Koke Vegas Explained

Koke Vegas
Fullname:Jorge Ruiz Ojeda[1]
Birth Date:27 September 1995
Birth Place:Antequera, Spain
Height:1.88 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Rhode Island FC
Clubnumber:1
Youthclubs1:Antequera
Youthclubs2:Málaga
Youthclubs3:Sevilla
Youthclubs4:Puerto Malagueño
Youthclubs5:Antequera
Youthyears6:2011–2013
Youthclubs6:Espanyol
Years1:2011
Clubs1:Antequera
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2015
Clubs2:Espanyol B
Caps2:19
Goals2:0
Years3:2015–2017
Clubs3:Levante B
Caps3:42
Goals3:0
Years4:2016–2021
Clubs4:Levante
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:2017–2018
Clubs5:Alcoyano (loan)
Caps5:9
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2020
Clubs6:Deportivo La Coruña (loan)
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Mallorca (loan)
Caps7:1
Goals7:0
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:San Diego Loyal
Caps8:88
Goals8:0
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Rhode Island FC
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Club-Update:7:45, 1 November 2023 (UTC)

Jorge Ruiz Ojeda (born 27 September 1995), known as Koke Vegas or simply Koke, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for USL Championship club Rhode Island FC.

Club career

Koke was born in Antequera, Málaga, Andalusia, and represented the clubs Antequera, Málaga, Sevilla and CD Puerto Malagueño as a youth. On 16 April 2011, he made his senior debut for the former, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–0 Tercera División home draw against CD Huétor Tájar at the age of just 15.

In 2011, after having trials at Villarreal and Aston Villa, Koke joined Espanyol and returned to youth football.[2] He was promoted to the reserves in 2013, in the Segunda División B.[3]

On 2 July 2015 Koke signed for another reserve team, Levante UD B also in the third tier.[4] He made his professional debut on 4 September 2016, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the Segunda División.[5]

On 30 August 2017, Koke was loaned to third-tier club Alcoyano for a year.[6] The following 16 January, his loan was cut short and he was definitely included in the first team.[7]

Koke made his La Liga debut on 19 May 2018, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–4 away loss against Celta de Vigo.[8] On 16 July 2019, after spending the campaign as a third-choice behind Oier Olazábal and Aitor Fernández, he was loaned to second division club Deportivo La Coruña for a year.[9]

On 31 January 2020, as Oier left for Espanyol, Koke was recalled by Levante.[10] He was initially a backup to Fernández, but was overtaken by fellow youth graduate Dani Cárdenas during the 2020–21 campaign.

On 1 February 2021, Koke moved to second division side RCD Mallorca on loan for the remainder of the season.[11] On 31 August, he terminated his deal with the Granotes.[12]

On 7 January 2022, Koke moved to second division US side San Diego Loyal, who compete in the USL Championship.[13]

On 1 November 2023, Koke became the first signing in USL Championship expansion club Rhode Island FC’s history.[14] He was named the team's first captain on March 12, 2024, several days prior to the team's first game.[15]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Antequera2010–11Tercera División2020
Espanyol B2013–14Segunda División B3030
2014–15Segunda División B160160
Total1900000190
Levante B2015–16Segunda División B330330
2016–17Segunda División B900090
Total4200000420
Levante2016–17Segunda División100010
2017–18La Liga100010
2018–19La Liga100010
2019–20La Liga200020
2020–21La Liga101020
2021–22La Liga000000
Total60100070
Alcoyano (loan)2017–18Segunda División B900090
Deportivo La Coruña (loan)2019–20Segunda División002020
Mallorca (loan)2020–21Segunda División100010
Career total7903000820

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 . 16 June 2019 . Spanish.
  2. Web site: Koke Vegas, un futuro prometedor. Koke Vegas, a promising future. Futbol Emotion. es. 5 May 2011. 5 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Calatayud, Lara y Koke, los tres reyes magos de las porterías de fútbol con corazón verdiblanco. Calatayud, Lara and Koke, the three wise men of the goals of football with green-and-white heart. El Sol de Antequera. es. 18 December 2013. 5 September 2016.
  4. Web site: El meta Koke primera incorporación del Atlético Levante para la campaña 15–16. The goalkeeper Koke first addition of Atlético Levante for the 15–16 campaign. Levante UD. es. 2 July 2015. 5 September 2016.
  5. Web site: El Levante deja escapar al final los primeros puntos. Levante let slip away at the end the first points. Marca. es. 4 September 2016. 5 September 2016.
  6. Web site: Koke jugará en calidad de cedido en el Alcoyano en la presente temporada. Koke will play on loan at Alcoyano in the present season. Levante UD. es. 30 August 2017. 30 August 2017.
  7. Web site: Koke Vegas returns to Levante UD. Levante UD. 16 January 2018. 26 January 2018.
  8. Web site: El Zar Aspas. The King Aspas. Marca. es. 19 May 2018. 21 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Koke Vegas jugará cedido en el RC Deportivo hasta final de temporada. Koke Vegas will play on loan at RC Deportivo until the end of the season. Levante UD. es. 16 July 2019. 22 July 2019.
  10. Web site: Koke Vegas returns to Levante UD. Levante UD. 31 January 2020. 3 February 2020.
  11. Web site: 2 February 2021. El Mallorca refuerza su portería con Koke Vegas. Mallorca bolster their goal with Koke Vegas. 2 February 2021. Mundo Deportivo. es.
  12. Web site: El Levante UD rescinde el contrato con Koke Vegas. Levante UD rescind the contract with Koke Vegas. Levante UD. es. 31 August 2021. 31 August 2021.
  13. Web site: San Diego Adds Spanish Goalkeeper Koke Vegas to Squad. 7 January 2022.
  14. Web site: Rhode Island FC Signs First Player Ahead of Inaugural Season. 1 November 2023.
  15. Web site: Koke Vegas Named RIFC Captain. 2024-03-13. The Blazing Musket . en-US.