Francisco López (footballer, born 1950) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier López García | ||
| Date of birth | 14 October 1950 | ||
| Place of birth | Laredo, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1982 | Betis | 316 | (31) |
| 1982–1983 | Mallorca | 32 | (6) |
| 1983–1984 | Granada | 30 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 1977 | Spain | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Francisco Javier López García (born on October 14, 1950) is a Spanish former football player. He was born in Laredo, Cantabria, Spain. Francisco López played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both in defense and attack on the field.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Early Football Days
Francisco López started his football journey with a few different teams. From 1967 to 1969, he played for Gimnástica de Torrelavega. After that, he joined Racing de Santander for the 1969–1970 season. These early experiences helped him grow as a player.
Time at Real Betis
López spent most of his career playing for Real Betis. He joined the club in 1970 and stayed there until 1982. During his time with Betis, he played in Spain's top football league, La Liga, for nine seasons. He played a total of 266 games and scored 25 goals for the team in La Liga.
Winning the Copa del Rey
One of the most exciting moments for Francisco López and Real Betis was in the 1976–1977 season. That year, Betis finished fifth in La Liga. Even better, they won the Copa del Rey, which is a major Spanish football cup competition.
The final match was against Athletic Bilbao. It was a very close game that ended in a 2–2 draw after regular time. Francisco López scored both of his team's goals in that match! The winner was decided by a penalty shootout. Real Betis won the shootout, making them the champions.
Playing for Spain
After his great performance with Real Betis, Francisco López got a chance to play for the Spain national football team. On September 21, 1977, he earned his first and only international cap. He played the last six minutes of a friendly match against Switzerland. Spain won that game 2–1.
Later Career and Retirement
After leaving Real Betis, López played for two more clubs. He spent one season with RCD Mallorca and another with Granada CF. Both of these teams were in the Segunda División, which is Spain's second-highest football league.
Francisco López retired from professional football in June 1984. He was almost 34 years old when he finished his playing career.
See also
In Spanish: Javier López García para niños
