Francesco Sandaza
Encyclopedia
Francisco José Sandaza Asensio (born 30 November 1984 in Toledo
, Spain
), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League
.
.
On 11 July 2008, Sandaza instead signed for Scottish Premier League
side Dundee United, making his league début exactly a month later. After scoring three goals in pre-season, he scored his first competitive goal for the club in the 1–1 draw against Celtic on 17 August 2008. In September, Sandaza scored his second and netted four times in the first half of November, including a double against eventual champions, Rangers
. Injury halted Sandaza's progress towards the end of the year and he didn't score again until late February, scoring three more times in March. In his first season in Scotland, Sandaza scored ten league goals, with five coming against the Old Firm
.
A groin
injury prevented Sandaza from starting the 2009–10 season, with a November operation likely to see him return by the end of 2009. Hernia problems restricted his appearances during the season, and he was struggling to get into the United first team so in August 2010 was allowed to go on trial with Swansea City
Sandaza was eventually released by United on 31 August, allowing him to sign for another club as a free agent after the closure of the transfer window.
Sandaza signed for Brighton and Hove Albion under their new manager Gus Poyet. In May 2011 the club announced that he would be released at the end of the season following the ending of his current contract, along with five other players.
On 25 July 2011, Sandaza signed a one-year deal with St. Johnstone.
UD Puçol
Brighton and Hove Albion
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
.
Career
Sandaza joined Valencia in 2002 and played in the Primera Liga outfit's reserve team, where scoring 23 goals during the 2007–08 season. Before, Sandaza played on loan in UD Puçol in Spanish Tercera División, scoring 53 goals during the 2006-07 season (his coach that year in UD Puçol was Luis Milla). He considered leaving full-time football to become a police officerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
.
On 11 July 2008, Sandaza instead signed for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Dundee United, making his league début exactly a month later. After scoring three goals in pre-season, he scored his first competitive goal for the club in the 1–1 draw against Celtic on 17 August 2008. In September, Sandaza scored his second and netted four times in the first half of November, including a double against eventual champions, Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. Injury halted Sandaza's progress towards the end of the year and he didn't score again until late February, scoring three more times in March. In his first season in Scotland, Sandaza scored ten league goals, with five coming against the Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
.
A groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury prevented Sandaza from starting the 2009–10 season, with a November operation likely to see him return by the end of 2009. Hernia problems restricted his appearances during the season, and he was struggling to get into the United first team so in August 2010 was allowed to go on trial with Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
Sandaza was eventually released by United on 31 August, allowing him to sign for another club as a free agent after the closure of the transfer window.
Sandaza signed for Brighton and Hove Albion under their new manager Gus Poyet. In May 2011 the club announced that he would be released at the end of the season following the ending of his current contract, along with five other players.
On 25 July 2011, Sandaza signed a one-year deal with St. Johnstone.
Honours
Valencia Mestalla- Tercera DivisiónTercera DivisiónTercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
: 1
-
- 2004–05
UD Puçol
- Tercera DivisiónTercera DivisiónTercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
: 12º position, with Luis Milla (coach)
-
- 2006–07
Brighton and Hove Albion
- Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
-
- 2010-11