Koke playing for Marseille |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sergio Contreras Pardo | ||
| Date of birth | 27 April 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Málaga, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Rayo Vallecano | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Málaga | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2003 | Málaga B | 84 | (17) |
| 2002–2003 | Málaga | 6 | (1) |
| 2004–2006 | Marseille | 43 | (6) |
| 2006 | → Sporting CP (loan) | 6 | (2) |
| 2006–2011 | Aris | 175 | (38) |
| 2011 | Houston Dynamo | 7 | (1) |
| 2011– | Rayo Vallecano | 3 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Sergio Contreras Pardo, commonly known as Koke (born 27 April 1983 in Málaga, Andalusia), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Rayo Vallecano as a striker.
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Koke started his football career at hometown club Málaga CF, being essential as the B team reached the second division for the first time its history, in 2003.
On 23 February 2003, he scored a late equalizer in a 1–1 home draw against Celta de Vigo in La Liga, where he appeared in six matches, five from the bench, totalling 176 minutes during the 2002–03 season.
In January 2004, after seeing very little playing time in the first team, blocked by veteran goal-poacher Salva, Koke joined French league powerhouse Olympique de Marseille,[1] playing ten times without scoring the remainder of the season. The following one was much better, with Koke scoring five in 24 appearances, and making for a pacy attacking trio in Marseille with former French internationals Steve Marlet and Péguy Luyindula.
In 2005–06, with the arrival of Mamadou Niang (in August 2005) and Toifilou Maoulida (in January 2006), Koke was deemed surplus to requirements, scoring one goal in nine league games and, in January 2006, was sent on loan to Portugal's Sporting Clube de Portugal, where he played almost no part in the club's season, although he did score twice as a substitute against Gil Vicente FC, on March 5, in a 2–0 home win.
The arrival (initially on loan) of Djibril Cissé in August 2006 meant the end of Koke's adventure in France. He would eventually sign for Aris Thessaloniki, a team that was filled with Spanish players, in a three-year deal.[2] He produced the best football of his career to date, notching up 10 league goals for a team that finished fourth in the league, after being promoted the previous season.
In 2007–08, Koke scored another 10 in the league's regular season, adding one in the UEFA Cup group stage game against Red Star Belgrade. In July 2008, he signed a new five-year contract with Aris, while also attaining club vice-captaincy, second to Konstantinos Nebegleras, and becoming himself captain in the 2009–10 campaign.
Koke signed with Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo on 15 April 2011. He joined the team officially on the 26th after being awarded his international transfer certificate.
On 29 April 2011, Koke made his debut for his new team, coming on as a late substitute in a 4–1 win against D.C. United.[3] However, after failing to settle in Houston and struggling in the league, he had his contract termination request accepted by the club on 30 May, leaving the club after little more than a month.[4]
Koke returned to Spain in September 2011, signing with Rayo Vallecano, freshly promoted to the top division. On 23 October, in his very first game, he scored his first goal for the club: after having replaced Piti midway through the second half of the away match against Real Betis, he netted the final 2–0 in the 88th minute, through a penalty kick.[5]
On 13 August 2008, Koke's girlfriend gave birth to their first daughter, Maria-Ameera (Maria after the Madonna and Ameera after an Arabian princess). The following day, he dedicated the goal, scored in a UEFA Cup contest against NK Slaven Belupo (1–0 home win), to his newborn.
In his spare time, he attended Aris BC's basketball matches during his spell in Greece.
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