Kiko Ratón used to play alongside greats such as Robert Enke, under the guidance of legendary managers such as Ewald Lienen and numerous Spanish star coaches. Today, Francisco José González Expósito – the real name of the former CD Tenerife striker – plays up front for CD Puerto Cruz in the north of the island, alongside his son Pablo.
«Kikooo» echoes across the pitch 20 minutes before the end of Sunday’s match against AU Güímar. The manager gives the signal, which is also meant to be heard by the opposition. When a former professional is sent onto the pitch, it has an effect not only on your own team, but also on the opposition.
Ratón, which translates as ‚the mouse‘, jogs leisurely over to the bench. Once there, he slips on his white shirt with gold lettering and his number 9. Then the coach gives him some final instructions before Ratón begins his ritual a quarter of an hour before the end:
Kiko Ratón is still a striker – just a bit slower
He takes off his necklace, kisses it and tucks it into his socks. In the Spanish leagues, it’s forbidden to play whilst wearing a necklace. Nobody looks under his long socks, though. And so, as always, his talisman remains close to his body. Then the striker comes on as a substitute – naturally, as befits his status, wearing the captain’s armband.
Whereas he used to play alongside international football greats, in 2024, aged 48, he suddenly found himself on the pitch in Puerto de la Cruz with his own son. It seemed as though things had come full circle. Yet Ratón had no intention of retiring. Whilst his son now plays for the club’s youth team, his father has extended his contract for another year.
Now aged 50, Kiko Ratón is no longer as explosive as he once was. Anyone searching for pictures of ‚the Mouse‘ will find plenty of snapshots of him at full sprint. In the ‚Interinsular Preferente‘, as the league is known, the game is now played at a much more athletic level than it used to be. The game is incredibly physical, and almost all the players on the pitch are extremely fast. Kiko Ratón no longer has that burst of speed, but he makes up for it with experience:
The former CD Tenerife star may be slower these days, but he’s often in the right place. When an opponent sets off on a counter-attack, he thwarts the move with a skilful nudge – always teetering on the edge of a yellow card, yet without actually being booked. If you’re not as quick as you used to be, you simply need good positioning. Many professionals nearing the end of their careers know this all too well. The former German international Mats Hummels, for example, likes to joke about his lack of pace – particularly as his career draws to a close. But if you’re in the right position, you don’t have to run as much, or at least you can run more slowly.
Kiko Ratón: The legend’s back is playing up
Nevertheless, Ratón can no longer have any significant influence on the match against Güímar. When he comes on as a substitute a quarter of an hour before the end, hopes are high, but it takes a while before he makes his first touch. And throughout the match, Puerto Cruz rarely threaten the opposition’s goal. The only chance following the legend’s introduction is squandered by his teammate.
Kiko Ratón goes down following a challenge just before the final whistle. He clutches his back and, moments later, sinks to his knees with his hands on the ground; he then bends over, but looks visibly shaken:
After so many years in football, the 50-year-old’s body is showing its age. And yet it is remarkable that he still has enough left in him to hold his own for a quarter of an hour against the island’s young guns. Then, however, the referee takes pity. He brings the match to an end after a very short period of added time. Ratón has a quick chat with his teammates at the centre circle, then heads for the changing rooms, clearly in pain.
It remains to be seen whether Kiko Ratón will play for another year. However, it is more likely that he will take his well-deserved retirement from football. Perhaps there will be one more match with his son before that. Retiring players are often allowed to make a wish as a farewell gesture. In Ratón’s case, that wish is likely to be to tuck the talisman into his socks one last time and then walk onto the pitch at El Peñon stadium alongside his son Pablo.
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