Francisco Llorente Gento
Encyclopedia
Francisco 'Paco' Llorente Gento (born 21 May 1965 in Valladolid
, Castile and León
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played mostly as a right winger.
The nephew of legendary Real Madrid
's Francisco Gento
(also a winger), he also represented the other side from the city
, Atlético.
, Llorente moved to neighbours Atlético Madrid, being fairly used in the course of two seasons. In 1987, after displays of incredible speed and useful skills, he re-joined Real.
Also being able to appear as a forward, Llorente found it difficult to break into the starting XI, barred by Míchel in his natural position and Hugo Sánchez
and Emilio Butragueño
up front. His moment of glory came during the second leg of the second round of the 1987–88 European Cup, as he appeared from the bench, as Real trailed 0–1 at F.C. Porto (2–1 win at home), to assist Míchel twice after powerful flank runs, as his uncle Francisco
in the 50/60's.
In 1989–90, after the arrival of John Toshack
as coach
, Llorente found his playing time drastically cut; in his later years with the club, with Benito Floro at the helm, he even saw some time as right back. He retired in 1998 after four seasons with lowly SD Compostela
, having played 206 games with 13 goals during 13 years (all in La Liga
).
, against Albania
for the UEFA Euro 1988 qualifiers, on 18 November 1987, scoring one of the five without response in Seville
. He did not make the cut for the final stages in West Germany
, however.
for well more than one decade (including at Real Madrid
), while the youngest, Julio, amassed nearly 400 overall official appearances during his career as a defender
, coinciding with Paco at Real from 1988–90.
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
, Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
) 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 right winger.
The nephew of legendary 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...
's Francisco Gento
Francisco Gento
Francisco "Paco" Gento López is a former Spanish football player.-Biography:He débuted in the Primera División with Racing Santander in the 1952–53 season...
(also a winger), he also represented the other side from the city
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...
, Atlético.
Club career
After a brief youth passage at Real MadridReal 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...
, Llorente moved to neighbours Atlético Madrid, being fairly used in the course of two seasons. In 1987, after displays of incredible speed and useful skills, he re-joined Real.
Also being able to appear as a forward, Llorente found it difficult to break into the starting XI, barred by Míchel in his natural position and Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez Márquez , popularly nicknamed Pentapichichi, or Hugol, is a Mexican football coach and former striker. He played for four European clubs, including Real Madrid. Sanchez is considered the first highly talented Mexican player. He was also a member of the Mexico national team, and...
and Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño Santos is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a striker.He was best known for his spell with Real Madrid...
up front. His moment of glory came during the second leg of the second round of the 1987–88 European Cup, as he appeared from the bench, as Real trailed 0–1 at F.C. Porto (2–1 win at home), to assist Míchel twice after powerful flank runs, as his uncle Francisco
Francisco Gento
Francisco "Paco" Gento López is a former Spanish football player.-Biography:He débuted in the Primera División with Racing Santander in the 1952–53 season...
in the 50/60's.
In 1989–90, after the arrival of 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...
as coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, Llorente found his playing time drastically cut; in his later years with the club, with Benito Floro at the helm, he even saw some time as right back. He retired in 1998 after four seasons with lowly SD Compostela
SD Compostela
Sociedade Deportiva Compostela also known as Compostela is a Spanish football team based in Santiago de Compostela, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded on 26 June 1962, it currently plays in Preferente Autonómica.-History:...
, having played 206 games with 13 goals during 13 years (all in 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...
).
International career
Llorente played once for SpainSpain 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...
, against Albania
Albania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
for the UEFA Euro 1988 qualifiers, on 18 November 1987, scoring one of the five without response in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
. He did not make the cut for the final stages in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, however.
Honours
- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 - 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 ....
: 1989–90, 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...
: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
Personal life
Llorente hails from a sporting family: other than his uncle, his three brothers were also professionals: José Luis (1959) and Antonio "Toñín" (1963) played top level basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
for well more than one decade (including at Real Madrid
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
), while the youngest, Julio, amassed nearly 400 overall official appearances during his career as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, coinciding with Paco at Real from 1988–90.