Place of birth Osuna, Spain Name Francisco Alfaro Years Team Role Football player | 1981–1990 Sevilla Height 1.82 m 1990–1997 Espanyol | |
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Full name Francisco Javier Lopez Alfaro Date of birth (1962-11-01) 1 November 1962 (age 53) | ||
Francisco Javier López Alfaro (born 1 November 1962), known simply as Francisco, is a Spanish retired football central midfielder and manager.
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Club career
Francisco was born in Osuna, Province of Seville, Andalusia. During his career he represented hometown's Sevilla FC and RCD Espanyol, playing in 436 La Liga matches. He finished his first season in the competition with 20 games – all starts – and one goal, helping the former club to the seventh position.
In the 1992–93 campaign Francisco experienced top flight relegation with the Catalans, but achieved promotion in the immediate year, always as an important first-team element. He retired at the end of 1996–97, aged nearly 35.
As a manager Francisco began working with Espanyol's youth squads, then proceeded to coach Coria CF, Real Jaén, CF Extremadura, UE Figueres and first division's CD Numancia (in the 2004–05 season he was dismissed after ten rounds, as the team was eventually relegated). In July 2006, he joined Segunda División B side CF Badalona.
Midway through the 2008–09 campaign Francisco was sacked as coach of CD Atlético Baleares, also in the third category. Subsequently he was appointed at the third team of Sevilla, in Tercera División.
International career
Francisco earned 20 caps and scored one goal for Spain, and was selected for both the UEFA Euro 1984 and the 1986 FIFA World Cup. His debut came on 27 October 1982 in a 1–0 win against Iceland, for the former competition's qualifiers.