Francisco (footballer, born 1978)

Francisco Javier Rodríguez Vílchez (born 17 June 1978), known simply as Francisco, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a striker, currently manager of La Liga club Rayo Vallecano.

For other people named Francisco Rodríguez, see Francisco Rodríguez.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Vílchez.

Francisco
Francisco as Almería manager in 2013
Personal information
Full name Francisco Javier Rodríguez Vílchez
Date of birth (1978-06-17) 17 June 1978
Place of birth Almería, Spain
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Rayo Vallecano (manager)
Youth career
1995–1996 Plus Ultra
1996–1997 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Poli Almería 72 (15)
1999–2001 Valencia B 41 (7)
2000–2001 → Poli Ejido (loan) 41 (7)
2002–2004 Almería 103 (36)
2004–2005 Albacete 28 (3)
2005–2007 Almería 48 (9)
2007–2008 Granada 74 35 (3)
2008–2009 Alicante 22 (2)
2010 Orihuela 14 (5)
Total 404 (87)
Managerial career
2010–2011 Almería (youth)
2011–2013 Almería B
2013–2014 Almería
2016–2017 UCAM Murcia
2017–2018 Lugo
2018 Córdoba
2018–2019 Huesca
2020–2021 Girona
2021–2022 Elche
2023– Rayo Vallecano
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His career was closely associated with Almería as both a player and manager, and he started coaching the first team at the age of 35. In the former capacity, he amassed Segunda División totals of 185 matches and 45 goals over six seasons, also representing Granada 74 and Alicante in the competition.

Playing career

Francisco was born in Almería, Andalusia. After starting out with local Polideportivo Almería he joined Valencia CF, never making it however past its B side. He returned to his hometown in 2002, joining Unión Deportiva in the second division and scoring at an impressive rate.[1][2]

In 2004–05, as his contract expired, Francisco seized the opportunity to make his La Liga debut and signed with Albacete Balompié.[3] The season was a disaster, with relegation for the team and only three goals for the player – he netted against Real Madrid, albeit in a 6–1 away loss.[4]

Subsequently, Francisco returned to his previous club, and was fairly played by as it achieved a first-ever promotion to the top flight in 2007, but would never play in that tier again, resuming (with little individual and team success) his career in divisions two and three.[5]

Coaching career

Francisco started his managerial career in 2010, coaching in various categories at his main club Almería.[6] On 29 June 2013, after two seasons with the reserves, he was appointed at the helm of the first team, recently returned to the top flight.[7]

After narrowly avoiding relegation in the last matchday, and winning La Liga Manager of the Month for November and May,[8][9] Francisco inked a new one-year deal at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos on 27 May 2014.[10] On 9 December, however, he was relieved of his duties after only managing two points out of 24.[11]

On 13 December 2016, after more than two years unemployed, Francisco was named manager of UCAM Murcia CF of division two.[12] The following 21 June, he was appointed at CD Lugo from the same league.[13]

On 28 June 2018, Francisco signed with Córdoba CF still in the second division,[14] but he resigned on 2 August due to the club's poor financial situation.[15] He returned to the top tier on 10 October, replacing the dismissed Leo Franco at SD Huesca.[16] In May 2019, after their relegation, he turned down a new contract.[17]

Francisco returned to the second division on 30 June 2020, taking over from José Luis Martí at fifth-placed Girona FC for the last six games of the season and the following campaign.[18] He left on 30 June as his contract expired, after the side missed out on promotion twice in the finals.[19]

On 28 November 2021, Francisco was appointed at top-flight Elche CF until the end of the campaign.[20] On 4 October 2022, with his team in last place, he was sacked.[21][22]

On 28 June 2023, Francisco signed for Rayo Vallecano also in the top tier, replacing Andoni Iraola.[23]

Managerial statistics
As of 22 October 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Almería B Spain 2 June 2011 29 June 2013 76 29 22 25 102 106 −4 038.16 [24]
Almería Spain 29 June 2013 9 December 2014 57 15 13 29 62 98 −36 026.32 [25]
UCAM Murcia Spain 13 December 2016 21 June 2017 25 7 9 9 21 25 −4 028.00 [26]
Lugo Spain 21 June 2017 5 June 2018 44 15 11 18 40 50 −10 034.09 [27]
Córdoba Spain 28 June 2018 2 August 2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
Huesca Spain 10 October 2018 19 May 2019 32 6 10 16 36 55 −19 018.75 [28]
Girona Spain 30 June 2020 30 June 2021 60 30 15 15 67 48 +19 050.00 [29]
Elche Spain 28 November 2021 4 October 2022 34 12 4 18 37 52 −15 035.29 [30]
Rayo Vallecano Spain 28 June 2023 present 10 4 4 2 12 13 −1 040.00
Total 338 118 88 132 377 447 −70 034.91 —

Honours

Manager

References
  1. Giménez, José Antonio (9 July 2013). "Francisco, el 'Baby' míster de la Liga" [Francisco, the League's 'Baby' mister]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. Valimaña, Antonio (20 January 2017). "UD Almería, el éxito de un club del siglo XXI" [UD Almería, the success of a XXI century club] (in Spanish). La Voz Digital. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. Sans, Gabriel (2 March 2014). "Francisco, el técnico que jugó contra Messi" [Francisco, the manager who played against Messi]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  4. "Real Madrid 6–1 Albacete". ESPN Soccernet. 14 November 2004. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  5. Zerón, Jesús (4 February 2010). "Karanka, Francisco y Txopi ya están a las órdenes de Pato" [Karanka, Francisco and Txopi already working under Pato]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  6. "Francisco firma como nuevo entrenador del Almería B" [Francisco signs as new Almería B manager] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  7. "Francisco es el nuevo entrenador del Almería" [Francisco is the new manager of Almería] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  8. "Francisco, mejor entrenador de la Liga BBVA en noviembre" [Francisco, best manager of the BBVA League in November] (in Spanish). La Liga. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  9. "Francisco, mejor entrenador de la Liga BBVA en mayo" [Francisco, best manager of the BBVA League in May] (in Spanish). Telecinco. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  10. "Francisco continúa como entrenador del Almería" [Francisco remains as Almería's coach] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  11. "Francisco deja de ser entrenador del Almería" [Francisco is no longer Almería's manager] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 9 December 2014. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  12. Carrera, Álvaro (13 December 2016). "Francisco sustituye a Salmerón en el banquillo del UCAM Murcia" [Francisco replaces Salmerón in UCAM Murcia's bench]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  13. Baniela, Dani (21 June 2017). "Oficial: Francisco se convierte en el nuevo entrenador del Lugo" [Official: Francisco becomes new manager of Lugo]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  14. "COMUNICADO OFICIAL: Francisco, nuevo entrenador del Córdoba CF" [OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Francisco, new manager of Córdoba CF] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  15. "Comunicado oficial" [Official announcement] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  16. "Francisco, nuevo entrenador del Huesca" [Francisco, new manager of Huesca]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 10 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  17. "Francisco anuncia que no seguirá en el Huesca la próxima temporada" [Francisco announces that he will not continue at Huesca next season]. Sport (in Spanish). 13 May 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  18. "Francisco substitueix Pep Lluís Martí a la banqueta del Girona" [Francisco replaces Pep Lluís Martí in the Girona dugout] (in Catalan). Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  19. "Francisco deja de ser entrenador del Girona" [Francisco is no longer manager of Girona]. Sport (in Spanish). 30 June 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  20. "OFICIAL | Francisco, nuevo entrenador del Elche C.F." [OFFICIAL | Francisco, new manager of Elche C.F.] (in Spanish). Elche CF. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  21. "OFICIAL | Francisco" [OFFICIAL | Francisco] (in Spanish). Elche CF. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  22. Hernández, Monserrate (4 October 2022). "Beccacece se postula como sustituto de Francisco en el banquillo del Elche" [Beccacece poised as replacement of Francisco on Elche's bench] (in Spanish). Onda Cero. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  23. "Francisco nuevo entrenador del Rayo Vallecano" [Francisco new manager of Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  24. "Segunda División B (Grupo 4) 2011–12" [Segunda División B (Group 4) 2011–12] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    "Matches Francisco, 2012–13 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  25. "Matches Francisco, 2013–14 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    "Matches Francisco, 2014–15 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  26. "Matches Francisco, 2016–17 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  27. "Matches Francisco, 2017–18 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  28. "Matches Francisco, 2018–19 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  29. "Matches Francisco, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
    "Matches Francisco, 2020–21 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  30. "Matches Francisco, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
    "Matches Francisco, 2022–23 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
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