By Ritam Dey in Madrid
In the bustling streets of Madrid’s suburbs, few stories resonate like that of Sergio González, a man whose journey mirrors the resilience and passion of the city itself. Today, as the captain of CD Leganés, he is a symbol of tenacity, a player who has risen from obscurity to the grandeur of La Liga. But his path to the top was anything but conventional—it was forged in grit, sacrifice, and a relentless drive to defy the odds. From once being a player in the lower tiers of Spanish football to climbing the ladder up to promotion in La Liga, here’s why the world needs to know more about Sergio Gonzalez Poirrier.
The Madridista roots
Gonzalez will play against Real Madrid as the opposing captain on Sunday, November 24, 2024. He was once a regular starter for the under-19 Real team consisting of players like Dani Carvajal. But the Royal Whites gave up on Gonzalez, and he was forced to play in the lower divisions of Spain like Regional Preferente.
“I was a starter for the young squad for three years, but I had to leave Real Madrid because of the heavy demands there,” he explained. “I persevered through a difficult moment and eventually succeeded.”
Toiling through the ranks
Gonzalez started a fresh page after leaving the Madrid youth set-up, from the lowest of divisions. He joined a Regional Preferente team, Las Rozas, in 2012, from where he went on to play for AD Villaviciosa Odon, continuing further through the ranks of Alcoron B, UD Sanse, and Recreativo, until he finally reached the third division of Spanish football at CD Mirandes in 2018/19. He stayed there for two seasons, winning promotion to the second division and gaining 70 caps while scoring 4 goals, but was released going into the 2020/21 season.
Arrival at Leganes
When the time arrived, it was through pure perseverance rather than on the wings of fame. Leganés experienced the pain of relegation in 2020 and as their first acquisition, a team in transition looked to a little-known González. Both the player and the team were taking a risk, but Gonzalez accepted it wholeheartedly. He gradually made a name for himself as the squad’s cornerstone. Sergio established himself in the truest spirit of a club like Leganes that values ethics and commitment, not just with his on-field exploits but also with his temperament and dedication off the pitch. This eventually earned him the captain’s armband.
Welcoming the newborn in a matchday kit
His professionalism for the club meant that he did not even take a day off during his daughter’s birth. Gonzalez arrived for his daughter’s birth with boots on and in a Leganes jersey, straight from winning a match in the second division in 2023.
Gonzalez is now Leganes’ top-scoring defender in the 21st century. He comes from a breed of players who go all out on the pitch. From the anonymity of the lower leagues to captaining a La Liga side, Gonzalez’s story is about more than skill and aptitude. It’s about fighting for the badge, come what may.
💫 El sueño de toda una vida.
©️ @Sergio4Glez y su primer gol en @LaLiga.#LeganésCelta #LALIGAHighlights pic.twitter.com/XNgVa5k6c4
— C.D. Leganés (@CDLeganes) October 29, 2024