Argentine former professional footballer
Leonardo "Leo" Neoren Franco
(born 20 May 1977) is an Argentine former professional
footballer
who played as a
goalkeeper
, and is a
manager
.
After starting out at
Independiente
in 1995, he went on to spend the vast majority of his career in Spain, playing 328
La Liga
matches over 14 seasons in representation of
Mallorca
,
Atletico Madrid
and
Zaragoza
.
An
Argentine international
for two years, Franco appeared for the nation at the
2006 World Cup
.
Club career
[
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]
Born in
San Nicolas de los Arroyos
,
Buenos Aires Province
, Franco started his career at
Club Atletico Independiente
, moving at the age of 20 to Spain with
CP Merida
[2]
where he did not appear in
La Liga
, barred by
Carlos Navarro Montoya
and
suffering team relegation
. In the following year he joined
RCD Mallorca
, spending
his first season
with
their reserves
and again dropping down a tier, now in
Segunda Division
.
Franco would be however promoted to the
Balearic Islands
club's first team, going on to establish himself as the starter after replacing compatriot
Carlos Roa
in the pecking order. In the
2000?01 campaign
he appeared in 27 matches as Mallorca finished in a best-ever third position, and helped win the
Copa del Rey
two years after
.
[3]
Franco was signed by
Atletico Madrid
in June 2004,
[4]
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 2 December (1?0 win).
[5]
[6]
Precisely during that season, he was challenged by newly signed
Christian Abbiati
(loaned by
AC Milan
), but regained his starting status in
2008?09
, relegating veteran
Gregory Coupet
to the bench.
[7]
On 1 July 2009, aged 32, after not seeing his contract renewed, Franco left the
Vicente Calderon Stadium
? as Coupet
[8]
? and signed with
Galatasaray S.K.
from Turkey.
[9]
[10]
His first
Super Lig
appearance took place on 9 August, in a 3?2 away victory over
Gaziantepspor
.
Franco returned to Spain after only one year, joining
Real Zaragoza
on a two-year deal.
[11]
He made his competitive debut on 29 August 2010, in a 0?0 draw at
Deportivo de La Coruna
.
[12]
Franco left
Aragon
in the summer of 2014, and subsequently moved to
San Lorenzo de Almagro
.
[13]
On 24 July 2015, after appearing rarely, he moved to
SD Huesca
,
newly promoted
to the Spanish second tier.
[14]
On 19 August 2016, Franco announced his retirement at the age of 39 and was immediately named director of external relations at his last club.
[15]
On 29 May 2018, he replaced the departing
Rubi
as first-team manager in view of their
first-ever season in the top flight
,
[16]
being dismissed on 9 October due to poor results.
[17]
International career
[
edit
]
With the
Argentina under-20 team
, Franco won the
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
in Malaysia.
[18]
On 6 May 2006, two years after making his debut for the
senior side
, he was selected by coach
Jose Pekerman
? also the manager of the under-20s ? to the squad for the
2006 FIFA World Cup
.
On 30 June 2006, Franco replaced the injured
Roberto Abbondanzieri
in the quarter-final clash against hosts
Germany
, failing to save one single
penalty shootout
attempt.
[19]
Career statistics
[
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]
Club
[
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]
International
[
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]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
|
Year
|
Apps
|
Goals
|
Argentina
|
2004
|
1
|
0
|
2005
|
2
|
0
|
2006
|
1
|
0
|
Total
|
4
|
0
|
Managerial statistics
[
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]
- As of 7 October 2018
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team
|
Nat
|
From
|
To
|
Record
|
Ref
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Huesca
|
|
3 June 2018
|
9 October 2018
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
18
|
?11
|
0
12.50
|
|
Total
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
18
|
?11
|
0
12.50
|
?
|
Honours
[
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]
Mallorca
Argentina
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]