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 | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1970–1982 | Betis | 316 | (31) |
| 1982–1983 | Mallorca | 32 | (6) |
| 1983–1984 | Granada | 30 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 1977 | Spain | 1 | (0) |
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Francisco Javier López García (born October 14, 1950) is a former Spanish footballer. He was a talented player who mostly played as a midfielder, helping his team control the game from the middle of the field. He was born in Laredo, Cantabria, Spain.
Contents
Francisco López's Football Journey
Francisco López began his football journey playing for different teams. From 1967 to 1969, he played for Gimnástica de Torrelavega. After that, he joined Racing de Santander for a year, from 1969 to 1970.
Playing for Real Betis
López spent most of his career with Real Betis, a well-known team from Andalusia, Spain. He played for them for 12 years, from 1970 to 1982. During his time at Real Betis, he played in nine seasons of La Liga, which is Spain's top football league. He played a total of 266 games and scored 25 goals for the team in this league.
Winning the Copa del Rey
One of López's most exciting seasons was 1976–77. He scored two goals in 34 matches, helping Real Betis finish fifth in La Liga. Even better, Real Betis won the Copa del Rey that season! This is a major Spanish football cup competition.
The final match was against Athletic Bilbao. The game ended in a 2–2 tie after regular time. Francisco López scored both of his team's goals in that exciting match. The winner was decided by a penalty shootout. Real Betis won the shootout, lifting the trophy.
Playing for Spain
Shortly after his big win with Real Betis, Francisco López got to play for his country. On September 21, 1977, he earned his first and only international cap for the Spanish national team. A "cap" means playing in a match for your country. He played the last six minutes of a friendly game against Switzerland. Spain won that game 2–1.
Later Career and Retirement
After leaving Real Betis, López played for two more teams. 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 football in June 1984. He was almost 34 years old when he finished his career.
See also
In Spanish: Javier López García para niños
