Photo: Wim van Rossem for Anefo / CC0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Paco Gento was an association football player and association football coach, born on October 21, 1933 in Guarnizo, Cantabria, Spain. Paco Gento died on January 18, 2022 at the age of 88. Recorded honors include Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Sports Merit.
My Take
If you talk seriously about football history, Paco Gento is non-negotiable. Tearing down the left wing for Real Madrid through the 1950s and 60s, he was nicknamed the Gale of the Cantabrian Sea, which may be the most poetic moniker in the sport. His six European Cup titles remain an untouched record, and I doubt anyone will catch it. Beyond raw pace, I admire his lifelong loyalty to a single club, a value that feels rare now. For me he stands as the ideal of the classic, devoted footballer, and his passing in 2022 closed a chapter.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Paco Gento
- Name (Japanese)
- フランシスコ・ヘント
- Reading
- ふらんしすこ・へんと
- Born
- October 21, 1933 – January 18, 2022
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Rooster
- Origin
- Guarnizo, Cantabria, Spain
- Occupation
- association football player / association football coach
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Sports Merit
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Paco Gento born?
Born October 21, 1933.
When did Paco Gento die?
Died January 18, 2022, aged 88.
Where was Paco Gento from?
Paco Gento was from Guarnizo, Cantabria, Spain.
What did Paco Gento do?
Paco Gento worked as association football player, association football coach.
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