Born in Seville, Andalusia, Gerardo was an unsuccessful Real Madrid graduate - he never appeared for the first team - and started playing professionally in Segunda División, with CD Leganés, UE Lleida and CD Badajoz.
Having started 1999-2000 in the second level, Gerardo was purchased by Valencia CF in January 2000, appearing scarcely for the Che during the campaign but being a starter in the UEFA Champions League final loss to Real Madrid [REF].