biography

[koikili]

Basics:

Name: Koikili Vélez Creus
Nicknames: Koi, Sushi, Fish
Occupation: Forward/Striker for the Portland Timbers
Played-By: Sergio Ramos
AIM: playing koikili
Age & DOB: 24, June 15, 1986
Height: 6'0" (1.83m)
Weight: 178 lbs (81 kg)
Eyes & Hair: Light Brown | Brown

Parents: Xavier Vélez & Maria Creus
Siblings: Alejandro (wife: Eva, children: Xavier, Llora, bun in oven), Xavier (wife: Najwa, child: Alejandro) & Rosa
Children: None.
Significant Others: Leda Scott

History:

Koikili Vélez Creus, known to most people simply as Koi, was born in the east central region of Catalonia, Spain. Growing up alongside a sister and two older brothers, Koi was playing with a football as soon as he was able to walk. While his siblings liked the beautiful game, Koi loved it. He was often found out of doors, anywhere there was enough grass to practice his footwork, from sun-up to well after sun-down.

Dedication and perseverance paid off as he found himself playing for his local youth club and eventually earning an invitation to the holy grail of Catalan football: a tryout at La Masia near Camp Nou, the FC Barcelona stadium and training grounds. What the coaches and skills technicians saw in the young boy impressed them and Koi found himself moving from his hometown (and away from his family) to live at the football facilities.

He was sculpted into a capable athlete, pressed to do well in his academics and set on the road to a career as a homegrown footballer for his country. He proudly played through the under 21 league and into a solid place on the reserve team. Unfortunately for him, he came up through the ranks at a time when the first team was loaded with all-stars and other than a rare substitution, Koi seldom saw the inside of Camp Nou at pitch-level. When the offer to play for a team in the MLS Expansion Division (the Portland Timbers) he jumped at the opportunity to make the move geographically as well as for his career.

The eager, dedicated player found himself on the western coast of the United States. He's happy to be there, excited to make his mark in a new club, a new city and make plenty of new friends. He's even enjoying the relative anonymity of playing football in the States, he's able to venture out into public without the threat of paparazzi attention and when a fan recognizes him it's a rare treat instead of a constant intrusion.

Personality:

At work or at play (sometimes they are the same thing in his mind), Koi is capable of intense concentration on the task at hand. Running drills, striking practice and even gathering up the goal net all get the same level of dedication and attention from him. During a match, he is one-hundred percent focused on his job: taking as many opportunities to attempt a goal as possible. He can be dogged and relentless about this, always aware of teammate and opposition positioning on the pitch and above all else, just where the ball happens to be.

Goals scored are always a means for celebration, be they his or that of a fellow teammate's. The only time he won't treat everyone to one of his hundred watt smiles is the rare and unfortunate occasion of an own goal. No one likes to be reminded that they've just handed the other team a score. Normally, Koi can be seen hugging, dog-piling or even kissing the nearest man in a matching kit when there's a goal made. He keeps the party short and to the point, however, mindful that the game goes on and showboating is as unsportsmanlike as a dirty tackle.

Off the field and in his private life, he's friendly, outgoing and personable. He likes to listen to other people talk about themselves and their careers, always fascinated in learning what others have a passion for or have chosen to spend their lives doing. There are times when he's easily side-tracked or overly enthusiastic about things, seeming something like an overgrown puppy: a bit reckless but all in all, harmless and well-meaning.

In relationships, he has had a hard time committing to much. Between the demands of a long season, travel for matches and competitions he simply has never had the time to dedicate to developing a deep connection with someone on a romantic level. Even a platonic level can be tricky for those in his life that are outside the immediate circle of teammates, coaches, trainers and doctors. He tries to be upfront about this and he tries even harder to avoid the pitfalls of running into women who want to attach themselves to a footballer for the notoriety of it all.

All in all, he's a pleasant and upbeat person who simply has a great deal of passion to go along with his talent.

Facts & Career Stats:

» Born June 15, 1986 which makes him twenty-four years old.
» Tercera División champion in 2007/2008.
» Scored seventy goals for his respective clubs during his reserve career and is considered a very successful forward/striker.
» Routinely plays all ninety minutes of matches when he starts.
» Was very proud to wear the number 9 for his last club.
» Is a product of Barcelona's La Masia system, having spent a number of years in residence at the training facilities.
» Was called up several times to play on the first team for FC Barcelona.
» Has said in interviews that he will always be a culé (supporter of Barcelona Football Club).
» Played the last minutes of a crucial match with a broken ankle because the team had used all their substitutions and he didn't want them to be limited to only ten men on the pitch. He scored the winning goal in the 89th minute of that game.
» Isn't overly fond of the nickname "Sushi" given to him by fans but he has never publicly stated this.

Personal Facts:

» Plays the piano to relax, usually things from the Beatles' catalogue
» McDonald's is a guilty pleasure he very rarely indulges
» Is not at all good with electronics or video games
» Adores his sister's Yorkie far more than he will ever admit
» Is allergic to cats
» Primarily uses his GoPo space to talk football and post pictures
» Has several tattoos, the most notable being the half sleeve of religious imagery on his left arm.

Koi's Portland Home

MLS Listing:

Address:
1305 SW MYRTLE CT,
Portland 97201

Details:
Beds: 3
Baths: 3.10
Subdivision: Portland Heights
Area: Portland West, Raleigh Hills

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.



OOC

About: CST but up late/prefer threading/IC chat on AIM/random scenes are fun.