Isco
![]() Isco in 2010 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez | ||
Date of birth | 21 April 1992 | ||
Place of birth | Benalmádena, Spain | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Regi Madrid | ||
Youth career | |||
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- | Real Madrid | ||
International career‡ | |||
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– | Spain U21 | 16 | (9) |
2012 | Spain U23 | 5 | (0) |
2013– | Spain | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 June 2013 |
Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez (born 21 April 1992), commonly known as Isco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈisko]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Málaga CF mainly as an attacking midfielder.[1]
Club career
Valencia
Isco was born in Benalmádena, Málaga, Andalusia. A product of Valencia CF's youth system, he made his debut with the first team on 11 November 2010, against UD Logroñés for the season's Copa del Rey, scoring two goals in a 4–1 home win (7–1 on aggregate).[2] Previously, he spent one full season with the reserves in Segunda División B, netting once in 25 games and suffering relegation.
Isco played his first La Liga match on 14 November 2010, playing 20 minutes in a 2–0 home win against Getafe CF after coming on as a substitute for Aritz Aduriz.[3]
Málaga
In mid-July 2011, after helping Valencia's B-team return to the third level by scoring 15 goals, Isco signed a five-year contract with Málaga CF, after the club activated his buy-out clause of €6 million.[4] He scored his first goal for his new team on 21 November 2011, starting in a 3–1 away win against Racing de Santander;[5] he netted again the following week in a 2–1 win against Villarreal CF,[6] and finished his first season with 32 games and five goals as the side qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.
On 18 September 2012, in Málaga's first game in the Champions League group stage, Isco netted twice in a 3–0 home win over FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, also being chosen as Man of the Match.[7] On 22 December he scored the first goal in an eventual 3–2 win against Real Madrid at La Rosaleda, leading the locals to their first victory over that opponent in 29 years;[8] in December he won the Golden Boy award, beating Stephan El Shaarawy and Thibaut Courtois.[9][10]
On 28 January 2013, Isco ended speculation regarding his future by signing a new contract with Málaga – his new buyout clause was set at €35 million.[11] He scored his eleventh goal of the campaign on 13 March, netting the opener in a 2–0 home win against F.C. Porto, good enough for last-eight qualification after the 0–1 loss in Portugal.[12][13]
On 17 June 2013, Isco confirmed that he had received offers from Real Madrid and Manchester City, but stated he would only make a final decision on his future after the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final.[14]
International career
Isco appeared with Spain's U17 in 2009 FIFA World Cup, scoring three times in the process as Spain finished third. In 2011 he represented his country – together with Málaga team mate Recio – in the U-20 World Cup held in Colombia, netting one goal in an eventual quarterfinal exit.
On 28 February 2012 Isco was called to the Spanish U23s for a friendly against Egypt, but did not leave the bench.[15] On 15 May he was picked for the first time to the senior team for friendlies with Serbia and South Korea, but took no part in either match.
On 6 February 2013 Isco finally made his debut with the main squad, playing the last 30 minutes in a 3–1 win over Uruguay in Doha, Qatar.[16]
Honours
Country
- Spain U21
- Spain U17
- FIFA U-17 World Cup: Third-place 2009
Individual
- La Liga Breakthrough Player: 2012
- Golden Boy Award: 2012
- UEFA U-21 Championship Bronze Boot: 2013[17]
- UEFA U-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013[18]
References
- ^ "Marco Fabian, Isco and the young stars who emerged at the 2012 Olympics". Goal.com. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ^ Valencia 4–1 Logrones CF; ESPN Soccernet, 11 November 2010
- ^ Valencia get back to winning ways; ESPN Soccernet, 14 November 2010
- ^ Isco firma cinco temporadas por el Málaga (Isco signs for five seasons with Málaga); Marca, 11 July 2011 Template:Es icon
- ^ Malaga up to fifth; ESPN Soccernet, 21 November 2011
- ^ Malaga 2–1 Villarreal: Toulalan scores and is sent off as Manuel Pellegrini's men go fifth in La Liga; Goal.com, 28 November 2011
- ^ Magical Málaga make it a debut to remember; UEFA.com, 18 September 2012
- ^ "Malaga 3–2 Real Madrid: Casillas dropped as beleaguered Blancos succumb to Santa Cruz double". Goal.com. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Isco, ganador del prestigioso Golden Boy" (in Spanish). Málaga CF. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Ed Dove (28 March 2013). "Isco: Most Improved Players". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Isco ends speculation regarding future by penning new Malaga contract". Sky Sports. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ^ "Santa Cruz sends Málaga into last eight". UEFA.com. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ "Málaga cruise into Champions League quarter-finals after Porto are sunk". The Guardian. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ Isco reveals City and Madrid offers; Goal.com, 17 June 2013
- ^ Convocatoria para el partido internacional olímpico España-Egipto (Spain-Egypt Olympic call-up); RFEF, 24 February 2012 Template:Es icon
- ^ Campeón hasta en los simulacros (Champion even in drills); Marca, 6 February 2013 Template:Es icon
- ^ "Morata wins Golden Boot in Spanish clean sweep". UEFA. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Thiago leads all-star squad dominated by Spain". UEFA. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
External links
- Málaga official profile
- BDFutbol profile
- Futbolme profile Template:Es icon
- Isco – FIFA competition record (archived)
- CiberChe biography Template:Es icon
- Transfermarkt profile
Template:UEFA Euro U-21 2013 Team of the Tournament
- 1992 births
- Living people
- People from the Province of Málaga
- Spanish footballers
- Andalusian footballers
- Association football midfielders
- La Liga footballers
- Segunda División B footballers
- Tercera División footballers
- Valencia CF Mestalla footballers
- Valencia CF footballers
- Málaga CF footballers
- Spain youth international footballers
- Spain under-21 international footballers
- Spain under-23 international footballers
- Spain international footballers
- Olympic footballers of Spain
- Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics