Saúl Coco

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Saúl Coco

| image = Sortie des vestiaires (cropped).jpg

| caption = Coco with Equatorial Guinea in 2022

| fullname = Saúl Basilio Coco-Bassey Oubiña{{cite web|url=http://fcf.cat/equip/1516/hj/espanyol-rcd-a|title=Federació Catalana de Futbol|website=fcf.cat}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|2|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lanzarote, Spain

| height = 1.88m{{cite web |url=https://www.udlaspalmas.es/jugador/coco-1 |title=Saúl Coco |language=es |publisher=UD Las Palmas |access-date=13 October 2022}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Torino

| clubnumber = 23

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Orientación Marítima

| youthyears2 = 2013–2016

| youthclubs2 = Las Palmas

| youthyears3 = 2015–2016

| youthclubs3 = → Orientación Marítima (loan)

| youthyears4 = 2016–2018

| youthclubs4 = Espanyol

| years1 = 2018–2019

| clubs1 = Espanyol B

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2018–2019

| clubs2 = → Horta (loan)

| caps2 = 22

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2020–2024

| clubs3 = Las Palmas

| caps3 = 79

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2024–

| clubs4 = Torino

| caps4 = 32

| goals4 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2018

| nationalteam1 = Equatorial Guinea U23

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2017–

| nationalteam2 = Equatorial Guinea

| nationalcaps2 = 29

| nationalgoals2 = 4

| club-update = 30 May 2025

| nationalteam-update = 24 March 2025

}}

Saúl Basilio Coco-Bassey Oubiña (born 9 February 1999), better known as Saúl Coco, is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Torino.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=Coco al Toro {{!}} Torino FC |url=https://www.torinofc.it/news/17/07/2024/coco-al-toro_28896 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Coco al Toro {{!}} Torino FC |language=it}} Born in Spain, he represents Equatorial Guinea at international level.

Early life

Coco was born in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, to Basilio Coco-Bassey Eyanga and a Spanish mother. His father is an Equatoguinean former footballer and current coach{{cite web|url=http://www.lanzarotedeportiva.com/index.php/futbol-3/regional/7065-comite-de-competicion-sesion-20-de-febrero-de-2013|title=Comité de Competición. Sesión 20 de febrero de 2013|trans-title=Competition committee. Session of 20 February 2013|publisher=Lanzarote Deportiva|language=es|date=21 February 2013}} who played for Canarian club CDU Puerto del Carmen in the 1987–88 season, alongside his brother Luis (Coco's uncle).{{cite web|url=https://historiadetias.com/2015/05/22/temporada-87-88/|title=Temporada 87-88|trans-title=87-88 season|publisher=Historia de Tías|language=es|date=22 May 2015}} Coco is also of Nigerian descent through his paternal grandfather.{{cite news |title=Coco-Bassey: The third defender of Nigerian descent in Equatorial Guinea's AFCON squad and their MVP |url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=49975 |access-date=21 January 2024 |publisher=All Nigeria Soccer |date=2 January 2024}}

Club career

Coco joined RCD Espanyol's youth setup in July 2016, after representing CD Orientación Marítima (where he was trained by his father) and UD Las Palmas.{{cite web|url=http://www.lanzarotedeportiva.com/index.php/futbol-3/base/13804-el-centrocampista-saul-coco-ficha-por-el-equipo-juvenil-del-rcd-espanyol.html|title=El centrocampista Saúl Coco ficha por el equipo juvenil del RCD Espanyol|trans-title=Central midfielder Saúl Coco signs for the juvenil squad of RCD Espanyol|publisher=Lanzarote Deportiva|language=es|date=17 July 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lancelotdigital.com/deportes/el-lanzaroteno-saul-coco-ficha-por-el-rcd-espanyol|title=El joven lanzaroteño Saúl Coco ficha por el RCD Espanyol|trans-title=Young lanzaroteño Saúl Coco signs for RCD Espanyol|publisher=Lancelot Digital|language=es|date=18 July 2016}} In August 2018, after finishing his formation, he was loaned to Tercera División side UA Horta for the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.rcdespanyol.com/es/actualidad/pelegrin-no-seguira/_n:7603/|title=Pelegrín no seguirá|trans-title=Pelegrín will not continue|publisher=RCD Espanyol|language=es|date=2 August 2018|accessdate=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129193535/https://www.rcdespanyol.com/es/actualidad/pelegrin-no-seguira/_n:7603/|archive-date=29 January 2021}}

Coco made his senior debut on 18 August 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 home win against UE Figueres.{{cite web|url=http://www.nvfocus.com/?p=7745|title=El At. Horta ganó en casa al Figueres|trans-title=At. Horta defeated Figueres at home|publisher=nvfocus.com|language=es|accessdate=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128115202/http://www.nvfocus.com/?p=7745|archive-date=28 January 2021}} The following 18 July, he returned to his former club Las Palmas, being assigned to the C-team also in the fourth division.{{cite web|url=https://www.udlaspalmas.es/noticias/noticia/saul-coco-regresa-para-reforzar-las-palmas-c|title=Saúl Coco regresa para reforzar Las Palmas C|trans-title=Saúl Coco returns to bolster Las Palmas C|publisher=UD Las Palmas|language=es|date=18 July 2019|accessdate=22 January 2021}}

Promoted to the reserves in Segunda División B ahead of the 2020–21 campaign, Coco made his first team debut on 17 December 2020, replacing Álvaro Lemos in a 4–0 away win against CD Varea, for the season's Copa del Rey.{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/12/17/copa_del_rey/1608240374_872358.html|title=Las Palmas se da un brindis y no se complica en la Copa|trans-title=Las Palmas give themselves a toast and do not complicate things in the Cup|publisher=Diario AS|language=es|date=18 December 2020|accessdate=22 January 2021}} On 15 June 2022, he renewed his contract until 2025, being definitely promoted to the main squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.udlaspalmas.es/noticias/noticia/saul-coco-amplia-su-vinculacion-con-la-ud-las-palmas|title=Saúl Coco amplía su vinculación con la UD Las Palmas|trans-title=Saúl Coco extends his link with UD Las Palmas|publisher=UD Las Palmas|language=es|date=15 June 2022|accessdate=14 August 2022}}

On 15 April 2023, Coco scored his first goal at any level for Las Palmas on his 69th appearance, consolation in a 2–1 loss at Granada CF.{{cite news |last1=León |first1=Rafa |title=Saúl Coco: "Nos pasaron por encima en intensidad; estamos pasando por un momento complicado"|trans-title=Saúl Coco: "They surpassed us in intensity, we are going through a complicated moment"|url=https://cadenaser.com/canarias/2023/04/17/saul-coco-nos-pasaron-por-encima-en-intensidad-estamos-pasando-por-un-momento-complicado-ser-las-palmas/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |publisher=Cadena SER |date=17 April 2023 |language=Spanish}} The team ended the season with promotion to La Liga, where he scored for the first time on 8 October to open a 2–1 victory away to Villarreal CF; his 30-yard direct free kick won the La Liga Goal of the Month award.

On 17 July 2024, Coco signed for Serie A club Torino FC on a four-year contract.

International career

Eligible to play internationally for Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria or Spain, Coco was called up to the senior squad of the former in August 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.lanzarotedeportiva.com/index.php/futbol/base/16392-saul-coco-convocado-con-la-seleccion-absoluta-de-guinea-ecuatorial|title=Saúl Coco convocado con la selección absoluta de Guinea Ecuatorial|trans-title=Saúl Coco called up to the full national team of Equatorial Guinea|first=Rubén|last=Betancort|publisher=Lanzarote Deportiva|language=es|date=28 August 2017}} He made his full international debut on 3 September, replacing Pablo Ganet in a 1–2 friendly loss to Benin;{{cite web|url=https://www.lanzarotedeportiva.com/index.php/futbol/base/16433-saul-coco-se-quedo-sin-victoria-en-la-noche-de-su-debut-con-guinea-ecuatorial|title=Saúl Coco se quedó sin victoria en la noche de su debut con Guinea Ecuatorial|trans-title=Saúl Coco ended up without a win in the night of his debut with Equatorial Guinea|publisher=Lanzarote Deportiva|language=es|date=3 September 2017|accessdate=22 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/espn/story/_/id/20578403/malawi-stun-togo-benin-edge-equatorial-guinea|title=Malawi stun Togo, Benin edge past Equatorial Guinea|publisher=ESPN|date=4 September 2017}} by doing so, he became the first person from Lanzarote to get called up internationally in 67 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.lanzarotedeportiva.com/index.php/futbol/base/16434-saul-coco-puso-fin-a-67-anos-sin-un-futbolista-internacional-absoluto-de-lanzarote|title=Saúl Coco puso fin a 67 años sin un futbolista internacional absoluto de Lanzarote|trans-title=Saúl Coco ended a 67-year spell without an international footballer from Lanzarote|publisher=Lanzarote Deportiva|language=es|date=4 September 2017}} The match was subsequently eliminated from FIFA records,{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/teams/country=eqg/men/matches/index.html#year2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605130807/http://www.fifa.com/live-scores/teams/country=eqg/men/matches/index.html#year2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 5, 2016|title=Live Scores - Equatorial Guinea - Matches|publisher=FIFA.com}} as the referee and his assistants referees were from Equatorial Guinea.{{cite web|url=http://publitecsport.com/mismo-error-la-misma-posicion-y-el-mismo-arbitro/|title=Mismo error, la misma posición y el mismo árbitro|language=Spanish|trans-title=Same mistake, the same position and the same referee|publisher=P.Sports|date=6 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://publitecsport.com/joaquin-ela-el-arbitro-de-los-partidos-eliminados-por-la-fifa/|title=Joaquín ELA, el árbitro de los partidos eliminados por la FIFA|trans-title=Joaquín Elá, the referee of the matches eliminated by FIFA|publisher=P.Sports|language=es|date=6 September 2017}}

Coco became cap-tied to Equatorial Guinea on 17 November 2018, when he appeared in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Senegal.{{cite web|url=https://ahoraeg.com/deportes/2019/04/09/saul-coco-y-jordan-ya-juegan-con-la-absoluta-de-guinea/|title=Saúl Coco y Jordan ya juegan con la absoluta de Guinea|trans-title=Saúl Coco and Jordan already play with the full side of Guinea|publisher=Ahora EG|language=es|date=16 April 2019|accessdate=22 January 2021}} He scored his first international goal on his sixth appearance on 7 October 2021, opening a 2–0 home win over Zambia in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.{{cite news |title=El lanzaroteño Saúl Coco se estrena como goleador de Guinea Ecuatorial|trans-title=Lanzarote-born Saúl Coco scores first goal for Equatorial Guinea |url=https://www.lanzarotedeportiva.com/index.php/futbol/52-futbol/25579-el-lanzaroteno-saul-coco-se-estrena-como-goleador-de-guinea-ecuatorial |access-date=21 January 2024 |publisher=Lanzarote Deportivo |date=8 October 2021 |language=Spanish}} He played all of his team's games in their run to the quarter-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, scoring in the penalty shootout win over Mali in the last 16.{{cite news |title=Africa Cup of Nations: Who made WhoScored.com's Team of the last 16? |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13962/12527249/africa-cup-of-nations-who-made-whoscored-coms-team-of-the-last-16 |access-date=21 January 2024 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=28 January 2022}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 25 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Saúl Coco |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/saul-basilio-coco-bassey-oubina/551928/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=Soccerway}}

Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps
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"\|Total
rowspan="5"\|Las Palmas \|2020–21 \|Segunda División \|2	0	2	0	4	0
2021–22 \|Segunda División \|11	0	1	0	12	0
2022–23 \|Segunda División \|36	1	1	0	37	1
2023–24 \|La Liga \|30	1	1	0	31	1
colspan="2"\|Total !79	2	5	0	84	2
Torino \|2024–25 \|Serie A \|32	2	2	0	34	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !111	4	7	0	118	4

=International=

:Scores and results list Equatorial Guinea's goal tally first.{{NFT player|id=69178|accessdate=14 October 2021}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;" \|+ List of international goals scored by Saúl Coco ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1.	7 October 2021	Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea	{{fb\|ZAM}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 2–0	rowspan=2\| 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.	16 November 2021	Stade Olympique de Nouakchott, Nouakchott, Mauritania	{{fb\|MTN}}	align=center \| 1–1	align=center \| 1–1
3.	24 March 2023	Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea	{{fb\|BOT}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 2–0	2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4.	24 March 2025	Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa	{{fb\|NAM}}	align=center \| 1–1	align=center \| 1–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Individual

La Liga Goal of the Month: October 2023{{cite news |date=30 October 2023 |title=Saúl Coco wins LALIGA EA SPORTS October Goal of the Month |publisher=La Liga |url=https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/news/saul-coco-wins-laliga-ea-sports-october-goal-of-the-month |access-date=3 November 2023}}
Serie A Goal of the Month: September 2024{{cite press release|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/media/serie-a/the-iliad-goal-of-the-month-for-september|publisher=Serie A |access-date=9 October 2024 |date=9 October 2024 |title=Saul Coco Wins September's Goal of the Month Presented by iliad}}