Since kicking off his professional football career a year ago, Enric Gallego signs for La Liga side Getafe.
Enric Gallego signed for Getafe at the age of 32 after becoming a professional footballer only a year ago. The Spanish International’s career has been on the rise, since signing for Extremadura last season.
¡ @gallegoenric ya luce la camiseta del Getafe! 💙⚽️ pic.twitter.com/1tJIUlAU0U
— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF) July 11, 2019
Before signing for Extremadura, he featured for amateur clubs including Cornella, Premia, and Alzamora. To support his footballing career, he worked as a lorry driver, a builder, and air conditioner installer.
Gallego made his professional debut for Extremadura in a 1-0 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna in August 2018, when he was 31 years and 11 months. A move to that club gave a chance to reach the top level and he grabbed the opportunity to take his career to the next level.
The striker needed a hat-trick against CF Rayo Majadahonda in a 4-1 victory in September 2018 and scored four goals against CF Reus Deportiu in November. His performances helped him win the Segunda Division’s Player of the Month award for December.
Enric Gallego’s career in the last 18 months is ridiculous. Was playing on pitches with more sand than grass, jobbing around Catalunya for random clubs. Now bought by €6m for Getafe less than a year after turning pro. https://t.co/a2pbTv8dCD
— David Cartlidge (@davidjaca) July 8, 2019
In under four months, the Spaniard scored 15 times, thereby attracting interest from the La Liga sides. He signed for Huesca in January 2019 for a fee of €2 million, but the club was not able to avoid the drop. He scored five times in 20 appearances for Huesca, but his performances were watched by many.
Finally, he was at the top of his trade, playing against the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“My (former) teammates got to play at the Bernabeu but I missed out.” he told Reuters ahead of Heusca’s game against Los Blancos last season.
“Now it’s my turn and I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can.
“What happened for whatever reason had to happen for me to get to this stage and I wouldn’t change anything.”
His career did not take a standstill after Getafe paid €6 million, triggering his release clause to sign him in the summer window.
Continúa la meteórica proyección de Enric Gallego:
2017/18: Segunda B
2018/19: Segunda
2018/19: Primera
2019/20: Europa League
2020/21: ¿?— Rafael Escrig (@RafaelEscrig) July 8, 2019
“Many people played at a very high level in youth football then for various reasons they never hit the level they expected,” he told Reuters.
“I always trained the same, I was in the same league for many years but then I got an opportunity and I made the most of it.”
And the forward wants his story to be a lesson to all those who want to reach the top.
“If what has happened to me can be an example to other players and motivate them to keep working to take that step up in their own careers, then that’s even better,” he said.
Enric Gallego will play compete for the Europa League with Getafe this season. His dramatic rise should serve as an inspiration to many young players.
