football firsts
Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede talks us through his football memories
First match?
I wasn’t a huge football fan until I was about 10 or 11, but I went to see my local team AS Nancy play Marseille when I was about five years old. I don’t remember too much about the game – I don’t know what the score was – but I went with my grandfather and I know it was a very cold day!
When I joined the academy at Metz, I started going to more games. I was always really excited to see the younger players, hoping that one day I could be one of them.
First hero?
Thierry Henry. He was a striker like me, and I always liked the English league, where he was a hero. I was about 11 when he went to Arsenal and when I had the chance, I watched him play. I tried to mimic his movements but as I grew up my body changed, and I didn’t have the same speed as him. We are quite different players.
First kit?
The first football shirt I had was a Germany one. My father came home one day with two kits – one for my brother and one for me. It was a World Cup one from either 1994 or 1998 and I loved wearing it. Germany were a strong team at the time, so I didn’t get questioned too much about wearing it in France.
First boots?
My parents bought me a pair of Patricks a year before I joined the academy at Metz, and they were plain black with a P on the side. Nowadays, I wear boots that are a lot more colourful, but I still prefer to keep them simple – I’m not a big fan of boots that have too much on them.
First game?
My first game on the bench for Metz was away at Marseille in November 2007. I remember warming up and just looking at the fans because the Stade Velodrome is one of the most famous stadiums in France.
My first game in the UK was for Cardiff away at West Ham in August 2011. I came on, got an assist and we won 1-0, so I have good memories of that.
First goal?
After breaking through, I was injured for 15 months, so I went on loan to AS Cannes before getting back in the team at Metz. I scored my first goal for Metz against Clermont Foot in July 2010.
I didn’t realise it was my first goal for the club because
I’d scored a few at Cannes, but the chairman pointed it out after the game. I was very happy to score. It was a cross from the left. Diafra Sakho set me up with a header and I volleyed it in.
My first goal for Cardiff was in the Carling Cup against Leicester that took the game to penalties – which we won – and we got to the final that year, which was amazing.
First red card?
I’ve had quite a few yellows, but I’ve done pretty well with reds. The only one I’ve had was for Middlesbrough against Norwich in 2018, but it was revoked. The referee booked me and then later I got a straight red, but luckily it was taken away. At the time it was very disappointing because it was an important game that we went on to lose, and it was more frustrating because I didn’t deserve to get sent off.