Jon Ander Garrido clocked up his 200th official match on Sunday in the Cádiz shirt. Since his arrival in January 2014, Garrido has grown along with the club until, finally, he realised his dream of playing in LaLiga Santander. And for our club. Coming from the north to the south, he fell in love with these colours, the yellow and blue that are so proud to see him defend the Cádiz cause on the pitch.
On 26 January 2014, Garrido pulled on our shirt for the first time. He did so in the Carranza against Écija (2-1), in a match where both the player and the fans were nervous, like a first date. And so began a love that has endured to today and that has no expiry date. That game in the 2013/14 campaign was the introduction to what has been eight seasons in yellow. Who would have thought it?
He played 15 games in that first season, a figure that he turned into 40 during 2014/15, where his impressive development led to him becoming an important player for the team. In total, including of course the second half of the 15/16 campaign on loan with Racing de Ferrol - from where he returned stronger than ever - Garrido is now approaching his seventh year.
If he showed his midfield importance in Segunda B, in the four years in LaLiga SmartBank the significance of this "anchor man" in yellow became ever more clear. A real pillar for coach Alvaro Cervera, who since 2016/17 has made Garrido one of his most loyal sergeants to his footballing ideas on the pitch. He played more than 100 games for Los Amarillos in the Segunda, overcoming all manner of challenges, and, of course, being part of the team that achieved promotion to the top flight.
Now in LaLiga Santander, and after overcoming a long and difficult injury with the courage that characterises him, Garrido saw his dream of playing in the top flight come true. Having made his debut at San Mamés on 1 October, Jon Ander was back on track to reach 200 official games. And, finally, he made it, in the Carranza in Primera, not only in the starting line-up but with the captain's armband. Behind him lie a vast number of stories and memories, 200 games, but he continues striving forward, wearing a shirt with the number ‘5’ on its back, one that is undeniably part of the history of Cádiz Football Club. To sum it all up: Jon Ander Garrido.
