Francisco Jiménez Tejada
Encyclopedia
Francisco Jiménez Tejada (born 26 June 1986 in Palma, Majorca, Balearic Islands
), commonly known as Xisco, is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña
on loan from Newcastle United
, as a striker.
youth ranks, Xisco made his La Liga
debut on 26 April 2005, against Real Sociedad
. His first (and second) goal arrived also that season, in a 2–2 draw with Real Zaragoza
, on 15 May.
In 2007–08, after a season-long loan at second division
's UD Vecindario
, Xisco emerged as a top-flight striker, scoring five goals in two consecutive matches: a hat-trick
in a 3–1 home win against Real Murcia
on 30 March 2008, adding two away to Racing de Santander
(same result) the following week.
for a reported initial fee of £
5.7 million, although the fee could eventually rise to £7 million subject to conditions. He made his debut for the club in the 2–1 home defeat by Hull City
on 13 September, scoring in the game. However, he featured rarely during the season, being only seventh-choice, behind Michael Owen
, Obafemi Martins
, Mark Viduka
, Peter Løvenkrands
, Shola Ameobi
and Andy Carroll
.
After Newcastle were relegated, Xisco was signed on loan by Racing Santander on 31 August 2009, in a season
-long move. Two weeks later he made his debut for the Cantabria
ns during a 1–1 draw at Atlético Madrid, having replaced Alexandre Geijo
for the final twenty minutes. However he was replaced by Toni Moral before the final whistle, injured.
Xisco scored his first goal for Racing on 3 January 2010, the second in a 2–0 win over CD Tenerife
. On 27 January, in the Copa del Rey
quarterfinals
, he contributed to the club's 3–0 triumph at CA Osasuna
(5–1 on aggregate).
Returning to Newcastle in July 2010, Xisco came off the bench on 22 August, in an impressive 6–0 home win against Aston Villa
, setting up Carroll for his hat-trick
in the 90th minute. After receiving a red card
for an off-the-ball incident in a reserves game, he was suspended for three games, and failed to appear for the team in the following months finding himself behind Ameobi, Carroll, Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger
.
On 30 January 2011, Xisco returned to former club Deportivo, on loan until the end of the season
, being intermittenly used and also suffering team relegation. On 11 August, he returned to the club in the same predicament.
debut in a friendly against England
on 6 February 2007, in which he had a shot hit the foot of the post. He scored his first goal in the category by netting against Georgia
, during the 2009 Under-21 Euro qualifiers
, adding to his tally by netting against Russia
with a subtle finish, also during the qualifiers.
In October 2008, Xisco added another, in a 4–3 extra time
win against Switzerland
, helping Spain qualify for the finals
, where he did not score.
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
), commonly known as Xisco, is a 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 plays 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...
on loan from Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, as a striker.
Deportivo La Coruña
A product of 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...
youth ranks, Xisco made his 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 26 April 2005, against Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
. His first (and second) goal arrived also that season, in a 2–2 draw with Real Zaragoza
Real 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...
, on 15 May.
In 2007–08, after a season-long loan at 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:...
's UD Vecindario
UD Vecindario
Unión Deportiva Vecindario is a Spanish football team based in Vecindario, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands. Founded in 1962, it currently plays in 2ª B - Group 1, holding home games at Estadio Municipal de Vecindario, with a capacity of...
, Xisco emerged as a top-flight striker, scoring five goals in two consecutive matches: a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 3–1 home win against Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
on 30 March 2008, adding two away to 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....
(same result) the following week.
Newcastle United
On 1 September 2008, Xisco signed for Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for a reported initial fee of £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
5.7 million, although the fee could eventually rise to £7 million subject to conditions. He made his debut for the club in the 2–1 home defeat by Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on 13 September, scoring in the game. However, he featured rarely during the season, being only seventh-choice, behind Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
, Obafemi Martins
Obafemi Martins
Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Rubin Kazan and the Nigeria national team. He is known for his speed on the ball....
, Mark Viduka
Mark Viduka
Mark Anthony Viduka is a former Australian soccer player who played as a centre forward. He captained the Australian national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to the last 16.-Melbourne Croatia:...
, Peter Løvenkrands
Peter Løvenkrands
Peter Rosenkrands Løvenkrands is a Danish footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League, and for the Danish national team. He is a striker who can also play as a left winger and is known for his pace....
, Shola Ameobi
Shola Ameobi
Foluwashola "Shola" Ameobi is an Nigerian footballer who plays for Premier League club Newcastle United as a forward. Born in Nigeria but raised in Newcastle, he played for England at under-21 level. He is the older brother of fellow footballers Tomi and Sammy...
and Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll
Andrew Thomas "Andy" Carroll is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team....
.
After Newcastle were relegated, Xisco was signed on loan by Racing Santander on 31 August 2009, in a season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
-long move. Two weeks later he made his debut for 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...
ns during a 1–1 draw at Atlético Madrid, having replaced Alexandre Geijo
Alexandre Geijo
Alexandre "Álex" Geijo Pazos is a Swiss-born Spanish footballer who plays for Granada CF on loan from Udinese Calcio in the Italian first division, as a striker.-Football career:...
for the final twenty minutes. However he was replaced by Toni Moral before the final whistle, injured.
Xisco scored his first goal for Racing on 3 January 2010, the second in a 2–0 win over CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
. On 27 January, in 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 ....
quarterfinals
2009–10 Copa del Rey
The 2009–10 Copa del Rey was the 106th staging of the Copa del Rey. The competition began on August 22, 2009 and concluded on May 19, 2010 with the final held at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, in which Sevilla FC lifted the trophy for the fifth time in their history with a 2–0 victory over...
, he contributed to the club's 3–0 triumph at CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
(5–1 on aggregate).
Returning to Newcastle in July 2010, Xisco came off the bench on 22 August, in an impressive 6–0 home win against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, setting up Carroll for his hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in the 90th minute. After receiving a red card
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
for an off-the-ball incident in a reserves game, he was suspended for three games, and failed to appear for the team in the following months finding himself behind Ameobi, Carroll, Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger
Nile Ranger
Nile Ranger is an English footballer who plays for Barnsley on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United as a striker.-Early days:...
.
On 30 January 2011, Xisco returned to former club Deportivo, on loan until the end of the season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, being intermittenly used and also suffering team relegation. On 11 August, he returned to the club in the same predicament.
International career
Xisco made his Spanish under-21Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
debut in a friendly against England
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
on 6 February 2007, in which he had a shot hit the foot of the post. He scored his first goal in the category by netting against Georgia
Georgia national under-21 football team
The Georgian U-21 national football team is the football team representing Georgia in competitions for under-21 year old players.-Current squad :The following players were called up for the European Under-21 Football Championship...
, during the 2009 Under-21 Euro qualifiers
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started on 31 May 2007 with a qualifying competition and finishes on 15 October 2008, before the final tournament on 15–23 June 2009....
, adding to his tally by netting against Russia
Russia national under-21 football team
The Russia national under-21 football team is overseen by the Russian Football Union. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years.- Coaches :-Results:*1994: quarterfinalists...
with a subtle finish, also during the qualifiers.
In October 2008, Xisco added another, in a 4–3 extra time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
win against Switzerland
Switzerland national under-21 football team
The Switzerland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Switzerland and is controlled by the Swiss Football Association...
, helping Spain qualify for the finals
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
, where he did not score.