Atletico Madrid announced the extension of their contract with record player and captain Koke on Monday. With immediate effect, a special arrangement has been agreed with the 32-year-old
Koke has now played 626 competitive matches for “his” club. The 70-time Spanish international has long since become a club legend. Koke has worn the Rojiblancos jersey since he was six years old. And he will wear it for at least another season.
Atletico announced the extension of Koke’s contract on Monday morning with an emotional seven-and-a-half-minute video. A special agreement was reached between the two parties, “which provides for an annual extension at the end of each season”. Atletico left open whether this is linked to any conditions – such as a certain number of appearances.
Koke made his professional debut on September 19, 2009, playing 23 minutes in the 5-2 defeat at Barcelona. Koke swapped his number 26 for 6 in the 2012/13 season, and there is currently no other name above this number at Atletico than that of the club icon:
Only Adelardo has won more titles
In his 15 years as a professional, Koke has won eight titles with Atletico: Twice he triumphed in La Liga, once in the Copa del Rey, twice in the Europa League, twice in the European Super Cup and once in the Spanish Super Cup. In the club’s history, Adelardo (ten trophies) is the only professional to have been more successful.
“Our captain perfectly embodies everything an Atleti boy wants to be when he grows up. Koke is fight, commitment, sacrifice, solidarity … Koke is courage and heart,” the club writes with a lot of pathos on its website.
In the current season, Koke has made 26 appearances in La Liga (three assists), seven in the top flight (one assist) and five in the Copa del Rey. The upcoming highlight is undoubtedly his next Champions League quarter-final, when Borussia Dortmund will be his opponents on April 10 and 16.
