Contreras, the doorman who sought the linesman's Spain-Korea

Last update 12 October, 2014 por Alberto Llopis

Football hung by Pedro Contreras presents, former goalkeeper of Real Madrid and Malaga CF among many other equipment. Born on 7 of January of 1972, this Madrid carcerbero spent his early years training in the lower categories of white club. Already in 1996, Koke was loaned to Rayo Vallecano where after a brilliant season, It was fished again for Real Madrid. Sin embargo, two years on the bench in the shade of Bodo Illgner ,They caused Contreras had to make a living away from the Bernabeu.

And fate was to be Málaga, where Contreras was going to succeed as goalkeeper. In the Malaga club he would spend the best years of his sporting life. High Security, and with great reflexes, the good work of "Koke" would make Jose Antonio Camacho will convene for World 2002 from Korea and Japan, where he would replace the call Cañizares.

Despite not playing any game in the tournament, Contreras was going to see from the bench the tragic quarterfinal match, where Spain would fall eliminated against Korea on penalties after several controversial refereeing decisions. It was not until the 16 de octubre de 2002, when in a friendly Spain-Paraguay would debut with the national team. And it would maintain its goal to 0.

At the end of the campaign 2002-03, "Koke" was to be signed by Real Betis, where he would have a fierce competition with Toni Prats and Toni Doblas. Despite winning a title of Copa del Rey and play a match of the Champions League, Contreras would end up being relegated to the substitution, until in the 2007 It is on loan to Cadiz.. After a year of assignment in Cadiz club, Koke finally would choose to hang up the gloves and take over the post of goalkeeping coach Malaga.

Sin embargo, the end of his football career would boost his other great passion, sailing. After several crossings by Morocco, Ibiza or the Portuguese Algarve, Contreras was going to make one of his biggest dreams: velero.Para go to America in this, it would set a target, Trinidad and Tobago found in the Linesman of the match between Spain and Korea 2002, Michael Ragoonath, who annulled the famous goal for Morientes, considering that the ball had crossed the line Joaquín background.

Por ello, el 23 of January of 2010, accompanied by expert sailor Alfonso Manzaneque, Benalmadena departed toward the Central American country, where he arrived and managed to interview the Linesman. Finally, el 26 May he returned to Spanish soil after seeing fulfilled his mission.