Gerso Fernandes

Gerso Fernandes (born 23 February 1991), known as Gerso (Portuguese: [ˈʒɛɾsu]), is a Bissau-Guinean footballer who plays for American club Sporting Kansas City as a left winger.

Gerso
Fernandes (foreground) with Sporting Kansas City in 2019
Personal information
Full name Gerso Fernandes[1]
Date of birth (1991-02-23) 23 February 1991[1]
Place of birth Bissau, Guinea-Bissau[1]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Sporting Kansas City
Number 12
Youth career
2004–2009 União Coimbra
2009–2010 Académica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Académica 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Tourizense (loan) 25 (3)
2011–2016 Estoril 93 (3)
2014–2015 → Moreirense (loan) 25 (5)
2016–2017 Belenenses 14 (1)
2017– Sporting Kansas City 89 (15)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 March 2020

Club career

Portugal

Born in Bissau, Gerso moved to Portugal in his early teens, joining C.F. União de Coimbra's youth system in 2004 at age 13. As a junior, he signed with neighbouring Académica de Coimbra where he went on to complete his formation;[2] he did not play football for two years during his formative spell, after a priest from the charity facility where he was living advised him against the dangers of turning professional.[3]

Gerso made his debut as a senior with G.D. Tourizense in the third division, who acted as Académica's farm team.[4] Released in summer 2011, he moved to G.D. Estoril Praia of the second level, contributing with 20 scoreless appearances in his first season as the club returned to the Primeira Liga after seven years.[5]

Gerso made his debut in Portugal's top flight on 17 August 2012, playing 30 minutes in a 1–2 away loss against S.C. Olhanense.[6] He continued to be played almost exclusively as a substitute in the following campaigns, by manager Marco Silva.[7][8]

For 2014–15, Gerso was loaned to fellow league side Moreirense FC.[9]

Sporting KC

On 4 January 2017, Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer announced the signing of Gerso from C.F. Os Belenenses on a three-year designated player contract, with an option for a fourth year.[10] On 17 May, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win against Seattle Sounders FC at Children's Mercy Park.[11]

References
  1. "Gerso" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  2. "Juniores: Maiores com a ajuda dos grandes" [Juniors: Getting bigger with help from big clubs]. Record (in Portuguese). 27 November 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  3. Amaro, Miguel (21 January 2012). "Gerso: "Padre proibiu-me de jogar futebol"" [Gerso: "Priest forbid me from playing football"]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  4. "Atlético supera Tourizense nos penáltis" [Atlético overcome Tourizense on penalties]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. "Estoril ganha e antecipa festa de subida à I Liga" [Estoril win and celebrate promoting to I League sooner than expected] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. "Olhanense entra a ganhar" [Olhanense have winning debut]. Jornal do Algarve (in Portuguese). 18 August 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  7. "Gerso será opção a Licá" [Gerso will be alternative to Licá]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  8. Chi, Vítor (10 September 2013). "Gerso: "Marco Silva tem um plano para mim"" [Gerso: "Marco Silva has a plan for me"]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  9. "Moreirense: Gerso chega por empréstimo do Estoril" [Moreirense: Gerso arrives on loan from Estoril] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  10. "Sporting KC signs winger Gerso Fernandes as a Designated Player". Major League Soccer. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  11. Sferra, German (18 May 2017). "Sporting Kansas City 3, Seattle Sounders 0 | 2017 MLS match recap". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
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