Koke, red and white legend

MADRID, 2 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Jorge Resurrección, known as Koke, is already an Atlético de Madrid legend. And he has achieved it by breaking records with the red and white jersey, the last one this weekend against Sevilla, reaching 554 games as a mattress player, after beating Adelardo Rodríguez, another legend of the Madrid team.

This feat rounds the circle of Koke in the red and white entity, a player who perfectly represents and embodies the values ​​of Atleti, after a relationship with the club since he was 6 years old. Two Leagues, two Europa Leagues, two European Super Cups, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup shine in the record of the mattress captain in a story from which we highlight ten most important moments.

1. Debut with Atlético's first team

The Atletico midfielder made his debut with Atlético's first team at just 17 years old, and not exactly in an easy game. It was on September 19, 2009, when the colchonero, trained by Abel Resino, fell 5-2 against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. In that season he only played four games, while in the following year the figure increased to 19, still with a subsidiary file.

2. Primary goal.

On February 26, 2011, in a duel against Sevilla, the Vicente Calderón vibrated with Koke's first goal with the rojiblanco first team. The midfielder finished off a ball hung from the right by Diego Forlán with smoothness and precision, to fulfill his childhood dream. His was the goal of the tie to one in a match that would end 2-2. At that time the coach was Quique Sánchez Flores, who made a strong commitment to the now captain of Atleti.

3. First title.

In Simeone's first season on the rojiblanco bench, Koke gradually acquired stripes that would later be non-negotiable. In 2011-2012 he played 40 games and was an important piece in winning his first title as a mattress player, the second Europa League in three seasons, after beating Marcelo's Athletic Club (3-0) in the Bucharest final. Bielsa.

4. Lift the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid.

The following year, Atlético's improvement continued and they reached the Copa del Rey final, in which they faced Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. And the rojiblancos, with Koke in their ranks, broke a 14-year streak without beating their eternal rival. The match, which ended 1-2, was decided with a headed goal by Miranda after the midfielder's cross, once again key for Atleti to become Cup champions for the tenth time in their history.

5. Celebrate your first League.

After a 2012-2013 campaign in which he established himself in the starting eleven, wearing the red and white shirt on 49 occasions, his best season came in 2013-2014. The midfielder established himself as a fundamental and essential piece in Simeone's balanced scheme, becoming the extension of the Argentine coach on the pitch. And he achieved his greatest success up to that moment, winning his first league, ahead of Real Madrid and Barça. 58 games in his legs, he being the starter in 53 of them, in the year in which he scored the most goals (7) and gave 19 assists.

6. First Champions League final.

That same season, Koke came close to European glory by reaching the second Champions League final in the club's history, against Real Madrid, just a week after lifting his first league title. It could have been the finishing touch, but it became one of the most difficult moments for the midfielder, who nevertheless reinforced his Atletico leadership, for which it seems that he was destined. The rematch could not be consummated in 2016 either, when both teams met in Milan for the same loot and with the same ending.

7. Reconciliation with the victory in the Spanish Super Cup.

Koke had just played the 2014 World Cup with Spain, his first major tournament with the Spanish team, and in the summer of 2014 he began his new season with the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid, already as one of the team's captains. In the two-leg matchup, Koke started both duels, after which Atlético was proclaimed champion, recovering, in a certain way, the smile after the pain of Lisbon.

8. First match as captain.

The renewal with the rojiblanca entity in the summer of 2014 allowed him to continue rising in rank within the squad, entering the list of group captains. And it was in that same season, in 14-15, when he wore the bracelet for the first time, in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen, on March 17, 2015. The rojiblancos they advanced to the quarter-finals after beating the Germans on penalties.

9. Emotional renewal with the club of his life.

Off the pitch, Koke has hit it off with the red-and-white parish from the start, being a footballer with leadership in his veins. And the fans were more captivated when in 2017 he renewed again with Atlético, settling rumors about a possible departure after not achieving the long-awaited Champions. The signing ceremony was marked by the emotion of the midfielder. "My feeling is Atlético and it will be for life. I have never hidden it, I have been an Atlético player since I was a 'little boy' and, although in football you never know what can happen, I hope I can retire here," said the player.

10. He lifts his second League as captain.

The current Atletico captain had the honor of lifting Atlético de Madrid's eleventh league title in the 2020-2021 season, the first since 2014, once again breaking the 'tyranny' of Barça and Real Madrid. A very emotional and important championship for the colchoneros, who, as they did seven years before, took faith and heart to their last expression. In that course, the midfielder played 45 games, 37 of them in the domestic championship, being a cornerstone for Simeone, who has his last 'One club man' in Vallecano.