Gerso
Gerso with Jeju United in 2022
Personal information
Full name Gerso Fernandes[1]
Date of birth (1991-02-23) 23 February 1991 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth Bissau, Guinea-Bissau[1]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Incheon United
Number 11
Youth career
2004–2009 União Coimbra
2009–2010 Académica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Académica 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Tourizense (loan) 25 (3)
2011–2016 Estoril 93 (3)
2014–2015 → Moreirense (loan) 25 (5)
2016–2017 Belenenses 14 (1)
2017–2020 Sporting Kansas City 107 (18)
2021–2022 Jeju United 69 (13)
2023– Incheon United 34 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:47, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

Gerso Fernandes (born 23 February 1991), known as Gerso (Portuguese: [ˈʒɛɾsu]), is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a left winger for South Korean club Incheon United FC.

Club career

Portugal

Born in Bissau, Gerso moved to Portugal in his early teens, joining C.F. União de Coimbra's youth system in 2004 at age 13. As a junior, he signed with neighbouring Académica de Coimbra where he went on to complete his development;[2] he did not play football for two years during his formative spell, after a priest from the charity facility where he was living advised him against the dangers of turning professional.[3]

Gerso made his debut as a senior with G.D. Tourizense in the third division, who acted as Académica's farm team.[4] Released in summer 2011, he moved to G.D. Estoril Praia of the Segunda Liga, contributing 20 scoreless appearances in his first season as the club returned to the Primeira Liga after seven years.[5]

Gerso made his debut in Portugal's top flight on 17 August 2012, playing 30 minutes in a 2–1 away loss against S.C. Olhanense.[6] He continued to be played almost exclusively as a substitute in the following campaigns by manager Marco Silva.[7][8]

For 2014–15, Gerso was loaned to Moreirense F.C. of the same league.[9]

Sporting KC

On 4 January 2017, Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer announced the signing of Gerso from C.F. Os Belenenses on a three-year designated player contract, with an option for a fourth year.[10] On 17 May, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC at Children's Mercy Park.[11]

Gerso rejected an offer for a new deal at the end of the 2020 season, and was released.[12]

South Korea

On 16 February 2021, Gerso joined K League 1 club Jeju United FC.[13] Two years later, he moved to Incheon United FC of the same country and league on a free transfer.[14]

Honours

Estoril

Sporting Kansas City

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Gerso" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Juniores: Maiores com a ajuda dos grandes" [Juniors: Getting bigger with help from big clubs]. Record (in Portuguese). 27 November 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  3. ^ Amaro, Miguel (21 January 2012). "Gerso: "Padre proibiu-me de jogar futebol"" [Gerso: "Priest forbid me from playing football"]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Atlético supera Tourizense nos penáltis" [Atlético overcome Tourizense on penalties]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Estoril ganha e antecipa festa de subida à I Liga" [Estoril win and celebrate promoting to I League sooner than expected] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Olhanense entra a ganhar" [Olhanense have winning debut]. Jornal do Algarve (in Portuguese). 18 August 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Gerso será opção a Licá" [Gerso will be alternative to Licá]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  8. ^ Chi, Vítor (10 September 2013). "Gerso: "Marco Silva tem um plano para mim"" [Gerso: "Marco Silva has a plan for me"]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  9. ^ "Moreirense: Gerso chega por empréstimo do Estoril" [Moreirense: Gerso arrives on loan from Estoril] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  10. ^ Kovzan, Sam (4 January 2017). "Sporting KC signs winger Gerso Fernandes as a Designated Player". Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Gerso Fernandes records hat trick in Sporting Kansas City's 3–0 victory over Sounders". The Seattle Times. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  12. ^ Bogert, Tom (20 January 2021). "Sporting KC's Peter Vermes gives updates on futures of Felipe Gutierrez, Gerso". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  13. ^ "美 MLS 스타 제르소 영입...막강 측면 완성" [U.S. MLS star Gerso recruited] (in Korean). Jeju United. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  14. ^ "인천유나이티드, '리그 최고의 크랙' 공격수 제르소 전격 영입!" (in Korean). Incheon United. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  15. ^ Kovzan, Sam (21 September 2017). "Recap: Sporting KC crowned Open Cup champions with 2–1 win over New York Red Bulls". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved 26 October 2022.

External links

Incheon United FC – current squad
2023 K League 1 Best XI
Categories