Koke (footballer, born 1992)

Koke
Koke with Spain at the 2018 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Jorge Resurrección Merodio
Date of birth (1992-01-08) 8 January 1992
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Atlético Madrid
Number 6
Youth career
2000–2008 Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Atlético Madrid B 66 (7)
2009– Atlético Madrid 263 (29)
National team‡
2008 Spain U16 3 (0)
2008–2009 Spain U17 21 (0)
2010–2011 Spain U19 9 (0)
2011 Spain U20 5 (1)
2011–2013 Spain U21 12 (1)
2012 Spain U23 6 (1)
2013– Spain 44 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 October 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2018

Jorge Resurrección Merodio (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxorxe resurekˈθjon meˈɾoðjo]; born 8 January 1992), known as Koke [ˈkoke], is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid and the Spain national team as a midfielder.

He spent the entirety of his career with Atlético Madrid since making his debut with the first team in 2009, playing over 300 official games and winning six honours, including the 2014 national championship and the 2012 and 2018 Europa League tournaments.

Koke won the 2013 European Championship with the Spanish under-21 team. He also made his debut for the full side that year, and represented the country at two World Cups and Euro 2016.

Club career

Koke was born in Vallecas,[2] Madrid. Having arrived at Atlético Madrid's youth system at the age of eight, he made his debut for the first team on 19 September 2009, playing in the second half of a 2–5 away loss against FC Barcelona after coming on as a substitute for Paulo Assunção.[3] He made three further appearances during the season.[4][5][6]

Koke taking a corner for Atlético in 2013

Koke scored his first league goal for Atlético against Sevilla FC on 26 February 2011, his 47th-minute header from a Diego Forlán cross made it 1–1 in an eventual 2–2 home draw.[7] He finished his first full season as a professional with 17 games and two goals (the other coming in a 2–2 draw at RCD Espanyol[8]), as the Colchoneros finished seventh and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

Koke was again an important member of Atlético's midfield in 2011–12, under both Gregorio Manzano and his successor Diego Simeone.[9] He scored his first league goal of the campaign on 29 April 2012, opening the score in the 62nd minute of an eventual 2–2 away draw against Real Betis.[10] He appeared in 13 matches during the club's successful Europa League run, including a 90th-minute substitute appearance in the 3–0 defeat of Athletic Bilbao in the final.[11]

Aged only 20/21, Koke started in 38 of his 48 official appearances during 2012–13 and scored three goals – this included 112 minutes of play in the final of the Copa del Rey, won against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.[12] He also began to excel at passing, either through set pieces or open play.[13][14]

On 1 September 2013, Koke scored his first goal of the new season, contributing to a 2–1 away win over Real Sociedad.[15] His performances in October earned him the accolade of La Liga Player of the Month, while Simeone won the equivalent managerial award;[16] on 3 March 2014, he scored to help his team to a 2–2 home draw in the Derbi madrileño against Real Madrid.[17]

On 9 April 2014, Koke scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League, netting the only goal of a quarter-final against Barcelona[18] to send Atlético to the semi-finals for the first time since 1974.[19][20] He finished the domestic league season as the player with the second most assists with 14,[21][22] as Atlético won the league title for the first time in 18 years after drawing 1–1 with Barcelona at Camp Nou in the final matchday;[23] he was a nominee at the LFP Awards at attacking midfielder, losing out to Andrés Iniesta.[24]

On 25 June 2014, Koke signed a new five-year deal with Atlético.[25] He was named Man of the match in their Champions League group match at Malmö FF on 4 November, scoring the first goal of a 2–0 win.[26] In a penalty shootout against Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the Champions League round-of-16, on 18 March of the following year, he had his attempt saved by Bernd Leno, but his team nonetheless advanced.[27]

Koke started 2015–16 slowly, scoring one goal and registering not a single assist by the middle of November.[28] By the middle of April 2016, after a spell of six decisive passes in as many games, he equalled his season's assist record of 12;[2] later that month he surpassed that tally, also moving to first place in the assists chart ahead of Barcelona's Luis Suárez,[29] and was voted Player of the Month for the second time.[30]

On 23 October 2016, Koke was sent off for the first time in his career, for two yellow cards in a 0–1 loss at Sevilla.[31] Only two months after turning 26, he entered the top 10 appearance makers in Atléti history with his 361st against Deportivo de La Coruña on 1 April 2018.[32]

International career

Koke (left) on the bench with Atlético teammate David Villa, in a friendly with Chile in 2013

Koke was a member of the Spain under-20 side which reached the quarter-finals at the 2011 FIFA World Cup in Colombia. He missed in the last-16 penalty shootout against South Korea, but his team advanced nonetheless.[33]

Koke featured in the Spanish team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London,[34] playing all three games as the tournament ended at the group stage for the nation. He also represented the under-21s at the 2013 UEFA European Championship,[35] being named to the team of the tournament as Spain won the competition by beating Italy 4–2 in Jerusalem in the final.[36]

Koke made his debut for senior team on 14 August 2013, replacing Santi Cazorla for the final 12 minutes of a 2–0 friendly win in Ecuador.[37] His first competitive appearance for La Furia Roja came on 6 September of that year, as he played the full 90 minutes in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Finland that ended with a 2–0 win.[38]

Koke was named in Spain's 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup,[39] and was also included in the final list for the tournament.[40] On 19 June, he made his debut in the tournament after replacing Xabi Alonso at half-time as the champions trailed 0–2 to Chile at the Maracanã in the second group game, but could not change the scoreline as elimination was confirmed.[41] He started in the final fixture, a 3–0 victory over Australia.[42]

Koke was also selected by manager Julen Lopetegui for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[43] On 1 July, he was one of two Spanish players to miss his attempt in the round-of-16 shootout against Russia, a 3–4 loss in Moscow.[44]

Style of play

Koke is right-footed, but his versatility allows him to play as right, left or central midfielder.[45][46] He is also known for his passing,[13][14] and ability to create attacking opportunities.[21][47]

He earned the plaudits of his peers, including Barcelona's Xavi who regarded him as his successor:

He has everything: talent, physical ability, he is a footballer of the present and the future... He has been marked out as the conductor of Spain's orchestra for the next 10 years. I have a special affection for him because we play in the same position and I think he is an extraordinary player.[48]

Career statistics

Club

As of 12 May 2018[49][50]
Club Season League Cup[51] Continental[52] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlético Madrid 2009–10 40000040
2010–11 1722000192
2011–12 25220130402
2012–13 3337080483
2013–14 36690131587
2014–15 3426092494
2015–16 35550100505
2016–17 36461120545
2017–18 34430122496
Career totals 2542840177537134

International

As of 11 October 2018[53]
Spain
YearAppsGoals
201370
201480
201550
2016100
201760
201880
Total440

Honours

Club

Atlético Madrid

International

Spain U21

Spain U17

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 Fuente, Chema G. (9 April 2016). "Koke, seis asistencias en los últimos siete partidos y cuarto gol del curso" [Koke, six assists in the last six matches and fourth goal of the campaign]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Barca rout Atletico". ESPN Soccernet. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "El último minuto agrava la crisis del Atlético" [Last minute worsens Atlético crisis]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 23 September 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "El Sporting y el Atlético van de la mano" [Sporting and Atlético go hand in hand]. El País (in Spanish). 9 May 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "El Atleti le hizo pasillo al Getafe" [Atleti guard of honour to Getafe]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 16 May 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Reyes to the rescue for Atletico". ESPN Soccernet. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  8. ↑ "Espanyol 2–2 Atletico Madrid: Brace from Pablo Osvaldo denies Mattress-makers full points". Goal.com. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Simeone y la pócima mágica" [Simeone and the magic potion]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 29 October 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Falcao rescues Atletico". ESPN Soccernet. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "Falcao at double as Atlético march to title". UEFA. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo off in Real Madrid loss". BBC Sport. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Koke se destapa como asistente" [Koke discovers passing ability]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 December 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  14. 1 2 "Koke, el pasador de lujo del Atlético de Madrid" [Koke, Atlético de Madrid's passer extraordinaire] (in Spanish). Vavel. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "La Liga 2013: Atletico Madrid holds on against Real Sociedad". SB Nation. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Premios BBVA a los mejores de octubre" [BBVA awards for the best in October] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Cristiano Ronaldo's late goal secures draw for Real Madrid against Atlético". The Guardian. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "Atlético Madrid v Barcelona: Champions League live". The Daily Telegraph. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  19. ↑ "Atlético Madrid 1–0 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  20. ↑ "Koke takes Atlético through at Barcelona's expense". UEFA. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Koke acumula ya trece asistencias en la Liga" [Koke already counts thirteen assists in League]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Spanish La Liga stats: Assists leaders – 2013–14". ESPN FC. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  23. ↑ "Atlético Madrid celebrate La Liga title after draw at Barcelona". The Guardian. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  24. ↑ "Gala de premios LFP 2013/14" [LFP awards show 2013/14] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Koke y Juanfran prolongan sus contratos hasta 2019 y 2018" [Koke and Juanfran extend their contracts until 2019 and 2018]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  26. ↑ Dutt, Sujay (4 November 2014). "Clinical Atlético grind down Malmö ardour". UEFA. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  27. ↑ Smith, Jonathan (17 March 2015). "Atl Madrid 1–0 Bayer Levkn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  28. ↑ Cazón, Patricia (17 November 2015). "El Atlético echa en falta las asistencias del mejor Koke" [Atlético miss the assists of the best Koke]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "Cristiano, Koke o Suárez, ¿qué jugador lleva más asistencias en Liga?" [Cristiano, Koke or Suárez, which player has the most assists in Liga?]. Marca (in Spanish). 18 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  30. 1 2 "Koke named Liga BBVA Player of the Month for April". La Liga. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  31. ↑ "Koke ve la primera roja de su carrera" [Koke sees the first red of his career]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 23 October 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  32. ↑ "Koke enters top ten appearances for our club". Atlético Madrid. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  33. ↑ "Spain beat Korea Republic on penalties". FIFA. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  34. ↑ "Euro 2012 trio Mata, Alba & Martinez in Spain Olympic squad". BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  35. ↑ "Thiago treble helps Spain retain Under-21 crown". UEFA. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  36. ↑ "Thiago leads all-star squad dominated by Spain". UEFA. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  37. ↑ "Taconeo ante Ecuador" [Taconeo against Ecuador]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 August 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  38. ↑ "Spain on the verge following Finland win". UEFA. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  39. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Diego Costa and Fernando Torres in Spain squad". BBC Sport. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  40. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Spain drop Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas". BBC Sport. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  41. ↑ Ornstein, David (18 June 2014). "Spain 0–2 Chile". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  42. ↑ "Australia 0–3 Spain". BBC Sport. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  43. ↑ "Morata misses out on Spain's 23-man World Cup squad". Goal. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  44. ↑ "Russia reach last eight thanks to penalty shoot-out win over sorry Spain". Jersey Evening Post. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  45. ↑ "Simeone vuelve a plantearse colocar a Koke de mediocentro" [Simeone thinks about placing Koke as central midfielder again]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 October 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  46. ↑ "No estaba a gusto en la derecha" [I was not comfortable on the right flank]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 November 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  47. ↑ "Koke es medio Atlético" [Koke is half Atlético]. Marca (in Spanish). 24 October 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  48. ↑ Rogers, Iain (30 March 2014). "Barcelona's Xavi hails Atletico Madrid's Koke: 'He is extraordinary...he will be my successor for Spain'". The Independent. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  49. ↑ "Koke". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  50. ↑ Koke at ESPN FC
  51. ↑ Includes Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España
  52. ↑ Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup
  53. ↑ "Koke". European Football. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  54. ↑ "Atletico Madrid win La Liga". Sport 24. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  55. ↑ "Real Madrid – At. Madrid" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  56. ↑ "Barcelona 0–0 Atletico Madrid: Catalans win Spanish Super Cup". BBC Sport. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  57. ↑ "Falcao at double as Atlético march to title". UEFA. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  58. ↑ Shamoon Hafez (16 May 2018). "Marseille 0–0 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  59. ↑ "Chelsea 1–4 Atletico Madrid". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  60. ↑ Emma Sanders (15 August 2018). "Real Madrid 2–4 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  61. ↑ "Madrid finally fulfil Décima dream". UEFA. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  62. ↑ "The Liga BBVA team of the season". La Liga. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  63. ↑ "UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season". UEFA. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  64. ↑ "Thiago leads all-star squad dominated by Spain". UEFA. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  65. ↑ "UEFA Europa League Squad of the 2017/18 Season". UEFA. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
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