Francisco (footballer, born 1978)

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 (age 46)
Place of birth	Almería, Spain
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Striker
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
2023–2024	Rayo Vallecano
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

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, never making it however past its B side. He returned to his hometown in 2002, joining Unión Deportiva in the Segunda División 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.^[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 of division two.^[12] The following 21 June, he was appointed at Lugo from the same league.^[13]

On 28 June 2018, Francisco signed with Córdoba 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 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 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 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] He was dismissed the following February, having only won once in the league in the last 14 matches.^[24]

Managerial statistics

As of 11 February 2024

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record								Ref
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Almería B		2 June 2011	29 June 2013	80	31	22	27	104	109	−5	038.75	[25]
Almería		29 June 2013	9 December 2014	57	15	13	29	62	98	−36	026.32	[26]
UCAM Murcia		13 December 2016	21 June 2017	25	7	9	9	21	25	−4	028.00	[27]
Lugo		21 June 2017	5 June 2018	44	15	11	18	40	50	−10	034.09	[28]
Córdoba		28 June 2018	2 August 2018	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	!—
Huesca		10 October 2018	19 May 2019	32	6	10	16	36	55	−19	018.75	[29]
Girona		30 June 2020	30 June 2021	60	30	15	15	67	48	+19	050.00	[30]
Elche		28 November 2021	4 October 2022	34	12	4	18	37	52	−15	035.29	[31]
Rayo Vallecano		28 June 2023	13 February 2024	28	8	9	11	32	35	−3	028.57	[32]
Total				360	124	93	143	399	472	−73	034.44	—

Honours

Manager

• La Liga: Manager of the Month November 2013,^[8] May 2014^[9]

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). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. 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. Villa, Pablo (13 February 2024). "El Rayo destituye a Francisco y ya rastrea el mercado" [Rayo dismiss Francisco and are already exploring market]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
25. "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.
26. "Matches Francisco, 2013–14 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Francisco, 2014–15 season". BDFutbol.
27. "Matches Francisco, 2016–17 season". BDFutbol.
28. "Matches Francisco, 2017–18 season". BDFutbol.
29. "Matches Francisco, 2018–19 season". BDFutbol.
30. "Matches Francisco, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Francisco, 2020–21 season". BDFutbol.
31. "Matches Francisco, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Francisco, 2022–23 season". BDFutbol.
32. "Matches Francisco, 2023–24 season". BDFutbol.

External links

• Francisco at BDFutbol
• Francisco manager profile at BDFutbol