Leo Franco facts for kids
Franco in 2009
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonardo Neoren Franco | ||
| Date of birth | 20 May 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1997 | Independiente | 2 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | Mérida | 0 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Mallorca B | 23 | (0) |
| 1999–2004 | Mallorca | 148 | (0) |
| 2004–2009 | Atlético Madrid | 153 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Galatasaray | 26 | (0) |
| 2010–2014 | Zaragoza | 67 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | San Lorenzo | 3 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Huesca | 28 | (0) |
| Total | 450 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997 | Argentina U20 | 6 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Argentina | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2018 | Huesca | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Leonardo "Leo" Neoren Franco (born on May 20, 1977) is a former professional footballer from Argentina. He played as a goalkeeper for many years.
Leo Franco spent most of his career playing in Spain. He played in 328 matches in La Liga, which is Spain's top football league. He played for famous clubs like Mallorca, Atlético Madrid, and Zaragoza.
He also played for the Argentine national team for two years. He even represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Early Career in Argentina and Spain
Leo Franco started his football journey in 1995 at Club Atlético Independiente in Argentina. When he was 20, he moved to Spain to play for CP Mérida. He didn't play any matches in La Liga there.
The next year, he joined RCD Mallorca. He played his first season with their reserve team, RCD Mallorca B.
Success with Mallorca
Soon, Franco joined Mallorca's main team. He became their starting goalkeeper, taking over from another Argentine player, Carlos Roa. In the 2000–01 season, he played in 27 matches. Mallorca finished in third place, which was their best-ever finish. This allowed them to play in the UEFA Champions League.
He also helped Mallorca win the Copa del Rey in 2003. This is a big cup competition in Spain.
Time at Atlético Madrid
In June 2004, Atlético Madrid signed Franco. He quickly became their first-choice goalkeeper. He was known for saving penalty kicks. For example, he saved two penalties against Sevilla FC in 2006.
He faced competition from other goalkeepers, but he usually kept his starting spot. He played many important games for Atlético Madrid.
Moving to Turkey and Back to Spain
On July 1, 2009, when he was 32, Franco left Atlético Madrid. He then signed with Galatasaray S.K. in Turkey. He played his first game for them in August, helping his team win 3-2.
After one year in Turkey, Franco returned to Spain. He joined Real Zaragoza in 2010. He played his first game for them in a 0-0 draw.
Later Career and Retirement
Franco left Zaragoza in 2014 and moved back to Argentina to play for San Lorenzo de Almagro. In 2015, he returned to Spain again. He joined SD Huesca, a team that had just been promoted to the second division.
On August 19, 2016, Leo Franco announced he was retiring from playing football at age 39. Right after retiring, he became a director at SD Huesca.
Playing for Argentina
Youth Team Success
Leo Franco played for the Argentina under-20 team. In 1997, he helped them win the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia. This was a big achievement for the young team.
Senior National Team
Two years after his debut for the senior national team, Franco was chosen for the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad. The coach, José Pekerman, had also managed the under-20 team.
During the World Cup, in a quarter-final match against Germany, Franco had to come into the game. The main goalkeeper, Roberto Abbondanzieri, got injured. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, and it went to a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, Argentina lost the shootout.
Honours
Club Honours
- Mallorca
- Copa del Rey: 2002–03
International Honours
- Argentina
See also
In Spanish: Leo Franco para niños
