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 FC, Torino. Born in Spain, he represents Equatorial Guinea national football team, 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 who played for Canarian club CDU Puerto del Carmen in the 1987–88 season, alongside his brother Luis (Coco's uncle). Coco is also of Nigerian descent through his paternal grandfather.

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. In August 2018, after finishing his formation, he was loaned to Tercera División side UA Horta for 2018–19 Tercera División, the season. Coco made his senior debut on 18 August 2018, coming on as a second-half Substitute (association football), substitute in a 3–1 home win against UE Figueres. The following 18 July, he returned to his former club Las Palmas, being assigned to UD Las Palmas C, the C-team also in the fourth division. Promoted to UD Las Palmas Atlético, the reserves in Segunda División B ahead of the 2020–21 Segunda División B, 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 2020–21 Copa del Rey, the season's Copa del Rey. On 15 June 2022, he renewed his contract until 2025, being definitely promoted to the main squad. 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. 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 national football team, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria national football team, Nigeria or Spain national football team, Spain, Coco was called up to the senior squad of the former in August 2017. He made his full international debut on 3 September, replacing Pablo Ganet in a 1–2 Exhibition match, friendly loss to Benin national football team, Benin; by doing so, he became the first person from Lanzarote to get called up internationally in 67 years. The match was subsequently eliminated from FIFA records, as the referee and his assistants referees were from Equatorial Guinea. Coco became cap-tied to Equatorial Guinea on 17 November 2018, when he appeared in an 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group A#Equatorial Guinea v Senegal, Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Senegal national football team, Senegal. He scored his first international goal on his sixth appearance on 7 October 2021, opening a 2–0 home win over Zambia national football team, Zambia in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. 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 national football team, Mali in the last 16.

Career statistics

Club

International

:''Scores and results list Equatorial Guinea's goal tally first.''

Honours

Individual * La Liga Goal of the Month: 2023–24 La Liga#Monthly awards, October 2023

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Coco, Saúl 1999 births Living people People from Lanzarote Footballers from the Province of Las Palmas Spanish sportspeople of Equatoguinean descent Spanish people of Nigerian descent Spanish people of Galician descent Equatoguinean sportspeople of Spanish descent People of Canarian descent People of Galician descent Equatoguinean people of Nigerian descent Sportspeople of Nigerian descent Spanish men's footballers Equatoguinean men's footballers Men's association football central defenders Segunda División players Segunda División B players Tercera División players Serie A players RCD Espanyol B footballers UA Horta players UD Las Palmas C players UD Las Palmas Atlético players UD Las Palmas players Torino FC players Equatorial Guinea men's international footballers International sportspeople born abroad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations players 2023 Africa Cup of Nations players 21st-century Spanish people 21st-century Equatoguinean people Spanish expatriate men's footballers Equatoguinean expatriate men's footballers Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Italy Equatoguinean expatriate sportspeople in Italy Expatriate men's footballers in Italy