Francisco Calvo facts for kids
Calvo with Minnesota United in 2019
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada | ||
| Date of birth | 8 July 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Hatayspor | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2010 | Saprissa | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | San Jacinto Coyotes | 14 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2012 | Herediano | 23 | (1) |
| 2012 | Pérez Zeledón | 21 | (5) |
| 2013 | Nordsjælland | 3 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Herediano | 49 | (6) |
| 2015 | → Santos de Guápiles (loan) | 21 | (5) |
| 2015–2016 | Saprissa | 63 | (14) |
| 2017–2019 | Minnesota United | 60 | (5) |
| 2019–2021 | Chicago Fire | 62 | (5) |
| 2022 | San Jose Earthquakes | 13 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Konyaspor | 48 | (3) |
| 2024 | Juárez | 17 | (1) |
| 2024– | Hatayspor | 25 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011 | Costa Rica U20 | 4 | (1) |
| 2011– | Costa Rica | 111 | (15) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 03:18, 30 June 2025 (UTC) |
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Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada, born on July 8, 1992, is a talented football player from Costa Rica. He plays as a centre-back, which means he helps protect his team's goal. He currently plays for Süper Lig club Hatayspor and is the captain of the Costa Rica national team.
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Francisco Calvo started playing football at a young age. He joined Deportivo Saprissa as a youth player. He played there from 2005 to 2010. After that, he moved to the United States. He received a scholarship to study at San Jacinto College. During his time there, he also played college football.
Club Career Highlights
After his time in the United States, Calvo returned to Costa Rica in 2011. He played for Herediano. Later, he joined Pérez Zeledón. He scored 5 goals in 21 matches for them. In January 2013, he moved to Denmark. He played for Nordsjælland, who were champions at the time. However, he returned to Herediano in the summer of 2013. In January 2015, he played for Santos de Guápiles on loan.
Playing for Saprissa
In May 2015, Calvo joined Saprissa. This was the club where he started as a youth player. In his first season, he played 39 matches and scored five goals. The next season, he scored 9 goals in 24 matches. This was impressive for a defender. He was known for scoring from set-pieces, like free kicks and corners.
Moving to Major League Soccer (MLS)
On December 27, 2016, Calvo moved to the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. He joined Minnesota United FC. In 2018, he was chosen as an MLS All-Star. This was a big honor. He was the first player from Minnesota United to receive this award.
In May 2019, Calvo was traded to Chicago Fire. He played for them until the end of the 2021 season.
Recent Club Teams
On January 26, 2022, Calvo signed with San Jose Earthquakes. In March 2022, he scored two important goals. These goals helped his team get a 3–3 draw. His great performance earned him a spot on the MLS Team of the Week. After San Jose, he moved to Konyaspor in Turkey.
In January 2024, Calvo signed with Juárez in Mexico. He scored his first goal for the club in March 2024. This goal helped his team win 2–1 against Santos Laguna. As of July 2025, he plays for Hatayspor in Turkey.
International Career for Costa Rica
Francisco Calvo has also had a very successful international career. He plays for the Costa Rica national team.
Early International Appearances
He made his debut for the senior Costa Rica team on May 29, 2011. This was in a friendly game against Nigeria. He also played for the Costa Rica Under-20 team. He was part of the squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Calvo was also a reserve player for Costa Rica at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Later, he was called up for the 2011 Copa América. He played in games against Colombia, Bolivia, and Argentina.
Playing in the FIFA World Cup
In May 2018, Calvo was chosen for Costa Rica's squad. They played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He also played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. These are the biggest football tournaments in the world.
On October 15, 2024, he played his 100th international match for Costa Rica. This was a big milestone in his career. It happened during a 3–0 victory over Guatemala.
Honours and Awards
Francisco Calvo has won several awards and championships throughout his career.
Team Achievements
Individual Awards
- MLS All-Star: 2018
- CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2021
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Calvo Quesada para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
