Francisco Liaño
Encyclopedia
Francisco Liaño Fernández (born 16 November 1964) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Although he represented four clubs during 14 years as a senior, his professional career was closely associated to Deportivo de La Coruña
, during the club's rise to Super Depor in the early 1990s. He also won two Zamora Trophy
awards, one with his main club.
, Liaño began his football career at hometown side Racing de Santander
, where he made his first team - and La Liga
- debut on 9 September 1984. He spent six seasons at the club, successively backing up two fellow youth products, Pedro Alba and José María Ceballos.
In his last season with Racing, 1989–90, with the team now in the second division
, Liaño only played once in the league, with his team also being relegated
. He then transferred to another outfit in level two, Sestao Sport Club
, where he won his first Ricardo Zamora Trophy
, conceding only 28 goals in 38 matches as the Basque
finished in eighth position.
in the summer of 1991. Initially he was a backup to Juan Canales, but the latter suffered an injury prior to the start of the season and Liaño played the opening ten games of the campaign. Both went down with injury later in the season, which prompted third-choice Yosu's promotion to starting duties for 11 matches.
Although Canales returned to finish the season as number one, he again suffered an inury prior to the 1992–93 season, which gave Liaño another chance in the first team. Now, the Cantabria
n's performances were such that he never lost his status again, winning two consecutive Zamora, as Deportivo qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time in its history, after finishing third. In the following year, he set a first division record by conceding only 18 goals in 38 games—the lowest goals-to-games ratio in the league's history—and won his second individual trophy, but the Galicians finished second behind free-scoring FC Barcelona
on goal difference
.
Liaño missed three months of the 1994–95 season through injury, but he was able to help Deportivo to win the Copa del Rey
, the first trophy in the club's history. John Toshack
was named as Deportivo's new manager for 1995–96, and he named Canales as his first-choice. After Canales conceded ten goals in the first seven games, the Welsh
coach decided to reinstate Liaño, who finished the campaign as Depor ranked ninth.
and Jacques Songo'o
in the summer of 1996, 31-year old Liaño joined Sporting de Gijón
on a free transfer. He spent two seasons with the Asturias
club before retiring, but he made only two league appearances, being barred by legendary Juan Carlos Ablanedo
.
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...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Although he represented four clubs during 14 years as a senior, his professional career was closely associated to Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, during the club's rise to Super Depor in the early 1990s. He also won two Zamora Trophy
Ricardo Zamora Trophy
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
awards, one with his main club.
Racing
Born in Santander, CantabriaSantander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
, Liaño began his football career at hometown side Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
, where he made his first team - and La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
- debut on 9 September 1984. He spent six seasons at the club, successively backing up two fellow youth products, Pedro Alba and José María Ceballos.
In his last season with Racing, 1989–90, with the team now in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, Liaño only played once in the league, with his team also being relegated
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
. He then transferred to another outfit in level two, Sestao Sport Club
Sestao Sport Club
Sestao Sport Club was a Spanish football club based in Sestao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded it 1916, it held home matches at Campo Municipal de las Llanas, with a capacity of 8,900 seats.-History:...
, where he won his first Ricardo Zamora Trophy
Ricardo Zamora Trophy
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
, conceding only 28 goals in 38 matches as the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
finished in eighth position.
Deportivo
Liaño signed for Deportivo de La CoruñaDeportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
in the summer of 1991. Initially he was a backup to Juan Canales, but the latter suffered an injury prior to the start of the season and Liaño played the opening ten games of the campaign. Both went down with injury later in the season, which prompted third-choice Yosu's promotion to starting duties for 11 matches.
Although Canales returned to finish the season as number one, he again suffered an inury prior to the 1992–93 season, which gave Liaño another chance in the first team. Now, the Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
n's performances were such that he never lost his status again, winning two consecutive Zamora, as Deportivo qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time in its history, after finishing third. In the following year, he set a first division record by conceding only 18 goals in 38 games—the lowest goals-to-games ratio in the league's history—and won his second individual trophy, but the Galicians finished second behind free-scoring FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
on goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
.
Liaño missed three months of the 1994–95 season through injury, but he was able to help Deportivo to win the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, the first trophy in the club's history. John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
was named as Deportivo's new manager for 1995–96, and he named Canales as his first-choice. After Canales conceded ten goals in the first seven games, the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
coach decided to reinstate Liaño, who finished the campaign as Depor ranked ninth.
Later years
Following the arrivals of Petr KoubaPetr Kouba
Petr Kouba is a former Czech football goalkeeper, and current Assistant Coach for the Czech Under-20 and Under-21 National Teams...
and Jacques Songo'o
Jacques Songo'o
Jacques Celestin Songo'o is a retired Cameroonian footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.Spent the vast majority of his professional career in France and Spain, also representing the Cameroonian national team in four FIFA World Cups.-Club career:After first establishing himself as a professional...
in the summer of 1996, 31-year old Liaño joined Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
on a free transfer. He spent two seasons with the Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
club before retiring, but he made only two league appearances, being barred by legendary Juan Carlos Ablanedo
Juan Carlos Ablanedo
Juan Carlos Ablanedo Iglesias is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.Due to his above-average reflexes, he was nicknamed El gatu , and represented local Sporting de Gijón for almost 20 years as a professional.-Club career:During his career, Ablanedo played solely for Sporting...
.