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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jorge Ruiz Ojeda[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 September 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Antequera, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rhode Island FC | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Antequera | |||
| Málaga | |||
| Sevilla | |||
| Puerto Malagueño | |||
| Antequera | |||
| 2011–2013 | Espanyol | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011 | Antequera | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Espanyol B | 19 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Levante B | 42 | (0) |
| 2016–2021 | Levante | 6 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Alcoyano (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Deportivo La Coruña (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Mallorca (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | San Diego Loyal | 88 | (0) |
| 2024– | Rhode Island FC | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7:45, 1 November 2023 (UTC) | |||
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
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Antequera | 2010–11[16] | Tercera División | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Espanyol B | 2013–14[17] | Segunda División B | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[17] | Segunda División B | 16 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
| Levante B | 2015–16[17] | Segunda División B | 33 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[17] | Segunda División B | 9 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
| Levante | 2016–17[17] | Segunda División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017–18[17] | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[17] | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[17] | La Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21[17] | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[17] | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Alcoyano (loan) | 2017–18[17] | Segunda División B | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| Deportivo La Coruña (loan) | 2019–20[17] | Segunda División | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Mallorca (loan) | 2020–21[17] | Segunda División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 79 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 0 | ||
References
External links
- Koke Vegas at BDFutbol
