Koke (footballer, born 1992) explained

Koke
Full Name:Jorge Resurrección Merodio[1]
Birth Date:8 January 1992[2]
Birth Place:Madrid, Spain
Height:1.76 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Atlético Madrid
Clubnumber:6
Youthyears1:2000–2008
Youthclubs1:Atlético Madrid
Years1:2008–2010
Clubs1:Atlético Madrid B
Caps1:66
Goals1:7
Years2:2009–
Clubs2:Atlético Madrid
Caps2:454
Goals2:37
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalteam1:Spain U16
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2008–2009
Nationalteam2:Spain U17
Nationalcaps2:19
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2010–2011
Nationalteam3:Spain U19
Nationalcaps3:9
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2011
Nationalteam4:Spain U20
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2011–2013
Nationalteam5:Spain U21
Nationalcaps5:12
Nationalgoals5:1
Nationalyears6:2012
Nationalteam6:Spain U23
Nationalcaps6:6
Nationalgoals6:1
Nationalyears7:2013–2022
Nationalteam7:Spain
Nationalcaps7:70
Nationalgoals7:0
Club-Update:15:19, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

Jorge Resurrección Merodio (pronounced as /es/; born 8 January 1992), known as Koke (pronounced as /es/), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains La Liga club Atlético Madrid.

He spent the entirety of his career with Atlético Madrid since making his debut with the first team in 2009, playing a club record of over 600 competitive matches and winning the 2013–14 and 2020–21 La Liga, two Europa League titles and two UEFA Super Cup trophies, while he was also a Champions League runner-up in 2014 and 2016.

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

Club career

Koke was born in Madrid.[3] 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 5–2 away loss against FC Barcelona after coming on as a substitute for Paulo Assunção.[4] He made three further appearances during the season.[5] [6] [7]

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.[8] 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),[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13] He also began to excel at passing, either through set pieces or open play.[14] [15]

On 1 September 2013, Koke scored his first goal of the new season, contributing to a 2–1 away win over Real Sociedad.[16] His performances in October earned him the accolade of La Liga Player of the Month, while Simeone won the equivalent managerial award;[17] on 3 March 2014, he scored to help his team to a 2–2 home draw in the Derbi madrileño against Real Madrid.[18]

On 9 April 2014, Koke scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League, netting the only goal of a quarter-final against Barcelona[19] to send Atlético to the semi-finals for the first time since 1974.[20] [21] He finished the domestic league season as the player with the second most assists with 14,[22] [23] 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;[24] he was a nominee at La Liga Awards at attacking midfielder, losing out to Andrés Iniesta.[25]

On 25 June 2014, Koke signed a new five-year deal with Atlético.[26] He was named player of the match in their Champions League group match at Malmö FF on 4 November, scoring the first goal of a 2–0 win.[27] In a penalty shootout against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the round of 16, on 18 March of the following year, he had his attempt saved by Bernd Leno, but his team nonetheless advanced.[28]

Koke started 2015–16 slowly, scoring one goal and registering not a single assist by the middle of November.[29] 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;[30] later that month he surpassed that tally, also moving to first place in the assists chart ahead of Barcelona's Luis Suárez,[31] and was voted Player of the Month for the second time.[32]

On 23 October 2016, Koke was sent off for the first time in his career, for two yellow cards in a 1–0 loss at Sevilla.[33] The following 24 May, he signed a new five-year contract until 2024.[34] Only two months after turning 26, he entered the top 10 appearance makers in Atlético history with his 361st against Deportivo de La Coruña on 1 April 2018.[35]

Koke played his 400th official match for the club on 20 January 2019 – becoming the youngest player to do so in the process, at the age of 27 – scoring once and providing one assist in a 3–0 away defeat of SD Huesca.[36] After Diego Godín's departure in the summer, he became team captain.[37] [38]

On 23 June 2020, Koke played his 450th game in a 1–0 away win against Levante UD, again the youngest to reach that figure for the club.[39] The following 12 May, as his side neared the league title, he made his 500th appearance in a 2–1 home victory over Real Sociedad, a feat only done before by Adelardo Rodríguez;[40] he broke the former's record on 1 October 2022 in his 554th match, a 2–0 win at Sevilla.[41]

On 12 February 2023, Koke appeared in his 402nd game in the top division, again surpassing Adelardo, in a 1–0 away defeat of RC Celta de Vigo.[42] In March 2024, he agreed to an extension until June 2025.[43]

International career

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.[44]

Koke featured in the Spanish team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London,[45] 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,[46] being named to the team of the tournament as Spain won the competition by beating Italy 4–2 in Jerusalem in the final.[47]

On 14 August 2013, Koke made his debut for the senior team, replacing Santi Cazorla for the final 12 minutes of a 2–0 friendly win in Ecuador.[48] 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.[49]

Koke was named in Spain's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup,[50] and was also included in the final list for the tournament.[51] 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.[52] He started in the final fixture, a 3–0 victory over Australia.[53]

Koke was also selected by manager Julen Lopetegui for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[54] On 1 July, he was one of two Spanish players to miss his attempt in the round-of-16 shootout against the hosts, a 4–3 loss in Moscow.[55]

After two years without a cap, Koke returned to international duty on 11 November 2020 in a 1–1 friendly draw away to the Netherlands, in which he captained the country for the first time.[56] The following May, he was included in the 24-man squad for Euro 2020.[57]

Style of play

Koke is right-footed, but his versatility allows him to play as right, left or central midfielder.[58] [59] He is also known for his passing,[14] [15] and ability to create attacking opportunities.[22] [60]

Koke 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.[61]

Career statistics

Club

[62] [63]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCopa del ReyEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlético Madrid B2008–09Segunda División B28300——283
2009–10Segunda División B25200——252
2010–11Segunda División B13200——132
Total667000000667
Atlético Madrid2009–10La Liga400000—40
2010–11La Liga1722000—192
2011–12La Liga25220130—402
2012–13La Liga333707010483
2013–14La Liga3667013120587
2014–15La Liga342409220494
2015–16La Liga35550110—515
2016–17La Liga36461120—545
2017–18La Liga35430132—516
2018–19La Liga303307211416
2019–20La Liga324009011425
2020–21La Liga3710080—451
2021–22La Liga311209010431
2022–23La Liga3305040—420
2023–24La Liga350509010500
2024–25La Liga1000000010
Total4543751112479263847
Career total5204451112479270454

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[64]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain201370
201480
201550
2016100
201760
201880
201900
202030
2021140
202290
Total700

Honours

Atlético Madrid

2013–14,[65] 2020–21[66]

2012–13[67]

2014[68]

2011–12,[69] 2017–18[70]

2012,[71] 2018[72]

Spain U17

Spain U19

Spain U21

2013[77]

Spain

Individual

October 2013,[17] April 2016[32]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Acta del partido celebrado el 18 de mayo de 2019, en Valencia. Minutes of the match held on 18 May 2019, in Valencia. Royal Spanish Football Federation. es. 18 May 2019. 17 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Koke. Atlético Madrid. 4 March 2023.
  3. Web site: El equipo ideal de los nacidos en 1992. The all-star team of those born in 1992. 90 Min. Szwarc. Daniel. es. 20 July 2016. 29 April 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200718121935/https://www.90min.com/es/posts/3488948-el-equipo-ideal-de-los-nacidos-en-1992. 18 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Barca rout Atletico. ESPN Soccernet. 19 September 2009. 19 July 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026112302/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275881?cc=5739. 26 October 2012.
  5. News: El último minuto agrava la crisis del Atlético. Last minute worsens Atlético crisis. 20 minutos. es. 23 September 2009. 10 January 2018.
  6. News: El Sporting y el Atlético van de la mano. Sporting and Atlético go hand in hand. El País. Marcos. José. es. 9 May 2010. 10 January 2018.
  7. News: El Atleti le hizo pasillo al Getafe. Atleti guard of honour to Getafe. Diario AS. Díaz-Guerra. Iñako. es. 16 May 2010. 10 January 2018.
  8. Web site: Reyes to the rescue for Atletico. ESPN Soccernet. 26 February 2011. 27 February 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024103957/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/302092?cc=5739. 24 October 2012.
  9. Web site: Espanyol 2–2 Atletico Madrid: Brace from Pablo Osvaldo denies Mattress-makers full points. Goal. Barker. James. 17 April 2011. 17 May 2014.
  10. News: Simeone y la pócima mágica. Simeone and the magic potion. El Mundo. Ruiz Escobar. Ignacio. es. 29 October 2012. 10 January 2018.
  11. Web site: Falcao rescues Atletico. ESPN Soccernet. 29 April 2012. 29 April 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20120714212632/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/323707?cc=5739. 14 July 2012.
  12. Web site: Falcao at double as Atlético march to title. UEFA. Atkin. John. 9 May 2012. 16 May 2024.
  13. Web site: Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo off in Real Madrid loss. BBC Sport. Johnston. Neil. 17 May 2013. 1 October 2013.
  14. News: Koke se destapa como asistente. Koke discovers passing ability. Marca. G. Medina. David. es. 12 December 2012. 1 October 2013.
  15. Web site: Koke, el pasador de lujo del Atlético de Madrid. Koke, Atlético de Madrid's passer extraordinaire. Vavel. Romero Bernal. David. es. 24 September 2013. 1 October 2013.
  16. Web site: La Liga 2013: Atletico Madrid holds on against Real Sociedad. SB Nation. Woosley. Zach. 1 September 2013. 23 April 2014.
  17. Web site: Premios BBVA a los mejores de octubre. BBVA awards for the best in October. Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. es. 6 November 2013. 8 November 2014.
  18. News: Cristiano Ronaldo's late goal secures draw for Real Madrid against Atlético. The Guardian. Lowe. Sid. 3 March 2014. 23 April 2014.
  19. News: Atlético Madrid v Barcelona: Champions League live. The Daily Telegraph. 9 April 2014. 23 April 2014.
  20. Web site: Atlético Madrid 1–0 Barcelona. BBC Sport. Oscroft. Tim. 9 April 2014. 9 April 2014.
  21. Web site: Koke takes Atlético through at Barcelona's expense. UEFA. 9 April 2014. 10 April 2014.
  22. News: Koke acumula ya trece asistencias en la Liga. Koke already counts thirteen assists in League. Diario AS. Casáñez. Juan. es. 7 April 2014. 1 May 2014.
  23. Web site: Spanish La Liga stats: Assists leaders – 2013–14. ESPN FC. 17 May 2014.
  24. News: Atlético Madrid celebrate La Liga title after draw at Barcelona. The Guardian. Lowe. Sid. 18 May 2014. 18 May 2014.
  25. Web site: Gala de premios LFP 2013/14. LFP awards show 2013/14. Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. es. 10 November 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141105051027/http://www.lfp.es/gala-lfp-2013-2014. 5 November 2014.
  26. News: Koke y Juanfran prolongan sus contratos hasta 2019 y 2018. Koke and Juanfran extend their contracts until 2019 and 2018. Diario AS. Casáñez. Juan. es. 25 June 2014. 25 June 2014.
  27. Web site: Clinical Atlético grind down Malmö ardour. UEFA. Dutt. Sujay. 4 November 2014. 4 November 2014.
  28. Web site: Atl Madrid 1–0 Bayer Levkn. BBC Sport. Smith. Jonathan. 17 March 2015. 18 March 2015.
  29. News: El Atlético echa en falta las asistencias del mejor Koke. Atlético miss the assists of the best Koke. Diario AS. Cazón. Patricia. es. 17 November 2015. 20 April 2016.
  30. News: 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. Fuente. Chema G.. es. 9 April 2016. 20 April 2016.
  31. News: Cristiano, Koke o Suárez, ¿qué jugador lleva más asistencias en Liga?. Cristiano, Koke or Suárez, which player has the most assists in League?. Marca. es. 18 April 2016. 20 April 2016.
  32. Web site: Koke named Liga BBVA Player of the Month for April. La Liga. 19 May 2016. 4 March 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170814055120/http://www.laliga.es/en/news/koke-named-liga-bbva-player-of-the-month-for-april. 14 August 2017.
  33. News: Koke ve la primera roja de su carrera. Koke sees the first red of his career. Mundo Deportivo. Zimmermann. Walter. es. 23 October 2016. 6 April 2018.
  34. News: Koke agrees new five-year contract with Atletico Madrid. The Independent. 24 May 2017. 9 July 2020.
  35. Web site: Koke enters top ten appearances for our club. Atlético Madrid. 1 April 2018. 6 April 2018.
  36. News: Koke: Goal and assist in 400th appearance. Marca. Suárez. Isaac. Vou. Andreas. 20 January 2019. 20 January 2019.
  37. Web site: Koke set to lead Atlético into new era. Into The Calderon. McTear. Euan. 16 May 2019. 17 July 2019.
  38. News: Atlético Madrid have their four captains. Marca. Winterburn. Chris. 17 August 2019. 17 August 2019.
  39. Web site: Koke reaches 450 Atleti matches. Atlético Madrid. 23 June 2020. 30 June 2020.
  40. News: Koke, 500 partidos y un sueño: la Liga. Koke, 500 games and one dream: the League. Sport. es. 13 May 2021. 13 May 2021.
  41. News: Koke llega a lo más alto. Koke arrives at the top. Diario AS. es. Sergio. Picos. 1 October 2022. 7 January 2023.
  42. Web site: Koke becomes the player with the most games in our history in LaLiga. Atlético Madrid. 12 February 2023. 12 February 2023.
  43. Web site: Our captain will continue to defend the colours of Atlético de Madrid. Atlético Madrid. 25 March 2024. 2 April 2024.
  44. Web site: Spain beat Korea Republic on penalties. FIFA. 10 August 2011. 15 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150801181320/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255639/match=300145889/match-report.html#nosticky. 1 August 2015.
  45. Web site: Euro 2012 trio Mata, Alba & Martinez in Spain Olympic squad. BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. 16 February 2014.
  46. Web site: Thiago treble helps Spain retain Under-21 crown. UEFA. Kell. Tom. 18 June 2013. 23 April 2014.
  47. Web site: Thiago leads all-star squad dominated by Spain. UEFA. Ashby. Kevin. 21 June 2013. 23 April 2014.
  48. News: Taconeo ante Ecuador. Taconeo against Ecuador. Marca. Estepa. Javier. es. 15 August 2013. 13 March 2014.
  49. Web site: Spain on the verge following Finland win. UEFA. 6 September 2013. 23 April 2014.
  50. Web site: World Cup 2014: Diego Costa and Fernando Torres in Spain squad. BBC Sport. 13 May 2014. 14 May 2014.
  51. Web site: World Cup 2014: Spain drop Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas. BBC Sport. 31 May 2014. 31 May 2014.
  52. Web site: Spain 0–2 Chile. BBC Sport. Ornstein. David. 18 June 2014. 18 June 2014.
  53. Web site: Australia 0–3 Spain. BBC Sport. Chowdhury. Saj. 23 June 2014. 26 June 2014.
  54. Web site: Morata misses out on Spain's 23-man World Cup squad. Goal. Maston. Tom. 21 May 2018. 21 May 2018.
  55. News: Russia reach last eight thanks to penalty shoot-out win over sorry Spain. Jersey Evening Post. 1 July 2018. 1 July 2018.
  56. News: Koke: "¿Morata? Esa pregunta es para el seleccionador". Koke: "Morata? That's a question for the manager". Mundo Deportivo. es. 12 November 2020. 3 March 2021.
  57. News: Euro 2020 news LIVE: Sergio Ramos left out of Spain squad plus latest before England announcement. The Independent. Braidwood. Jamie. 24 May 2021. 24 May 2021.
  58. News: Simeone vuelve a plantearse colocar a Koke de mediocentro. Simeone thinks about placing Koke as central midfielder again. Diario AS. Casáñez. Juan. es. 11 October 2015. 18 May 2016.
  59. News: No estaba a gusto en la derecha. I was not comfortable on the right. Marca. Suárez. Isaac. Aznar. Luis. es. 27 November 2015. 18 May 2016.
  60. News: Koke es medio Atlético. Koke is half Atlético. Marca. G. Medina. David. es. 24 October 2014. 18 May 2016.
  61. News: Barcelona's Xavi hails Atletico Madrid's Koke: 'He is extraordinary...he will be my successor for Spain'. The Independent. Rogers. Iain. 30 March 2014. 5 May 2016.
  62. Web site: Koke. Soccerway. DAZN Group. 19 June 2014.
  63. Web site: Koke. Be Soccer. 21 May 2022.
  64. Web site: Koke. European Football. 21 June 2014.
  65. Web site: Atletico Madrid win La Liga. Sport 24. 17 May 2014. 29 January 2015.
  66. Web site: Así ganó la liga el Atlético, partido a partido. That's how Atlético won the league, match by match. Telemadrid. es. 22 May 2021. 22 May 2021.
  67. Web site: Real Madrid – At. Madrid. Royal Spanish Football Federation. es. 17 May 2013. 29 January 2015.
  68. News: VIDEO Atlético Madrid 1–0 Real Madrid (2–1 agg.): Highlights; Mandžukić goal wins Atlético the Spanish Super Cup. International Business Times. Le Miere. Jason. 22 August 2014. 27 June 2019.
  69. Web site: Falcao at double as Atlético march to title. UEFA. 9 May 2012. 29 January 2015.
  70. Web site: Marseille 0–3 Atlético Madrid. BBC Sport. Hafez. Shamoon. 16 May 2018. 17 May 2018.
  71. Web site: Chelsea 1–4 Atletico Madrid. BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. 29 January 2015.
  72. Web site: Real Madrid 2–4 Atlético Madrid. BBC Sport. Sanders. Emma. 15 August 2018. 16 August 2018.
  73. Web site: Madrid finally fulfil Décima dream. UEFA. 24 May 2014. 29 January 2015.
  74. Web site: Real Madrid 1–1 Atlético Madrid. BBC Sport. Johnston. Neil. 29 May 2016. 27 June 2019.
  75. News: Consuelo de bronce. Bronze consolation. El Mundo. es. 15 November 2009. 27 June 2019.
  76. Web site: France fight back to claim U19 crown. UEFA. Haslam. Andrew. 30 July 2010. 30 September 2020.
  77. Web site: Los campeones del Europeo sub-21 en 2013 en la España actual. The under-21 European champions in current Spain. UEFA. Huerta. Daniel. es. 15 June 2017. 27 June 2019.
  78. Web site: Spain 1–2 France. UEFA. 10 October 2021. 12 October 2021.
  79. Web site: The Liga BBVA team of the season. La Liga. 19 May 2014. 7 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20181205133841/https://www.laliga.es/en/news/the-liga-bbva-team-of-the-season. 5 December 2018. dead.
  80. Web site: UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season. UEFA. 30 May 2016. 7 June 2016.
  81. Web site: Thiago leads all-star squad dominated by Spain. UEFA. 21 June 2013. 12 July 2013.
  82. Web site: UEFA Europa League Squad of the 2017/18 Season. UEFA. 17 May 2018. 18 May 2018.

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