All the wonderful things that have taken place recently at Brentford FC have been totally overshadowed by the recent news of the death of Alicia, Sergi Canós’s mother, who he patently adored. All our thoughts are with him and the rest of his family and he celebrated appropriately, paying tribute to her, when he scored his first goal for his new club recently.
I cannot think of any true Brentford fan who was anything other than sad and disappointed at the news that Sergi Canós had completed a deadline day loan move to Greek Super League team, Olympiacos. That being said, most would have understood his desire to play more regularly than had been the case so far this season which had seen him make only a handful of brief cameo appearances as a substitute, something that must have been particularly hard to take for a player who had been used to being a first team regular when fit as well as being someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and thrives upon regular match action.
Sergi Canós represents everything that is good about Brentford football club given his talent, character and general positive attitude towards football and life in general. Having been fortunate enough to interview him last season I can attest that he is as pleasant, enthusiastic and thoughtful as I had hoped and expected.
The ever-popular Sergi is considered to be part of the Brentford furniture, given that after Rico Henry, he is the longest serving player at the club, but despite having played almost 250 times for the Bees, amazingly, he is still just 26 years-old with so much more to contribute either still to Brentford – or, as is looking more and more likely, particularly when you read his characteristically graceful and generous farewell and thank you statement, whichever team is lucky enough to sign him permanently, probably at the end of the season.
Let’s look back at some of his Brentford highlights, of which there are many.
The first time we saw Sergi Canós Tenés, to give him his full name, was when he came on as a substitute against Preston North End on Saturday 18th September 2015.
A struggling Brentford team had put on yet another pedestrian performance, and were looking to be on the verge of yet another demoralising defeat when recent loan signing Canós was introduced without fanfare or expectation on the hour. His impact was immediate as Canós of the twinkling toes and fast, nimble feet, was simply too good for the visitors. He played with his head up, saw openings quicker than anyone else on the field and was as brave and determined as he was skilful on the ball.
He was a pest as well as a talent who made an immediate impact by seizing on an excellent Toumani Diagouraga through pass, and his low centre was converted at the near post by the predatory Lasse Vibe.
In an instant Griffin Park was smiling again as the fans found their voice and a resurgent Bees went on to win the game – all inspired by a young, slim, lithe and totally unheralded and unknown 18-year-old loanee.
That was Sergi to a T – a total crowd pleaser and a fast, skilful impact player capable of turning a game on its head in an instant. He fully remembers that goal and it brings a broad smile to his face as he thinks back to that memorable day in which he fell in love with Brentford, and the feelings were fully reciprocated.
Brought up in his native Spain he was a Valencia fan as a boy before joining the famed Barcelona academy in 2010. After three years there, at the age of 16 he made the brave decision to come to England accompanied by his family as he had an offer from Liverpool.
He was one of many talented young footballers trying to break through and make a name for himself at a world-famous club as well as get accustomed to the language and customs of a strange new country.
His loan spell at Griffin Park was sensational as he forced his way into the team and established himself as a Championship regular scoring seven times in 39 games, an incredible achievement for a player of his age and lack of experience.
On 28th December 2015 he scored THAT GOAL – Brentford’s goal of that and pretty much any season, a sensational solo effort which was pure poetry in motion and brought the Bees a 2-1 win at Reading after he instantly controlled a pass dropping over his head, flicked the ball over a straining defender, skipped past another one and hammered an unstoppable left foot volley into the roof of the net for a goal that brought the house down and is still marvelled at today.
On his return to Liverpool Sergi was rewarded for his efforts by coming on as a late substitute against West Brom, thus becoming the only Brentford player alongside Ivan Toney and Zanka to have played in the EPL before the start of last season.
It was now time for him to leave Anfield owing to the lack of opportunities but Brentford were priced out of the market and he joined Norwich City for £2.5 million but was not to enjoy his spell at Carrow Road, drifting out of the first team reckoning.
He was far too good to languish in the reserves and in January 2017 he jumped at the chance to re-join the Bees, this time permanently, for a club record £2.5 million fee.
Sergi had finally come home with a smile on his face – and to stay. Now, six years later he is, after Rico Henry, the longest serving, and without doubt the most popular player at the club having now played 249 times for Brentford and it is entirely fitting that he scored the club’s first ever Premier League goal on that unforgettable Friday evening against Arsenal, as well as the first goal scored at the club’s magnificent new stadium.
Apart from his undoubted talent, bravery at recovering from long-term injury, goalscoring ability, best summed up by a brilliant hat trick at Cardiff City, the pinpoint pass that led to the early penalty that calmed our jangling nerves at Wembley
in the 2021 Playoff Final against Swansea, and versatility, as he played last season without complaint in an unfamiliar right wing back position, he always plays with a sense of joy and wonderment. His enthusiasm is infectious as he is a whirlwind of non-stop passion, enthusiasm and energy, resembling nothing more than a romping Labrador at play.
Sergi made a full recovery after missing almost a year with a serious cruciate knee injury incurred against Nottingham Forest in October 2019. Even when he returned, he initially struggled for form, fitness and confidence. It took a wonderful goal against Blackburn Rovers – with fans allowed back for that game into the Brentford Community Stadium – when he cut in from the left and sent the ball screaming into the roof of the net, for his confidence to come flooding back. He told me that “being injured is so hard, you sit in the stand feeling sad when your team loses as you can’t help your teammates, and you feel just as sad when you win, as you worry that they don’t need you anymore. It is so, so difficult.” He recovered so well that he scored nine times as the Bees finally won promotion to the promised land of the Premier League and also managed three top level goals too last season – signing off with a majestic header against Leeds United.
I was fortunate enough to be one of the mere 3,800 allowed in to watch the unforgettable Championship Playoff semi-final second leg against AFC Bournemouth in May 2021. The noise generated by such a small number of supporters defied belief. Much of it was made by Sergi’s sister, Judit, mother, Alicia, and a group of their Spanish friends sitting right in front of me, who screamed their support and encouragement for him for the entire duration of the match. Sergi told me just how important his family has been in helping him settle down in a strange and unfamiliar country and how they inspire him to play better, something that is even more poignant now given his recent tragic news.
It is impossible not to love Sergi Canós, a wonderful footballer and a very special young man too. Hopefully it is simply au revoir rather than adiós and we will be given the opportunity to give him the send-off he undoubtedly deserves.