Isco facts for kids
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Isco after the 2018 UEFA Champions League final with Real Madrid
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 21 April 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Benalmádena, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder, winger | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Betis | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | PDM Benalmádena | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2006 | Atlético Benamiel | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Valencia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Valencia B | 52 | (16) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Valencia | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Málaga | 69 | (14) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2022 | Real Madrid | 246 | (37) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Sevilla | 12 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Betis | 34 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Spain U16 | 3 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Spain U17 | 21 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Spain U18 | 1 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Spain U19 | 12 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Spain U20 | 6 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | Spain U21 | 19 | (14) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Spain U23 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2019 | Spain | 38 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez (born 21 April 1992), known as Isco, is a Spanish professional footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for the La Liga team Real Betis.
Isco started his career at Valencia, mostly playing for their reserve team. In 2011, he joined Málaga. His great playing there helped him win the Golden Boy award in 2012. This led to a big move to Real Madrid in June 2013. With Real Madrid, he won many important trophies, including five UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga titles.
Isco also played for Spain's national teams at different age levels. He was part of the 2012 Olympics team. He made his debut for the senior national team in 2013 and played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Isco's Football Journey
Starting Out at Valencia and Málaga
Isco was born in Benalmádena, a town in Málaga, Spain. As a child, he played for a local team called Atlético Benamiel. He then joined the youth system of Valencia.
In the 2009–10 season, Isco played for Valencia's reserve team, Valencia Mestalla. He scored one goal in 26 games. In November 2010, he played his first game for Valencia's main team. He scored two goals in a 4–1 win against Logroñés. He also helped the reserve team get promoted by scoring 15 goals.
In July 2011, Isco moved back to his home province. He signed a five-year contract with Málaga. He scored his first goal for Málaga in November 2011. He finished his first season with 5 goals in 32 games. Málaga also qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
In September 2012, Isco scored two goals in Málaga's first Champions League group game. They won 3–0 against Zenit. In December, he won the Golden Boy award. This award is given to the best young player in Europe. In January 2013, Isco signed a new contract with Málaga. He helped them reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
Becoming a Star at Real Madrid
On 17 June 2013, Isco said he had offers from Real Madrid and Manchester City. He decided to join Real Madrid. On 26 June, Real Madrid announced they had signed him for €30 million. He was the first player signed by the new manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
Isco made his first official appearance for Real Madrid on 18 August 2013. He helped set up a goal and then scored the winning goal in a 2–1 home win. He continued to play well, scoring two goals against Athletic Bilbao on 1 September.
Even though he scored often, Isco sometimes had fewer chances to play. This was because the team's playing style (4–3–3 formation) did not always suit him. In his first season, he scored 11 goals in 53 games. He also played in the Champions League final, which Real Madrid won 4–1 against Atlético Madrid.
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In the 2014–15 season, Isco was a regular player. He helped the club win the FIFA Club World Cup. Many people praised his performances. Some even compared him to the famous player Zinedine Zidane.
For the 2015–16 season, Isco changed his shirt number from 23 to 22. In November 2015, he was sent off in a game against Barcelona. He scored twice in a cup game against Cádiz in December. He was also part of the team that won the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League by beating Atlético Madrid in the final.
In the 2016–17 season, Isco played 30 times. Real Madrid won the La Liga title that year. He also started in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League final against Juventus, which Madrid won 4–1.
On 8 August 2017, Isco scored a goal in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup. Real Madrid won 2–1 against Manchester United. He was named man of the match for his great play. In September 2017, he signed a new contract with Real Madrid until 2022. He played in 11 Champions League games during the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League season. Real Madrid won their third Champions League title in a row. He also played in 23 league games when Real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga. In the 2021–22 season, he was not a main player. Real Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League that year. On 30 May 2022, Isco announced he was leaving the club after nine years.
New Teams: Sevilla and Betis
On 7 August 2022, Sevilla announced they had agreed to sign Isco. He signed a two-year contract. However, on 21 December 2022, Isco and Sevilla ended their contract early. The coach said Isco "did not meet the club's expectations."
In January 2023, Isco almost signed with a German club, Union Berlin. But the deal fell apart. The German club said he made new demands. Isco's team said Union Berlin changed the contract just before he was going to sign it.
On 26 July 2023, Isco joined Real Betis on a one-year deal. On 13 August 2023, he played his first game for Betis. On 28 August, he scored his first goal for Betis against Athletic Bilbao. This was his first goal in a year. Betis lost that game 4–2.
On 28 December 2023, Isco extended his contract with Betis until June 2027. In the 2023–24 season, he won the "man of the match" award 19 times in La Liga. This was more than any other player.
Playing for Spain
Isco played for Spain's Under-17 team in the 2009 FIFA World Cup. He scored three goals and Spain finished third. In 2011, he played for his country's Under-20 team in the U-20 World Cup. Spain reached the quarter-finals.
In February 2012, Isco was called up to the Spain Under-23 team. In May, he was chosen for the first time for the senior team. In July, he went to the Olympics in London with the Under-23 team.
On 6 February 2013, Isco made his debut for the main Spanish team. He played the last 30 minutes in a 3–1 win against Uruguay. That same year, he played in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel. He scored in the final and helped Spain win the tournament. He also won the "Bronze Boot" award for scoring 3 goals.
Isco scored his first goal for Spain in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match on 15 November 2014. Spain won 3–0 against Belarus.
He scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) for Spain on 27 March 2018. Spain won 6–1 against Argentina in a friendly game.
In May 2018, he was chosen for Spain's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He scored his first and only goal in the last group game against Morocco. The game ended in a 2–2 draw. His goal helped Spain win their group and move to the next round.
In May 2021, Isco was not chosen for Spain's team for UEFA Euro 2020.
How Isco Plays
Isco started his career as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. At Málaga, he often played in an attacking role. When he moved to Real Madrid, his coach sometimes asked him to play deeper. This meant he had to do more defensive work. He has also played as a winger.
Isco is a fast, skilled, and creative player. He has excellent technique and great control of the ball. He is known for his ability to make perfect passes. He can also dribble past several opponents easily. He is good at shooting the ball into the top corner of the goal. He understands the game very well and can direct his team's play.
In 2013, a journalist from Marca newspaper called Isco "the most promising young player in Spanish football." They compared his strength and skill to Sergio Agüero. They also compared his vision and passing to Zinedine Zidane. In 2015, former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas said he believed Isco would become Spain's most important player.
Isco's Achievements
Valencia Mestalla
- Tercera División Group VI: 2010–11
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
- Copa del Rey: 2013–14
- Supercopa de España: 2017, 2020, 2022
- UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
- UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
Spain U17
- FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2009
Spain U21
Individual Awards
- Golden Boy Award: 2012
- La Liga Breakthrough Player: 2012
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Bronze Boot: 2013
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013
- Trofeo Bravo: 2013
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2016–17
- La Liga Player of the Month: April 2024
- La Liga Play of the Month: April 2024 (with Nabil Fekir)
- La Liga Team of the Season: 2023–24
Personal Life
Isco has three sons.
See also
In Spanish: Isco para niños
