Koke_Vegas

Koke Vegas

Koke Vegas

Spanish footballer

Not to be confused with Koke (footballer, born 1992).

Jorge Ruiz Ojeda (born 27 September 1995), known as Koke Vegas or simply Koke, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for USL Championship club Rhode Island FC.

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ruiz and the second or maternal family name is Ojeda.

Club career

Koke was born in Antequera, Málaga, Andalusia, and represented the clubs Antequera, Málaga, Sevilla and CD Puerto Malagueño as a youth. On 16 April 2011, he made his senior debut for the former, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–0 Tercera División home draw against CD Huétor Tájar at the age of just 15.

In 2011, after having trials at Villarreal and Aston Villa, Koke joined Espanyol and returned to youth football.[2] He was promoted to the reserves in 2013, in the Segunda División B.[3]

On 2 July 2015 Koke signed for another reserve team, Levante UD B also in the third tier.[4] He made his professional debut on 4 September 2016, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the Segunda División.[5]

On 30 August 2017, Koke was loaned to third-tier club Alcoyano for a year.[6] The following 16 January, his loan was cut short and he was definitely included in the first team.[7]

Koke made his La Liga debut on 19 May 2018, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–4 away loss against Celta de Vigo.[8] On 16 July 2019, after spending the campaign as a third-choice behind Oier Olazábal and Aitor Fernández, he was loaned to second division club Deportivo La Coruña for a year.[9]

On 31 January 2020, as Oier left for Espanyol, Koke was recalled by Levante.[10] He was initially a backup to Fernández, but was overtaken by fellow youth graduate Dani Cárdenas during the 2020–21 campaign.

On 1 February 2021, Koke moved to second division side RCD Mallorca on loan for the remainder of the season.[11] On 31 August, he terminated his deal with the Granotes.[12]

On 7 January 2022, Koke moved to second division US side San Diego Loyal, who compete in the USL Championship.[13]

On 1 November 2023, Koke became the first signing in USL Championship expansion club Rhode Island FC’s history.[14] He was named the team's first captain on March 12, 2024, several days prior to the team's first game.[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 May 2021
More information Club, Season ...

    References

    1. [1]
      "Acta del Partido celebrado el 18 de mayo de 2019, en Valencia" [Minutes of the Match held on 18 May 2019, in Valencia] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
    2. [2]
      "Koke Vegas, un futuro prometedor" [Koke Vegas, a promising future] (in Spanish). Futbol Emotion. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
    3. [3]
      "Calatayud, Lara y Koke, los tres reyes magos de las porterías de fútbol con corazón verdiblanco" [Calatayud, Lara and Koke, the three wise men of the goals of football with green-and-white heart] (in Spanish). El Sol de Antequera. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
    4. [4]
      "El meta Koke primera incorporación del Atlético Levante para la campaña 15–16" [The goalkeeper Koke first addition of Atlético Levante for the 15–16 campaign] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
    5. [5]
      "El Levante deja escapar al final los primeros puntos" [Levante let slip away at the end the first points] (in Spanish). Marca. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
    6. [6]
      "Koke jugará en calidad de cedido en el Alcoyano en la presente temporada" [Koke will play on loan at Alcoyano in the present season] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
    7. [7]
      "Koke Vegas returns to Levante UD". Levante UD. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
    8. [8]
      "El Zar Aspas" [The King Aspas] (in Spanish). Marca. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
    9. [9]
      "Koke Vegas jugará cedido en el RC Deportivo hasta final de temporada" [Koke Vegas will play on loan at RC Deportivo until the end of the season] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
    10. [10]
      "Koke Vegas returns to Levante UD". Levante UD. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
    11. [11]
      "El Mallorca refuerza su portería con Koke Vegas" [Mallorca bolster their goal with Koke Vegas] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    12. [12]
      "El Levante UD rescinde el contrato con Koke Vegas" [Levante UD rescind the contract with Koke Vegas] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
    13. [13]
      "San Diego Adds Spanish Goalkeeper Koke Vegas to Squad". 7 January 2022.
    14. [14]
      "Rhode Island FC Signs First Player Ahead of Inaugural Season". 1 November 2023.
    15. [15]
      "Koke Vegas Named RIFC Captain". The Blazing Musket. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
    16. [16]
      Koke Vegas at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
    17. [17]
      Koke Vegas at Soccerway
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