Leo Franco

Leo Franco

Personal information
Full name	Leonardo Neoren Franco
Date of birth	20 May 1977 (1977-05-20)
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–	Argentina	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 May 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Leonardo "Leo" Neoren Franco (born 20 May 1977 in San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Buenos Aires) is a professional Argentine footballer who plays for Real Zaragoza as a goalkeeper.

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 division two.

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 stopped 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). 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- and signed with Galatasaray S.K. in Turkey.

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.

International career

With the Argentina U-20 team, Franco won the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia. 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
CP 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
Real 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 2010

International

Argentina national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2004	1	0
2005	2	0
2006	1	0
Total	4	0

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