Gracias Coro – A tribute to a Gaur legend

by Gaurav Kadam October 6, 2020

It is very rare that a footballer from a foreign nation becomes the leading fan-favourite of an Indian club. Then again, Ferran Corominas, or ‘Coro’, as he was fondly called by everyone, is a special footballer.

Coro landed on Indian shores ahead of the 2017-18 season of the ISL, having joined FC Goa after a brief stint with Cypriot club Doxa Katokopia. The Spaniard had spent his entire career in his homeland, Spain before his brief stay at Cyprus after starting out as a youngster for his boyhood club RCD Espanyol. 

Progressing from the youth ranks, he made his debut for the club in La Liga and earned 165 caps over a course of eight years scoring 14 goals. He had brief stints in other Spanish clubs such as Girona, Elche and Mallorca as well, playing a crucial role in Elche’s rise to La Liga from the second division. 

The Indian chapter

After arriving in India, Coro was able to make an immediate impact for the Gaurs as he scored on his ISL debut against Chennaiyin FC in a 3-2 win. He followed up with his first hat-trick in ISL in just his third match in India against the formidable Bengaluru FC side. 

In the very next match, he scored another hat-trick, this time against Kerala Blasters FC, thus cementing his reputation as a goal scorer in the league. He went on to win the Golden Boot that season as he finished with a tally of 18 goals in 20 matches (including the playoffs) as the Gaurs finished third in the league standings that season before crashing out in the semis. 

In addition to the league goals, he also grabbed a couple of goals in the Super Cup. Here they made the semis in a campaign marred by an innocuous incident in a game against Jamshedpur where 7 players were sent off for an innocuous incident. The Gaurs lost in the semis here as well, but they had made their mark as a free-flowing side which likes to attack. 

And at the top, they had a man named, Coro ate goals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

FC Goa’s Coro and Brandon celebrate after a goal against Real Kashmir during a friendly game

Sustained brilliance

Coro continued from where he left off in the following season as well, scoring a brace in the first match against Northeast United FC. He went on to score five braces through the course of the season as he racked up a tally of 16 goals in 20 matches leading the team to another playoff, improving to the second position in the league standings. 

With his goal-scoring exploits, Coro became the first player in the history of the ISL to win consecutive Golden Boots. In addition to the Golden Boot, Coro was also adjudged as the Hero of the League, the award for the best player of the ISL season. Coro also finished as the top-scorer for FC Goa in the Super Cup leading the team to glory with his crucial five goals in the tournament. 

The Spaniard was back to India for his third season after extending his stay for another year and led the charge for the famed Gaur attack on the pitch last season. His stay coincided with another scoring streak to begin the season as he found the net in the season opener against Chennaiyin FC in a 3-0 win. 

He continued his fine form through the season as he netted a total of 14 goals in 15 matches as he had to sit out a few games due to an injury. The Gaurs won the League Winners Shield after finishing atop the standings and also clinched an automatic berth to the 2021 AFC Champions League Group stage as FC Goa became the first Indian club to do so.

Coro was a critical cog in the Gaurs’ rise through the past three seasons as one of the most exciting teams to play in the league. During his tenure at the club, the team continually improved upon their league standings eventually winning the League Winners Shield last year. 

The Spaniard’s exploits in front of the goal were nothing short of exemplary as he terrorized defences with his movement and clinical finishing. Within a span of three seasons, Coro became the highest goalscorer in the history of the Indian Super League, with a tally of 48 goals in 57 matches. 

Over the course of the last three seasons, he became the fan-favourite of every FC Goa fan as they cheered for every goal and heralded his contribution towards the rise of the club. He cemented himself as a Gaur and an Indian Super League legend with his exceptional play and leadership for the club on and off the pitch.  We salute him for all that he has done for the club and wish him the very best for his future endeavors. 

Gracias, Coro!

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