It took 16 years, nine different teams and more than 350 games behind him so that Ian Mackay could see his great dream come true: to succeed at Deportivo. The goalkeeper from A Coruña was trained in Abegondo and came to play against Milan in the 2006 Teresa Herrera, but he never managed to debut with the first team in an official match. Those were the times of Caparrós on the bench, of Aouate (he played all 38 league games), Munúa and Frabicio. Times of emigrating and making his debut that same season in Segunda B with Ceuta.
His path continued through the University of Oviedo, Vecindario, City of Santiago, Ponferradina, Atlético de Baleares, Racing de Ferrol, Murcia and Sabadell until arriving this summer in Riazor. He did it for the interest of the club, for the project, but above all for a personal debt to wear blue and white that made him renounce Second-degree offers to return to A Coruña. The prodigal son He finally debuted with Deportivo on August 29 against Celta B with a clean sheet and a win against the team of the eternal rival (5-0).
After its long-awaited premiere, it has only grown. In the second match Against Tudelano, a huge save of his in the final stretch made Lapeña’s solitary goal good (0-1) to add a new win. In Calahorra (0-3) he was again decisive with his safety to prevent the Riojans from getting into the game. And so on until this Saturday, in which he became the best of the match with six stops of merit that unhinged Badajoz, provoked the praise of visiting coach Óscar Cano and made a good goal from Quiles (1-0).
Carlos Abad and Lucho
Much of the blame for Deportivo’s historic start is on Mackay’s gloves. The goalkeeper from A Coruña is unbeaten adding 360 minutes with his clean sheet. A premiere of carats that already brings it closer to the best brands of its two predecessors. Lucho Garcia, now in Ponferradina, added 480 minutes without conceding. Carlos Abad, the one who started as headline, it took its armor up to 543 ‘. Challenges for the only goalkeeper of the 80 First RFEF teams together with the Sanluqueño who has not yet fitted in.
Marks on the sidelines, Mackay has already become an icon of Deportivo with his shirt and pink socks as a personal signature. In four games he has earned the respect and admiration of a Riazor stand that ended up applauding him before Badajoz. This public recognition is joined by the ‘private’, because on his expected return home he shares captaincy with the eternal Alex Bergantiños. His real challenge, far above any streak, is to wear pink at Riazor in Segunda next year. And then, why not, keep dreaming about what slipped through my fingers when I was a 19-year-old kid: playing with Depor in the First Division.
source https://pledgetimes.com/ian-mackay-depors-prodigal-son-shields-his-goal/
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