The forgotten legends of football: Gento

Although Racing Santander was his first love, he became a fan favorite at the Bernabeu and he returned back the love in no small quantity. His first reaction after scoring was almost always to run to the crowd. There was a reason why he was such a fan favorite. In the 1956 final, he scored a stunning pile driver of a shot against Fiorentina. The very next year, he scored the winning goal against AC Milan in extra time and landed Real Madrid their third consecutive title. Gento was a household name in Spain now and offers started to fly in. But both the club and player were loyal to each other and the man continued to be a regular fixture on the left side of Real’s attack.

Another great period for Gento was after the arrival of Ferenc Puskas. The Hungarian legend often tucked in to the inside-left position and consistently released Gento, and then received a usually pin-point cross for an easy finish. Gento was a team player and very often cut the ball back from scoring positions so that his teammates could finish with ease.

Gento was a brilliant player for the Spanish national team too. Although he did not score much, he was the leader of the team. At the 1962 World Cup, he impressed all and sundry with his game. I guess it would have been really a unique tournament. Garrincha on the right and Gento on the left would have been a sight to behold. In 1964, he guided his team to a victory at the European Championship. His best game for the team was against USSR in the finals. Befitting his reputation as a big game player, he dominated a usually rampant USSR. He was simply unstoppable, his starting position on the left wing was nominal. He often turned up defending at right-back, he made tireless runs and even though his pace had fallen, he had replaced it with guile and intelligence. Although it is rare that a wide man can direct play, but much like Giggs today, Gento tucked in to the left side of midfield, directed the speed and direction of attack and made his runs selectively.

Real Madrid’s Francisco Gento with the European Cup after the victory in May, 1966

Perhaps the most satisfying season for Gento was 1966. By this time, all of the first batch of ‘Galacticos’, including Puskas, Di Stefano, Del Sol, Kopa and others, were no longer playing for the club. Gento was in charge of a side that was filled with young Spanish players. He led Madrid to European glory, inspiring a side in transition to greatness. Real Madrid defeated FK Partizan 2-1 and brought a sixth European cup to the Santiago Bernabeu. He finished his career in 1971 at Real Madrid. After 178 goals, he decided to call it a day. He served his club for 18 years and now serves as an ambassador for Real Madrid.

In his career, Gento won six European Cups, appeared in eight finals and won 11 La Liga titles, eight of them in succession. He guided Spain to a European cup and redefined the role of a winger. He was more than just a quick player. He was the flag-bearer of excellence in a side filled with world class stars. He was the best left winger in the history of game. The next time you see a Ronaldo or Bale running up the left flank, remember that a man quicker, more consistent and probably smarter than both once ruled the left touchline.