Koke Vegas
{{short description|Spanish footballer}}
{{Distinguish|Koke (footballer, born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Koke Vegas
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Antequera, Spain
| height = 1.88 m
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Rhode Island FC
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Antequera
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Málaga
| youthyears3 =
| youthclubs3 = Sevilla
| youthyears4 =
| youthclubs4 = Puerto Malagueño
| youthyears5 =
| youthclubs5 = Antequera
| youthyears6 = 2011–2013
| youthclubs6 = Espanyol
| years1 = 2011
| clubs1 = Antequera
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2013–2015
| clubs2 = Espanyol B
| caps2 = 19
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015–2017
| clubs3 = Levante B
| caps3 = 42
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016–2021
| clubs4 = Levante
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2018
| clubs5 = → Alcoyano (loan)
| caps5 = 9
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2019–2020
| clubs6 = → Deportivo La Coruña (loan)
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = → Mallorca (loan)
| caps7 = 1
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2022–2023
| clubs8 = San Diego Loyal
| caps8 = 88
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2024–
| clubs9 = Rhode Island FC
| caps9 = 24
| goals9 = 0
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 14:01, 4 November 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
{{family name hatnote|Ruiz|Ojeda|lang=Spanish}}
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.
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.futbolemotion.com/comunidad-futbol/es/blogs/diario-soloporteros/koke-vegas-futuro-prometedor|title=Koke Vegas, un futuro prometedor|trans-title=Koke Vegas, a promising future|publisher=Futbol Emotion|language=es|date=5 May 2011|accessdate=5 September 2016}} He was promoted to the reserves in 2013, in the Segunda División B.{{cite web|url=http://www.elsoldeantequera.com/futbol/14094-calatayud-lara-y-koke-los-tres-reyes-magos-de-las-porterias-de-futbol-con-corazon-verdiblanco.html|title=Calatayud, Lara y Koke, los tres reyes magos de las porterías de fútbol con corazón verdiblanco|trans-title=Calatayud, Lara and Koke, the three wise men of the goals of football with green-and-white heart|publisher=El Sol de Antequera|language=es|date=18 December 2013|accessdate=5 September 2016}}
On 2 July 2015 Koke signed for another reserve team, Levante UD B also in the third tier.{{cite web|url=http://www.levanteud.com/es/info/el-meta-koke-primera-incorporacion-del-atletico-levante-para-la-campana-15-16|title=El meta Koke primera incorporación del Atlético Levante para la campaña 15–16|trans-title=The goalkeeper Koke first addition of Atlético Levante for the 15–16 campaign|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=2 July 2015|accessdate=5 September 2016}} He made his professional debut on 4 September 2016, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the Segunda División.{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2016_17/segunda/jornada_3/nas_lev/|title=El Levante deja escapar al final los primeros puntos|trans-title=Levante let slip away at the end the first points|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=4 September 2016|accessdate=5 September 2016}}
On 30 August 2017, Koke was loaned to third-tier club Alcoyano for a year.{{cite web|url=http://www.levanteud.com/es/info/koke-jugara-en-calidad-de-cedido-en-el-alcoyano-en-la-presente-temporada|title=Koke jugará en calidad de cedido en el Alcoyano en la presente temporada|trans-title=Koke will play on loan at Alcoyano in the present season|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=30 August 2017|accessdate=30 August 2017}} The following 16 January, his loan was cut short and he was definitely included in the first team.{{cite web|url=http://www.levanteud.com/en/info/koke-vegas-returns-to-levante-ud|title=Koke Vegas returns to Levante UD|publisher=Levante UD|date=16 January 2018|access-date=26 January 2018}}
Koke made his La Liga debut on 19 May 2018, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–4 away loss against Celta de Vigo.{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2017_18/la-liga/jornada_38/cel_lev/|title=El Zar Aspas|trans-title=The King Aspas|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=19 May 2018|access-date=21 May 2018}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.levanteud.com/en/info/koke-vegas-jugara-cedido-en-el-rc-deportivo-hasta-final-de-temporada|title=Koke Vegas jugará cedido en el RC Deportivo hasta final de temporada|trans-title=Koke Vegas will play on loan at RC Deportivo until the end of the season|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=16 July 2019|accessdate=22 July 2019}}
On 31 January 2020, as Oier left for Espanyol, Koke was recalled by Levante.{{cite web|url=http://www.levanteud.com/en/info/koke-vegas-returns-to-levante-ud-1|title=Koke Vegas returns to Levante UD|publisher=Levante UD|date=31 January 2020|accessdate=3 February 2020}} 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.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2 February 2021|title=El Mallorca refuerza su portería con Koke Vegas|trans-title=Mallorca bolster their goal with Koke Vegas|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/mallorca/20210202/491855784106/mallorca-koke-vegas-levante.html|access-date=2 February 2021|publisher=Mundo Deportivo|language=es}} On 31 August, he terminated his deal with the Granotes.{{cite web|url=https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/el-levante-ud-rescinde-el-contrato-con-koke-vegas|title=El Levante UD rescinde el contrato con Koke Vegas|trans-title=Levante UD rescind the contract with Koke Vegas|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=31 August 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}}
On 7 January 2022, Koke moved to second division US side San Diego Loyal, who competed in the USL Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1202013|title=San Diego Adds Spanish Goalkeeper Koke Vegas to Squad|date=7 January 2022}}
On 1 November 2023, Koke became the first signing in USL Championship expansion club Rhode Island FC’s history.{{Cite web|url= https://www.rhodeislandfc.com/news/rhode-island-fc-signs-first-player-ahead-of-inaugural-season/|title=Rhode Island FC Signs First Player Ahead of Inaugural Season|date=1 November 2023}} He was named the team's first captain on March 12, 2024, several days prior to the team's first game.{{Cite web |title=Koke Vegas Named RIFC Captain|url=https://www.theblazingmusket.com/p/koke-vegas-rifc-captain-usl-championship-soccer|access-date=2024-03-13|website=The Blazing Musket |language=en-US}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 23 November 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Antequera
|2010–11{{LaPreferente|75688}} |2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Espanyol B
|2013–14{{Soccerway|jorge-ruiz-ojeda/310475}} |3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|Segunda División B |16 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 16 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|Levante B
|Segunda División B |33 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17
|Segunda División B |9 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| rowspan="7"|Levante
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|La Liga |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20
|La Liga |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|La Liga |1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|La Liga |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Alcoyano (loan)
|Segunda División B |9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 9 | 0 | ||
| Deportivo La Coruña (loan)
|Segunda División |0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | ||
| Mallorca (loan)
|Segunda División |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|San Diego Loyal
|2022 |30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2023
|USL Championship |31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 32 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!61 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 0 | |
| Rhode Island FC
|2024 |USL Championship |24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 24 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!164 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{BDFutbol}}
{{Rhode Island FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vegas, Koke}}
Category:People from Antequera
Category:Footballers from the Province of Málaga
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Tercera División players
Category:Antequera CF footballers
Category:RCD Espanyol B footballers
Category:Atlético Levante UD players
Category:Levante UD footballers
Category:CD Alcoyano footballers
Category:Deportivo de La Coruña players
Category:San Diego Loyal SC players