Paulo Sergio Gallardo Olmos (born 29 January 2001) is a Peruvian footballer who plays as a forward for Unión Huaral.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paulo Sergio Gallardo Olmos | ||
| Date of birth | 29 January 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Lima, Peru | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Unión Huaral | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sporting Cristal | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Sporting Cristal | 4 | (1) |
| 2020 | → Deportivo Municipal (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2021 | → UTC (loan) | 14 | (1) |
| 2022 | UTC | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | Unión Huaral | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | Peru U17 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:48, 23 December 2021 (UTC) | |||
Club career edit
Sporting Cristal edit
Paulito is a product of Sporting Cristal and got his professional debut for the club at the age of 19 on 6 April 2019 against Ayacucho FC.[2] Gallardo started on the bench, before replacing Jesús Pretell after 80 minutes. In his fourth appearance for the club, against Deportivo Binacional
Career on stand-by edit
Out of sudden, 18-year old Paulito announced in August 2019, that he would put his athletic career on hold for two years due to religious reasons.[3][4] In line with the announcement, Gallardo stated the following: Learning about the word of God has changed my life — I have great faith in Him. Now I will be a missionary so I can talk about the word of God with others. I’ll play soccer again, but everything is in the Lord’s hands. The missionaries continued teaching me, and a few months later I was baptized. Ever since I was a little boy, I dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player and maybe playing in Europe. You have no idea how much I will miss playing. But for now, I need to fulfill a mission for the Lord
It was also reported, that Gallardo had got his contract terminated by mutual agreement already on 5 August 2019, so he could “assume personal commitments for two years, regardless of official activities in the ‘King Sport’ during that period of time”.[5] Gallardo also became a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Return to football edit
However, it was reported on 1 October 2019, that Gallardo had returned to training with Sporting Cristal's reserve team.[6] His contract, which was under administrative leave, was reactivated from that day on and until the expiration date which was at the end of 2021.
In January 2020, Gallardo was loaned out to a fellow league club, Deportivo Municipal, to get his career back on track.
In July 2020 Gallardo revealed, that he regretted his decision to retire for a period: After a month I didn’t know what to do, I was suffering a lot and I kept thinking about what I did. Due to my mental health, I decided to return, but I was not the same, neither was my physical condition, so it was a very difficult year-end for me. Personally, I went through very hard situations and with my family I also had a hard time. They were very difficult moments in my life. I have my attitude and dedication for things that have happened to me throughout my childhood. My fights were totally different, they were struggles with myself, emotional issues, problems with my family. I suffered bullying as a child, with insults throughout my formative stage. Teasing, offensive nicknames, events that over time led me to be a person who now knows how to better control his emotions, and I focus my energy on being better on the field, ”he says with some nostalgia.[7]
In January 2021, Gallardo was loaned out to UTC Cajamarca for the 2021 season.[8] In December 2021 it was confirmed, that Gallardo had signed a permanent one-year deal with UTC.[9]
In January 2024, Gallardo joined Peruvian Segunda División side Unión Huaral.[10]
References edit
- ^ Paulo Gallardo at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Reserva cayo en Ayacucho". Sporting Cristal. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Jóvenes conversos dejan el fútbol profesional para servir una misión de tiempo completo, masfe.org, 20 August 2019
- ^ ‘God is my strength’: Why professional soccer player Paulo Gallardo is leaving his career to serve a mission, thechurchnews.com, 14 August 2019
- ^ Sporting Cristal: Paulo Gallardo, de 18 años, se retiró del fútbol por motivos religiosos, trome.pe, 8 December 2019
- ^ Se retiró por la religión, pero cambió de parecer: Paulo Gallardo volvió a Sporting Cristal, rpp.pe, 1 October 2019
- ^ Decentralized: Sporting Cristal | Paulo Gallardo and his arduous journey for redemption and, depor.com, 21 July 2020
- ^ UTC refuerza su delantera con la llegada de Paulo Gallardo, juvenil que pertenece a Sporting Cristal, futbolperuano.com, 29 January 2021
- ^ Paulo Gallardo también renovó con el UTC, ovacion.pe, 3 December 2021
- ^ Unión Huaral contrató a dos ex Sporting Cristal: Jesús Reyes y Paulo Gallardo, futbolperuano.com, 30 January 2024
External links edit
- Paulo Gallardo at Soccerway