TM Q&A with Spain international
Koke has spent his football career exclusively with Atlético so far. If the 29-year-old midfielder has his way, nothing will change. In a Transfermarkt Q&A, the right-footed midfielder talks about frequent club switches, his career, the dream of a Champions League trophy and his World Cup ambitions with the Spanish national team.
Transfermarkt: You are one of Europe’s most loyal players. However, club loyalty is very rarely practiced in international football anymore, which annoys many fans. What do you think of professionals switching clubs every two or three years? And will you remain a “one-club player”?
Koke: Well, it’s not easy to stay at the same club your whole life. Everyone has their own career and decides for themselves. It’s respectable that a professional footballer wants to play in different clubs, get to know different cities, different cultures – that’s completely normal. And there are people, like in my case, who have been lucky enough to be at home here and to be successful in the team they are a fan of. And of course, it was always my dream to end my career here. If the club wants it and I’m doing well, I hope I can stay here.
This interview has been arranged in cooperation with Betway Sportwetten
Transfermarkt: From your point of view, what exactly makes Atlético special compared to the other international top clubs?
Koke: From my point of view, it’s the people, the fans and the feeling of how it works to achieve something. Plus, the life here, it’s always a family. A lot of people or teammates I’ve had who have lived here and then left say there’s nothing like it here.
Including Koke – The most loyal players in the top 10 leagues
Transfermarkt: In 2014 and 2016, you made it to the Champions League final. Are Atlético capable of lifting the trophy in the next few years? If so, why?
Koke: We’re fighting for it. We know it’s difficult to get to a Champions League final, that it means a lot of work. But we always work to make it to the final, and why shouldn’t we be able to win it? We’ve been there a few times before. Why shouldn’t we be able to do it and win our first Champions League trophy?
Koke wants World Cup title with Spain – “Very happy” with career at Atlético
Transfermarkt: You’ll be turning 30 in January. How satisfied are you with the course of your professional career so far? Is there anything that could be better?
Koke: At the end of the day, I think my career has been spectacular up to this point, with a lot of hard work and sacrifices. As I said, I’ve been here all my life, since I was a little boy, and it’s not easy to always stay at the same club, in the same city. To teach these values is not easy. But at the end of the day, I’m very proud of what I’ve done, not only because I’ve won titles, but because I feel I’m doing what I like, being with the team I love, and in general with my fans. At the end of the day, you can say that it could have been better or worse, but I’m very happy with my career.
Transfermarkt: You will probably take part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with the Spanish national team. What are your chances?
Koke: I hope to participate in this World Cup, but there are many favourites. My hope is that Spain wins, and why not? Because that’s why I’m Spanish, and I hope I can be there and win the tournament.
Transfermarkt: Who do you see as the biggest title contenders besides Spain?
Koke: There are a lot of good teams. Brazil, Argentina, Germany, many European teams… Anyone can win, many are at a very high level. I couldn’t name just one candidate right now.
