had the chance to become one of the stars of the 1958 World Cup, but luck was not on his side. Spain failed to qualify for the tournament due to a disappointing draw against Switzerland at the Bernabeu. The absence of the Spanish team from the final stage was considered the biggest surprise of the qualification cycle, given the presence of world-class players such as Miguel, Kubala, Di Stefano, and Suarez.
Gento and his Real Madrid teammates made up for the disappointment on the club level, remaining unbeaten in the European Cup, which was established in 1955, for five consecutive years. Gento played a crucial role in the three finals of the first five victories. On June 13, 1956, in Paris, with the score tied at 3-3 in the 79th minute, Gento delivered a crucial header assist, allowing Real Madrid to score the winning goal against Stade de Reims.
On May 30, 1957, in the decisive match against Fiorentina at the Santiago Bernabeu, Gento took the initiative in a tough and sluggish game that remained goalless for a long time. He embarked on a series of trademark sprints down the left flank, wearing down his marker Chervato. In the 69th minute, Chervato fouled Gento in the penalty area, and Di Stefano scored from the penalty spot. Six minutes later, Gento himself scored the second goal, leading Real Madrid to a 2-0 victory. This final marked another significant moment in his career.
In the following final, held on May 28, 1958, against AC Milan at Brussels' Heysel Stadium, Gento once again played a crucial role. The game, which ended 2-2 after regular time, saw Gento score the most important and spectacular goal of his career. In the 107th minute, he broke through Milan's defense, dribbled past Cesare Maldini and goalkeeper Narciso Soldan, and secured a 3-2 victory for Real Madrid. After these feats, Gento became a hero for Real Madrid fans. His partnership with Di Stefano was instrumental for the team, and their combination plays were loved by the supporters. Gento's incredible speed made it almost impossible for defenders to keep up with him. Another distinguishing feature of his game was his love for backheel shots. He would attempt them even from long distances, surprising everyone with his ability to score in such an unconventional way.
After Di Stefano's departure in 1964, Gento became the captain of Real Madrid. Only he and Di Stefano, along with midfielder Jose Maria Zarraga, played in all five finals of Real Madrid's victorious streak in the European Cup from 1956 to 1960. Three other players, Hector Rial, Marquitos, and Rafael Lesmes, were part of the team during the successful period but missed one or two finals. Nevertheless, they should also be considered five-time winners.
Gento holds the record for the most victories in the European Cup, with six titles. He achieved this record solely and is likely to hold onto it for a long time, given the increased rotation of winners in the modern era. The maximum number of victories a player has achieved in the tournament in the post-Real Madrid era is four, accomplished by Liverpool's captain Phil Neal.
Gento also holds another record in the European Cup, having participated in the tournament for 15 consecutive editions with Real Madrid. This achievement was considered phenomenal and eternal under the previous structure of the tournament when only one club represented each country (and occasionally two). However, with the increased number of slots for top countries, with three or four teams participating in the Champions League, the likelihood of clubs becoming regular participants has significantly increased. Therefore, it is expected that someone will equal Gento's achievement in the future.
In addition to his European success, Gento won 12 La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles, and one Intercontinental Cup. However, the one title that eluded him was the FIFA World Cup.
Later Career and Life
Gento retired from professional football on May 21, 1971, after playing in the replay of the Cup Winners' Cup final against Chelsea. Despite his solid age of 37, it was challenging for the veteran to play two intense matches in a row. He appeared visibly exhausted after the final whistle. Unfortunately, Gento couldn't end his career with another victory as Chelsea won the match 2-1. However, the fans gave Gento a long-standing ovation to honor his remarkable career.
In total, Gento played 761 matches and scored 253 goals for Real Madrid over 18 seasons. In 1963, he participated in the historic match between the World XI and England, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of English football.
After hanging up his boots, Gento spent some time coaching Real Madrid's youth teams. He later worked with Castilla, Castellon, Palencia, and Granada. Gento has two sons, Paco Jr. (currently 34 years old) and Julio (25 years old). While Paco Jr. did not show any interest in football, Julio trained in Real Madrid's youth academy but did not pursue a professional career.
