Igor Coronado: From League One football with MK Dons to becoming a sensation in the UAE Gulf League

Brazilian midfielder Igor Coronado ended his run of not scoring in six games by netting four times in a 5-1 victory against Khor Fakkan yesterday.

Hosts Sharjah FC were looking to end a five-match winless streak, which had seen them slip to third in the Arabain Gulf League table.

They got off to a perfect start inside the opening six minutes when Coronado opened the scoring with a spectacular free-kick. On the 18th minute mark, he was on the scoresheet again, after he met teammate Caio Lucas’ pass to double the lead.

It got even worse for the visitors when Waleed Sirag scored an own goal to put the King’s 3-0 up before Coronado sealed his hat-trick from the penalty spot just before half-time.

Khor Fakkan got one back midway through the second half through Ramon Lopes but the Brazilian was there again to seal the three points and net his fourth on the night.

The midfielder has now scored 15 goals in 20 games in all competitions this season, making him the third top goalscorer, three behind Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout.

The win ended a five-game winless streak for the King’s, who moved into second, four points from leaders Al Jazira at the top. However, they will drop down to third if Baniyas defeat Al Nasr today afternoon.

Igor Coronado has had an interesting career including a four-year spell at League One side MK Dons as a youth team player before leaving for Swiss side Grasshoppers.

In 2012, Coronado joined Floriana and netted 32 times in 63 games including three hat-tricks. Accolades soon followed as he won the Maltese Summer Cup and was named Best Foreign Player.

The attacking midfielder also had spells at Malta side Trapani where he played for three years, scoring 11 times in 34 games and survived a career threatening injury. Coronado also featured for Italy side Palmero netting in nine times in 42 games.

The Brazillian is now with UAE side Sharjah FC after joining them in 2018 and won the Arabain Gulf League and the division’s Foreign Player of the Year in his first 10 months with the club.

He continues to prove one of the most exciting players to watch in the league and will hope to add to his impressive numbers of 41 goals and 30 assists since his move to the UAE.