Abel Resino

Abel Resino Gómez (born 2 February 1960), sometimes known just as Abel, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current coach.

Nicknamed El Gato (The Cat) due to his reflexes, he played most of his professional career at Atlético Madrid. For roughly one year, starting in early 2009, he also coached the club, helping it qualify once for the Champions League.

Over the course of ten seasons, nine of those with Atlético, Abel appeared in 264 games in La Liga.

Playing career

Born in Velada, Province of Toledo, Abel arrived at Club Atlético de Madrid in 1982 from lowly CD Ciempozuelos after also having represented local CD Toledo, but would have to wait five years (four of those spent with the reserve side, only managing to be first-choice in his third season) to become a starter. He went on to amass over 300 overall appearances for the club, helping to back-to-back Copa del Rey trophies.

Abel held the record for the longest clean sheet in La Liga at 1,275 minutes, finally being beaten by Luis Enrique of Sporting de Gijón on 19 March 1991. This record was also the European record in a single season until 2009, when Edwin van Der Sar from Manchester United broke it against Fulham.