Like father, like son: The Gómez family goalkeeping dynasty making waves at Racing Santander
A look inside the special relationship between Racing Santander's 19-year-old goalkeeper Laro Gómez and his father Vichi, as the youngster makes his professional debut.
Racing Santander’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Laro Gómez made history at José Zorrilla stadium, becoming the fifth youngest goalkeeper to debut for the club - following in his father’s footsteps as a professional shot-stopper.
A family affair
While young Laro was maintaining his cool ahead of his Segunda División debut against Real Valladolid, his father Vichi - a former goalkeeper himself and current goalkeeping coach at Gimnástica de Torrelavega - was anything but calm.
“Parecía que jugaba yo,” Vichi confessed, admitting he was an absolute bag of nerves watching his son take to the pitch. The proud dad only learned about his son’s starting role when someone called him during work to listen to manager José Alberto’s press conference.
The father-son relationship is built on a shared obsession with the craft:
- Both are self-described perfectionists
- They regularly analyze videos of other keepers together
- They constantly exchange opinions and constructive criticism
- As Vichi puts it, they “give each other earache” about goalkeeping technique
Keeping it in the family
Vichi rushed to Valladolid after finishing his coaching session, joining Laro’s brother (a midfielder at Polanco) to support the debutant. The nervous father arrived early to watch the warm-up but was immediately reassured by his son’s body language and composure.
This wasn’t their first rodeo together in football. Vichi coached Laro at La Amistad before the youngster joined Racing’s academy at U12 level. The father recalls how his son would complain that he was tougher on him than the other players - likely to avoid accusations of favoritism.
Last season, Laro was loaned to Escobedo, a club where Vichi had both played and coached. In a touching coincidence, Laro was assigned the same dressing room spot his father had used years before.
Racing through his veins
Despite his tender age, Laro’s commitment to Racing Santander is absolute. Friends describe him as mentally strong with crystal clear priorities. When asked about potential interest from other clubs, his response is consistently: “Racing, Racing, Racing.”
The teenager balances his blossoming career with continuing education - something his parents have always emphasized. As Vichi explains: “Studies help keep the mind clear. Football and books complement each other.”
While football dominates family conversations, Vichi maintains professional boundaries, always instructing his son to prioritize his current goalkeeping coach’s instructions.
As for the grandparents? They’re experiencing the unique joy of watching both son and grandson represent the region between the posts - with all the additional nervous energy that entails!
But beyond the sporting achievements, Vichi’s greatest pride in his sons is simple: “Being good people is above everything else.”