Francisco Villarroya
Encyclopedia
Francisco Javier Pérez Villarroya (born 6 August 1966 in Zaragoza
, Aragon
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played mostly as a left midfielder
.
, appearing in one La Liga
match in the 1984–85 season (a 0–4 loss at FC Barcelona
), but being almost exclusively connected with the reserves
for three years.
In the 1990 summer, after helping the Aragon
ese to two consecutive top-ten finishes in the top division (fifth in 1988–89, with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification) whilst only missing two games combined, he signed with Real Madrid
, being occasionally utilized as left back during his four-year spell, and being the capital
side's first-choice prior to the signing of Brazil
ian Roberto Carlos, battling for the position with Mikel Lasa
.
After only 13 games in his last two seasons with the Merengues combined, following the arrival of manager Benito Floro, Villarroya signed for Deportivo de La Coruña
, being relatively used in two seasons, and adding two trophies to his cabinet (one Copa del Rey
and one Supercopa de España
). Still in the top level, he then represented Sporting de Gijón
, suffering relegation in his second season. Aged nearly 33, he closed out his career after one year with CD Badajoz
, in Segunda División
, amassing first division totals of 276 games (nine goals) in 14 years.
during slightly more than two years, and was in the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
in Italy
, playing in all the matches - mostly in the back sector - in an eventual round of 16 exit.
His debut came on 20 September 1989, as a Zaragoza player, in a 1–0 friendly
win with Poland
in A Coruña
(90 minutes played).
, is also a footballer (and a midfielder). He played the vast majority of his career with Zaragoza and Deportivo.
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
) is a retired Spanish
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 mostly as a left midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Club career
Villarroya made his professional debuts with hometown's Real ZaragozaReal Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, appearing in one 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...
match in the 1984–85 season (a 0–4 loss at 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....
), but being almost exclusively connected with the reserves
Real Zaragoza B
Real Zaragoza B is a Spanish football club based in Zaragoza, in the autonomous community of Aragon. Founded in 1962, it is the reserve team of Real Zaragoza, and currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 3, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Real Zaragoza, with a capacity of 2,500...
for three years.
In the 1990 summer, after helping the Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
ese to two consecutive top-ten finishes in the top division (fifth in 1988–89, with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification) whilst only missing two games combined, he signed with Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, being occasionally utilized as left back during his four-year spell, and being the capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
side's first-choice prior to the signing of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Roberto Carlos, battling for the position with Mikel Lasa
Mikel Lasa
Mikel Lasa Goikoetxea is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a left defender.-Club career:...
.
After only 13 games in his last two seasons with the Merengues combined, following the arrival of manager Benito Floro, Villarroya signed for 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...
, being relatively used in two seasons, and adding two trophies to his cabinet (one 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 ....
and one Supercopa de España
Supercopa de España
The Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
). Still in the top level, he then represented 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....
, suffering relegation in his second season. Aged nearly 33, he closed out his career after one year with CD Badajoz
CD Badajoz
Club Deportivo Badajoz, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Badajoz, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1905, it plays in 2ªB - Group 1, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Vivero, with a 15,200-seat capacity.-History:...
, in Segunda División
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:...
, amassing first division totals of 276 games (nine goals) in 14 years.
International career
Villarroya earned 14 caps for the Spanish national teamSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
during slightly more than two years, and was in the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, playing in all the matches - mostly in the back sector - in an eventual round of 16 exit.
His debut came on 20 September 1989, as a Zaragoza player, in a 1–0 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
win with Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in A Coruña
A Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
(90 minutes played).
Honours
- Zaragoza:
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe 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 ....
: 1985–86
- Spanish Cup
- Real Madrid:
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe 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 ....
: 1992–93 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 1990, 1993
- Spanish Cup
- Deportivo:
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe 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 ....
: 1994–95 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 1995
- Spanish Cup
Personal
Villarroya's nephew, Ángel LafitaÁngel Lafita
Ángel Lafita Castillo is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Zaragoza in the Spanish first division.Usually a winger, being comfortable on both sides of the pitch, he can also appear as an attacking midfielder....
, is also a footballer (and a midfielder). He played the vast majority of his career with Zaragoza and Deportivo.