Francisco Javier Muñoz Llompart (born 5 September 1980), known as Xisco, is a Spanish footballmanager and former player who played mainly as a left winger.
In 2019, Xisco rejoined Dinamo Tbilisi as part of the technical team, and in 2020 became their head coach. In December 2020, he was appointed at Watford, achieving promotion to the Premier League in his first season but being sacked in October 2021 despite the club sitting 15th. That same month, he became manager of Huesca, before being replaced in June 2022. He signed for Anorthosis in October that year, but left three months later. In July 2023, he joined Sheffield Wednesday as head coach before being dismissed in October after failing to win any matches in charge.
Xisco returned to Valencia in summer 2003 for two additional seasons, making 22 appearances as the Che conquered the 2004 league title; he scored once as a substitute on 2 November 2003 to conclude a 5–0 away win against Mallorca.[4] He added eight matches in their victorious run in the UEFA Cup also in that year, but remained on the bench in the final against Marseille.[5]
Betis
Xisco signed with Real Betis in 2005 on a six-year deal,[6] often delivering in various attacking positions and displaying all-around teamwork. He netted three times in 2006–07, including a couple of late goals against Racing de Santander[7] and Gimnàstic de Tarragona[8] as the Andalusians only avoided top-flight relegation in the last matchday.
In a rocky 2008–09 season, which ended in relegation,[9] Xisco only featured in nine games, scoring once.[10] Dark spots included being replaced after having himself been used as a substitute in a 2–1 home defeat to Málaga, on 11 January 2009.[11][12]
Levante and later years
In the dying minutes of the August 2009 transfer window, Xisco rescinded his Betis contract and joined Levante also in the second division, for two seasons.[13] In his first, he played the most he had in years, also scoring eight goals[14] as the Valencian Community side returned to the top flight after a two-year absence.[15]
Xisco contributed 26 matches – 18 starts – in 2010–11, as Levante finally managed to stay afloat. On 22 January 2011, he scored his only goal of the campaign in a 4–1 away loss against Sevilla,[16] and was released in May.[17]
Already aged 30, Xisco moved abroad for the first time, signing with Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia and sharing teams with several compatriots.[18] In 2012–13, he won the Erovnuli Liga and also scored a career-best 22 goals, best in the competition.[19] The player and the team retained their titles a year later, and his goal concluded the 3–0 win at Sioni Bolnisi that confirmed it.[20]
On 14 December 2014, Xisco returned to his homeland after agreeing to an 18-month deal with third-tier Gimnàstic.[21] On 18 June 2016, he announced his retirement and became Vicente Moreno's assistant.[22] In September of the following year, he stood in as manager of farm teamPobla de Mafumet in the Tercera División, after the promotion of Rodri to the Nàstic job.[23]
Coaching career
Dinamo Tbilisi
Xisco returned to Dinamo Tbilisi in January 2019, as part of Zaur Svanadze's staff.[24] He left at the end of the year, after the team had recovered their league crown following a three-year absence.[25]
In August 2020, Xisco again returned to Dinamo, now as head coach of the club.[26] With several compatriots on the pitch and the bench, they won the league in December.[27]
Xisco was sacked on 3 October 2021, with the side being 15th after seven matches; it was the 13th change in the club's hotseat since the arrival of owner Gino Pozzo in 2012.[33] In an official statement, Watford wrote that the coach had been presiding over a "negative trend at a time when team cohesion should be visibly improving".[34]
On 4 July 2023, Xisco joined Sheffield Wednesday as head coach;[41] he brought in his brother Miguel as assistant, Roberto Cuesta as first-team coach and Antonello Brambilla as goalkeeper coach, all of whom he had worked with at Watford.[42] His first competitive game in charge was at home to newly relegated Southampton, a 2–1 defeat,[43] and culminated in a 1–0 away loss to West Bromwich Albion on 3 October. He had led the Owls to their worst ever start to a season, with just two points from the first ten matches.[44] A day later, he was dismissed.[45][46]
DAC Dunajská Streda
On 19 November 2023, Xisco signed as manager of DAC Dunajská Streda until the end of the campaign, with the option of another year.[47] He was relieved of his duties on 27 November 2024.[48]
Personal life
Xisco is the older brother of another footballer, Toni Muñoz. He appeared once for Mallorca's first team,[49] but spent the vast majority of his career in the lower leagues of his country.
Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[50]
^Krisztián, Nagy (19 November 2023). "Novým trénerom DAC-u Xisco Muňoz" [Xisco Muñoz is the new manager of DAC] (in Slovak). DAC Dunajská Streda. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^Krisztián, Nagy (27 November 2024). "Xisco Muňoz končí na lavičke DAC-u" [Xisco Muňoz ends up on the DAC bench] (in Slovak). DAC Dunajská Streda. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
