Alejandro Francés Explained

Alejandro Francés Torrijo (born 1 August 2002) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central defender for La Liga club Girona.

Club career

Francés was born in Zaragoza, Aragon, and was a Real Zaragoza youth graduate. On 17 December 2019, before even having appeared for the B-side, he made his made his first team debut by starting in a 1–0 away win against UD Socuéllamos, for the season's Copa del Rey;^[3] along with fellow debutant Andrés Borge, both became the first players of the 21st century to appear for the club.^[4]

Francés made his professional debut on 21 January 2020, coming on as a late substitute for Pichu Atienza in a 3–1 home win over RCD Mallorca, also for the national cup.^[5] Five days later, he first appeared with the B-team by starting in a 1–2 Tercera División home loss against SD Tarazona.^[6]

Francés made his Segunda División on 16 June 2020, starting in a 3–1 away win against CD Lugo.^[7] On 20 August, he renewed his contract until 2024.^[8] The following February, he was given a permanent first team place and received the number 6 jersey.^[9]

On 26 July 2024, Francés signed a five-year contract with La Liga side Girona FC.^[10]

International career

Francés represented the Spain under-17s at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, making two appearances.^[11]

Career statistics

Club!rowspan="2"

Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Zaragoza	2019–20	Segunda División	3	0	2	0	—		0	0	5	0
	2020–21	Segunda División	28	0	1	0	—		—		29	0
	2021–22	Segunda División	33	1	0	0	—		—		33	1
	2022–23	Segunda División	23	0	1	0	—		—		24	0
	2023–24	Segunda División	36	3	0	0	—		—		36	3
	Total		123	4	4	0	—		0	0	127	4
Zaragoza B	2019–20	Tercera División	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Girona	2024–25	La Liga	8	0	0	0	3	0	—		11	0
Career total			132	4	4	0	3	0	0	0	139	4

Notes and References

1. Web site: FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: Spain . FIFA . 22 . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191227222540/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FU17WC/2019/pdf/FU17WC_2019_Squadlists.pdf . 27 December 2019.
2. Web site: Alejandro Francés . es . Real Zaragoza . 16 October 2022.
3. Web site: El Zaragoza evita problemas y se clasifica... de rebote. Zaragoza avoid trouble and is qualified... through a rebound. Marca. es. 17 December 2019. 28 June 2020.
4. Web site: La cantera vuelve a responder. The youth setup answers again. Heraldo de Aragón. es. 17 December 2019. 28 June 2020.
5. Web site: Al Zaragoza de Víctor le gusta la Copa. Víctor's Zaragoza like the Cup. Marca. es. 21 January 2020. 28 June 2020.
6. Web site: El Tarazona suma tres puntos de oro en la Ciudad Deportiva. Tarazona get three golden points at the Ciudad Deportiva. Heraldo de Aragón. es. 26 January 2020. 14 January 2022.
7. Web site: El Zaragoza tira de eficacia para superar al Lugo. Zaragoza resort to efficiency to defeat Lugo. Diario AS. es. 16 June 2020. 14 January 2022.
8. Web site: Anunciadas las renovaciones de Cristian Álvarez y Alejandro Francés. Announced the renewals of Cristian Álvarez and Alejandro Francés. Real Zaragoza. es. 20 August 2020. 17 September 2020.
9. Web site: La Liga acepta la incripción de Francés con ficha profesional con el dorsal 6. La Liga accepts the registration of Francés with a professional contract with the number 6 jersey. Heraldo de Aragón. es. 1 February 2021. 25 May 2021.
10. Web site: Francés, nou jugador del Girona FC. Francés, new player of Girona FC. Girona FC. ca. 26 July 2024. 26 July 2024.
11. Web site: Alejandro Francés finaliza su experiencia en el Mundial sub 17 de Brasil. Alejandro Francés ends his experience in Brazil's U-17 World Cup. Heraldo de Aragón. es. 12 November 2019. 22 January 2020.