Gerso Fernandes Explained

Gerso
Upright:0.7
Fullname:Gerso Fernandes[1]
Birth Date:23 February 1991
Height:1.73 m
Birth Place:Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Clubnumber:11
Youthyears1:2004–2009
Youthyears2:2009–2010
Years1:2010–2011
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2010–2011
Clubs2:Tourizense (loan)
Caps2:25
Goals2:3
Years3:2011–2016
Caps3:93
Goals3:3
Years4:2014–2015
Clubs4:Moreirense (loan)
Caps4:25
Goals4:5
Years5:2016–2017
Caps5:14
Goals5:1
Years6:2017–2020
Caps6:107
Goals6:18
Years7:2021–2022
Caps7:69
Goals7:13
Years8:2023–
Caps8:46
Goals8:10
Club-Update:18:56, 28 April 2024 (UTC)

Gerso Fernandes (born 23 February 1991), known as Gerso (pronounced as /pt/), is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a left winger for South Korean club Incheon United FC.

Status: Married

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 development;[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 Segunda Liga, contributing 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 2–1 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 Moreirense F.C. of the same league.[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 over Seattle Sounders FC at Children's Mercy Park.[11]

Gerso rejected an offer for a new deal at the end of the 2020 season, and was released.[12]

South Korea

On 16 February 2021, Gerso joined K League 1 club Jeju United FC.[13] Two years later, he moved to Incheon United FC of the same country and league on a free transfer.[14]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Estoril2011–12Liga de Honra2103020260
2012–13Primeira Liga2600030290
2013–14161213050262
2015–163021000312
Total9336180501124
Moreirense (loan)2014–15Primeira Liga2552041316
Belenenses2016–17Primeira Liga1411020171
Sporting Kansas City2017Major League Soccer32852103810
20183153021366
20192521164327
202021320233
Total1091893645112926
Jeju United2021K League 132510335
202237820398
Total6913307213
Incheon United2023K League 134721524110
Career Total334472351411665139260

Honours

Estoril

2011–12[5]

Sporting Kansas City

2017[15]

Individual

2023

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gerso. Mais Futebol. pt. 11 April 2020.
  2. News: Juniores: Maiores com a ajuda dos grandes. Juniors: Getting bigger with help from big clubs. Record. pt. 27 November 2009. 26 October 2022.
  3. News: Gerso: "Padre proibiu-me de jogar futebol". Gerso: "Priest forbid me from playing football". Record. Miguel. Amaro. pt. 21 January 2012. 11 October 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213125028/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/liga_honra/Estoril//interior.aspx?content_id=737040. 13 December 2013.
  4. News: Atlético supera Tourizense nos penáltis. Atlético overcome Tourizense on penalties. Record. pt. 21 November 2010. 11 October 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101123090220/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/taca_portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=510774. 23 November 2010.
  5. Web site: Estoril ganha e antecipa festa de subida à I Liga. Estoril win and celebrate promoting to I League sooner than expected. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 6 May 2012. 30 January 2018.
  6. News: Olhanense entra a ganhar. Olhanense have winning debut. Jornal do Algarve. pt. 18 August 2012. 30 January 2018.
  7. News: Gerso será opção a Licá. Gerso will be alternative to Licá. Record. pt. 20 April 2013. 11 October 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130512030801/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Estoril/interior.aspx?content_id=816781. 12 May 2013.
  8. News: Gerso: "Marco Silva tem um plano para mim". Gerso: "Marco Silva has a plan for me". Record. Vítor. Chi. pt. 10 September 2013. 11 October 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140329081004/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Estoril//interior.aspx?content_id=843323. 29 March 2014.
  9. Web site: Moreirense: Gerso chega por empréstimo do Estoril. Moreirense: Gerso arrives on loan from Estoril. Mais Futebol. pt. 30 July 2014. 19 October 2017.
  10. Web site: Sporting KC signs winger Gerso Fernandes as a Designated Player. Sporting Kansas City. Sam. Kovzan. 4 January 2017. 4 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170105000201/http://www.sportingkc.com/post/2017/01/04/sporting-kc-signs-winger-gerso-fernandes-designated-player. 5 January 2017.
  11. News: Gerso Fernandes records hat trick in Sporting Kansas City's 3–0 victory over Sounders. The Seattle Times. 17 May 2017. 26 October 2022.
  12. Web site: Sporting KC's Peter Vermes gives updates on futures of Felipe Gutierrez, Gerso. Major League Soccer. Tom. Bogert. 20 January 2021. 28 July 2021.
  13. Web site: 美 MLS 스타 제르소 영입...막강 측면 완성. U.S. MLS star Gerso recruited. Jeju United. ko. 16 February 2021. 16 February 2021.
  14. Web site: 인천유나이티드, '리그 최고의 크랙' 공격수 제르소 전격 영입!. Incheon United. ko. 10 January 2023. 10 January 2023.
  15. Web site: Recap: Sporting KC crowned Open Cup champions with 2–1 win over New York Red Bulls. Sporting Kansas City. Sam. Kovzan. 21 September 2017. 26 October 2022.