Kuki Zalazar Explained

Kuki Zalazar
Full Name:José Luis Zalazar Martínez
Birth Date:5 May 1998
Birth Place:Montevideo, Uruguay
Height:1.76 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Córdoba
Clubnumber:9
Youthclubs1:Albacete
Youthyears2:2012–2015
Youthclubs2:Málaga
Years1:2014–2018
Caps1:73
Goals1:22
Years2:2017–2018
Clubs2:Cartagena (loan)
Caps2:25
Goals2:1
Years3:2018–2021
Caps3:84
Goals3:20
Years4:2018–2021
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Years5:2021–2022
Caps5:28
Goals5:0
Years6:2022–2023
Caps6:30
Goals6:2
Years7:2023–
Caps7:30
Goals7:4
Nationalyears1:2014
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2014–2015
Nationalcaps2:17
Nationalgoals2:6
Club-Update:25 May 2024

José Luis "Kuki" Zalazar Martínez (born 5 May 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Córdoba CF.

Club career

Born in Montevideo, Kuki moved to Spain at early age and started his career with Albacete Balompié's youth setup. On 30 May 2012, aged only 14, he was signed by Málaga CF.[1]

Kuki made his senior debut with the reserves on 31 August 2014, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Atlético Mancha Real in the Tercera División.[2] The following March, he was linked to potential moves to Premier League sides Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.[3]

Kuki scored his first senior goal on 30 August 2015, in a 3–3 home draw against CD El Ejido 2012.[4] The following January, he was targeted by FC Barcelona.[5]

On 24 June 2017, Kuki scored a brace in a 4–2 home win against AD Unión Adarve, but his side narrowly missed out promotion in the play-offs.[6] On 8 August, he was loaned to Segunda División B side FC Cartagena, for one year.[7]

On 30 August 2018, Kuki moved to another reserve team, Real Valladolid B in the third division.[8] He made his first-team debut on 31 October, starting in a 2–1 away defeat of RCD Mallorca, in the season's Copa del Rey.[9]

Zalazar made his La Liga debut on 19 January 2021, coming on as a late substitute for Roque Mesa in a 2–2 home draw against Elche CF.[10] On 27 August, after the Valladolid's relegation, he moved to Segunda División side SD Ponferradina.[11]

On 31 August 2022, Zalazar terminated his contract with Ponfe,[12] and signed a two-year deal with Primera Federación side Deportivo de La Coruña just hours later.[13] Roughly one year later, he agreed to a one-year contract with Córdoba CF.[14]

On 30 June 2024, after helping the Blanquiverdes in their promotion to the second division, Zalazar signed a new one-year deal with the club.[15]

Personal life

Kuki is the son of former Uruguay international footballer José Zalazar, a midfielder who notably represented Albacete.[16] His younger brother Rodrigo Zalazar is also a footballer, and currently plays for Portuguese club SC Braga.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: El club ficha al hijo del uruguayo José Luis Zalazar. The club sign the son of Uruguayan José Luis Zalazar. Marca. es. 30 May 2012. 4 December 2016.
  2. Web site: El filial logra su primer punto en la difícil Mancha Real (0–0). The reserves get their first point in the difficult Mancha Real (0–0). Málaga CF. es. 31 August 2014. 4 December 2016.
  3. Web site: Liverpool considering transfer bid for Malaga wonderkid Jose Luis Zalazar. Metro. 30 March 2015. 19 November 2017.
  4. Web site: El Atlético Malagueño se deja igualar dos veces contra El Ejido 2012. Atlético Malagueño let El Ejido 2012 level twice. Diario Sur. es. 31 August 2015. 4 December 2016.
  5. Web site: El Barcelona sigue de cerca a Kuki Zalazar. Barcelona follow Kuki Zalazar closely. Sport. es. 22 January 2016. 19 November 2017.
  6. Web site: Incomplete comeback for Malagueño against Adarve (4–2). Málaga CF. 24 June 2017. 19 November 2017.
  7. Web site: Kuki, hijo del uruguayo Zalazar, se va cedido al Cartagena. Kuki, son of the Uruguayan Zalazar, goes out on loan to Cartagena. Diario AS. es. 8 August 2017. 19 November 2017.
  8. Web site: El Promesas se refuerza con Zalazar. Promesas bolster with Zalazar. Real Valladolid. es. 30 August 2018. 31 August 2018.
  9. Web site: Verde enciende la luz de Son Moix a base de zurdazos. Verde lights up Son Moix through left-footed bangers. Diario AS. es. 31 October 2018. 1 November 2018.
  10. Web site: Joaquín salva in extremis al Valladolid y oscurece la actuación de Josan. Joaquín saves Valladolid in extremis and shadows Josan's performance. Marca. es. 19 January 2021. 20 January 2021.
  11. Web site: Kuki Zalazar se une a la SD Ponferradina. Kuki Zalazar joins SD Ponferradina. SD Ponferradina. es. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021.
  12. Web site: Acuerdo para la rescisión del contrato de Zalazar. Agreement for the rescision of Zalazar's contract. SD Ponferradina. es. 31 August 2022. 31 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Kuki Zalazar, nuevo jugador del Dépor 22–23. Kuki Zalazar, new player of Dépor 22–23. Deportivo La Coruña. es. 31 August 2022. 31 August 2022.
  14. Web site: Kuki Zalazar, nuevo jugador del Córdoba CF. Kuki Zalazar, new player of Córdoba CF. Córdoba CF. es. 30 August 2023. 20 July 2024.
  15. Web site: Kuki Zalazar, cordobesista hasta 2025. Kuki Zalazar, cordobesista until 2025. Córdoba CF. es. 30 June 2024. 20 July 2024.
  16. Web site: Kuki Salazar, un diamante de color blanco y azul. Kuki Salazar, a diamond coloured in blue and white. Fútbol Carrasco. es. 2 January 2015. 4 December 2016.