Personal information | |||
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Full name | Leonardo Neoren Franco | ||
Date of birth | 20 May 1977 | ||
Place of birth | San Nicolás, Argentina | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Zaragoza | ||
Number | 25 | ||
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– | Zaragoza | 23 | (0) |
National team | |||
1997 | Argentina U20 | 6 | (0) |
2004–2006 | Argentina | 4 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 May 2012. † Appearances (Goals). |
Leonardo "Leo" Neoren Franco (born 20 May 1977 in San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Real Zaragoza as a goalkeeper.
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Club career
Franco started his career at Club Atlético Independiente, moving at the age of 20 to Spain, with CP Mérida, where he did not appear in La Liga, barred by Colombian Carlos Navarro Montoya, and suffering team relegation. In the following year, he joined RCD Mallorca, spending his first season with the B team, again dropping down a level, now in the second division.
Franco would be however promoted to the Balearic Islands outfit's main squad, going on to establish himself as the starter, replacing compatriot Carlos Roa in the pecking order. In the 2000–01 season, he appeared in 27 games as Mallorca finished in a best-ever third position, and helped the club win the Copa del Rey two years after.
Franco was signed by Atlético Madrid in 2004, being first-choice from the beginning. Until the end of 2007–08, he saved seven penalties, including two against Sevilla FC on 23 March 2006 (0–1 home loss), and two more at Real Betis on December 2 (1–0 win).[1][2] Precisely during that season, he was challenged by newly-signed Christian Abbiati (loaned by A.C. Milan), but regained his starting status in 2008–09, relegating French veteran Grégory Coupet to the bench.
On 1 July 2009, aged 32, after not seeing his contract with the Colchoneros renewed, Franco left Atlético - as Coupet[3]- and signed with Galatasaray S.K. in Turkey.[4][5]
Franco returned to Spain after only one year, signing with Real Zaragoza for two seasons. He made his official debut on 29 August 2010, keeping a clean sheet at Deportivo de La Coruña in a 0–0 draw.[6]
International career
With the Argentina U-20 team, Franco won the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia.[7] On 6 May 2006, two years after making his debut for the senior team, he was selected by coach José Pekerman - also the manager of the under-20s - to the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
On 30 June 2006, Franco replaced injured Roberto Abbondanzieri in the quarter-final clash against hosts Germany, failing to save one single penalty shootout attempt.
Statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Independiente | 1995–96 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
1996–97 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Mérida | 1997–98 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Mallorca B | 1998–99 | 23 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 0 |
Total | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
Mallorca | 1999–00 | 30 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 30 | 0 |
2000–01 | 27 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 27 | 0 | |
2001–02 | 22 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 22 | 0 | |
2002–03 | 36 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 36 | 0 | |
2003–04 | 33 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
Total | 148 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 151 | 0 | |
Atlético Madrid | 2004–05 | 37 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 37 | 0 |
2005–06 | 34 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 34 | 0 | |
2006–07 | 32 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 32 | 0 | |
2007–08 | 18 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 0 | |
2008–09 | 32 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
Total | 153 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 159 | 0 | |
Galatasaray | 2009–10 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
Total | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
Zaragoza | 2010–11 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Total | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
Career total | 375 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 391 | 0 |
- As of 22 May 2011
International
Argentina national team | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Apps | Goals |
2004 | 1 | 0 |
2005 | 2 | 0 |
2006 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 4 | 0 |
References
- ^ Leo Franco detuvo su séptimo penalti con el Atlético en Liga (Leo Franco saved seventh penalty with Atlético in the league); Marca, 11 November 2007 (Spanish)
- ^ Leo Franco mete en Champions al Atlético (Leo Franco puts Atlético in Champions League); El País, 3 December 2006 (Spanish)
- ^ Leo Franco and Gregory Coupet close to Atletico Madrid exits; Goal.com, 22 June 2009
- ^ 'Galatasaray benim için meydan okuma' (Turkish)
- ^ 'Galatasaray Leo Franco ile sözleşme imzaladı' (Turkish)
- ^ Deportivo La Coruña 0-0 Real Zaragoza; ESPN Soccernet, 29 August 2010
- ^ Leo Franco – FIFA competition record
External links
- Real Zaragoza official profile (Spanish)
- BDFutbol profile
- Futbolme profile (Spanish)
- Leo Franco at National-Football-Teams.com
- Leo Franco – FIFA competition record
- Transfermarkt profile
- Guardian Stats Centre
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