Pablo González Couñago is a Spanish former footballer who played as a striker. After having played 35 La Liga matches for Celta and Málaga, scoring three goals, he spent the bulk of his professional career in England with Ipswich Town, where he managed 65 official goals. He also competed in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Finland. Couñago represented Spain in the 1999 World Youth Championship, winning the tournament.
Club career
Early career
Born in Redondela, Province of Pontevedra, Galicia, and a product of local RC Celta de Vigo's youth academy, Couñago made his professional debut in Segunda División, loaned to CD Numancia, but returned in January 1999 to his first club, failing to appear in La Liga in his first spell. In 1999–2000, he returned to the second level yet on loan, now with Recreativo de Huelva, after which he returned to Vigo still with no impact.
Ipswich Town
After impressing in a Spanish under-21 4–0 win over England at Birmingham City's ground, Couñago was signed by Ipswich Town in the late spring of 2001, as manager George Burley had been in the stands watching his performance. The player, who was out of contract, signed a four-year deal. Couñago scored at will in his first spell for the Blues, netting twice against Walsall, Burnley and at West Ham United, and adding a hat-trick against FC Avenir Beggen for the 2002–03 UEFA Cup, in an 8–1 home thrashing.
Málaga
Couñago joined Málaga CF in 2005–06, scoring three times in 27 matches as the Andalusians finished bottom of the table. He produced more in the following year, but the club failed to regain its top flight status.
Back to Ipswich
After being released by Málaga, Couñago re-signed for Ipswich on a two-year deal on 13 July 2007, extendable to three if the club gained promotion. Ipswich manager Jim Magilton said of the player: "I have always looked at Pablo as a player with all the attributes to be top class. He enjoyed a good relationship with the fans of this club, but I don't think anyone really saw the best of Pablo in his first spell here". The player stated: "It's great to be back here at Ipswich. I'm really excited about the move. As soon as I knew that Jim wanted me I was keen to come back. It's good to feel wanted. I also know the way Jim likes to play football, pass, pass, pass and that is good for me as well". He scored a return debut goal in the 4–1 home win against Sheffield Wednesday, and added two the following month against Coventry City. Couñago was the team's joint-top scorer for the 2007–08 season with 12 goals. One of those goals, an audacious backheel in a 1–3 defeat to Charlton Athletic on 8 December 2007, was voted goal of the campaign, also being one of the winners at Town's 2007–08 awards night. On 21 February 2009, Couñago started his 192nd league game for Ipswich and scored his 50th league goal for the club, in a 3–1 win at promotion rivals Queen Park Rangers. In the summer, he turned down the chance to join Swansea City following the arrival of Roy Keane as manager, but joined Crystal Palace on loan a year later, reuniting with former Ipswich boss Burley. On 6 November 2010, Couñago scored his first goal for Palace, in a 1–2 loss at Middlesbrough, opening his home account on the 27th in the 1–0 win over Doncaster Rovers. In June 2011, aged nearly 32, he was released by Ipswich.
