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Top Ten Real Madrid Players of All Time
- Updated: 23 March, 2012
2 – PACO GENTO
EFE
As a child Gento dreamed of playing for local side Racing Santander, little did he know he’d grow up to become a bona fide Real Madrid legend of mythological proportions.
The Cantabria-born number 11 enjoyed unprecedented success during an 18-year career with Los Blancos after joining from Santander in 1953.
Blessed with incredible pace, Gento had initially struggled to produce an end product in his early displays for Real but the arrival of coach Hector Rial would assist the young man in developing the technical side of his game.
Gento soon became known for his marauding runs down the left flank and he managed an impressive scoring record for a midfielder.
Gento is synonymous with two great eras for Real, a part of the glorious 1950’s side, he terrorised defences throughout Europe alongside Alfredo Di Stéfano before captaining the young side of the 1960’s.
He won an astonishing 12 league titles and whilst Paolo Maldini has matched his eight appearances in European Cup finals no one has equalled his six wins. Gento captained the side in their 1966 European Cup triumph, considered by many to be a graduation for the Ye-Ye generation and the high point of his career. He also lifted the Copa del Rey in 1962 and 1970.
Gento retired from football in 1971 after scoring 126 goals in 428 games for the club, he also turned out for the national side 43 times.
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