Francisco Sandaza

Francisco Sandaza

Personal information
Full name	Francisco José Sandaza Asensio
Date of birth	30 November 1984 (1984-11-30)
Place of birth	Toledo, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	St. Johnstone
Number	21
Youth career
	CD Leganés
	CD Coslada
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2004	Toledo B
2004–2008	Valencia B	36	(23)
2005	→ Onda (loan)
2006–2007	→ Puçol (loan)
2008–2010	Dundee United	38	(11)
2010–2011	Brighton & Hove Albion	15	(2)
2011–	St. Johnstone	22	(11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 March 2012. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Sandaza and the second or maternal family name is Asensio.

Francisco José "Fran" Sandaza Asensio (born 30 November 1984 in Toledo, Spain), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League.

Career

Sandaza joined Valencia in 2002 and played in the Primera Liga outfit's reserve team, where scoring 23 goals during the 2007–08 season. Before, Sandaza played on loan in UD Puçol in Spanish Tercera División, scoring 53 goals during the 2006-07 season (his coach that year in UD Puçol was Luis Milla). He considered leaving full-time football to become a police officer.

On 11 July 2008, Sandaza instead signed for Scottish Premier League side Dundee United, making his league début exactly a month later. After scoring three goals in pre-season, he scored his first competitive goal for the club in the 1–1 draw against Celtic on 17 August 2008. In September, Sandaza scored his second and netted four times in the first half of November, including a double against eventual champions, Rangers. Injury halted Sandaza's progress towards the end of the year and he didn't score again until late February, scoring three more times in March. In his first season in Scotland, Sandaza scored ten league goals, with five coming against the Old Firm.

A groin injury prevented Sandaza from starting the 2009–10 season, with a November operation likely to see him return by the end of 2009. Hernia problems restricted his appearances during the season, and he was struggling to get into the United first team so in August 2010 was allowed to go on trial with Swansea City Sandaza was eventually released by United on 31 August, allowing him to sign for another club as a free agent after the closure of the transfer window.

Sandaza signed for Brighton and Hove Albion under their new manager Gus Poyet. In May 2011 the club announced that he would be released at the end of the season following the ending of his current contract, along with five other player

On 25 July 2011, Sandaza signed a one-year deal with St. Johnstone. Sandaza scored 12 goals in his first 17 appearances for St. Johnstone, which prompted the club to offer him an extended contract. Due to his goalscoring form for St Johnstone, Rangers made a pre-contract for Sandaza as his contract set to expire this season. Sandaza eventually rejected Rangers offers. Sandaza says he rejected a pre-contract offer from Rangers because he did not want to be a 'cheap' option.

Career statistics

As of 3 March 2012

Club	Season	League		Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dundee United	2008–09	31	10	1	0	3	0	0	0	35	10
	2009–10	7	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	1
Brighton & Hove Albion	2010–11	15	2	4	2	0	0	0	0	19	4
St. Johnstone	2011–12	22	11	3	1	2	3	0	0	27	15
Career total		75	24	9	3	5	3	0	0	89	30

Honours

Valencia Mestalla

• Tercera División: 1

2004–05

Brighton and Hove Albion

• Football League One

2010–11

External links

• Official website profile
• Francisco Sandaza career stats at Soccerbase