Francisco Vidagany Explained

Francisco Vidagany
Full Name:Francisco Vidagany Hernández
Birth Date:19 October 1940
Birth Place:Valencia, Spain
Height:1.71 m
Position:Left back
Years1:1961–1964
Clubs1:Mestalla
Caps1:42
Goals1:1
Years2:1964–1974
Clubs2:Valencia
Caps2:181
Goals2:1
Years3:1974–1975
Clubs3:Castellón
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:229
Totalgoals:2
Nationalyears1:1969
Nationalteam1:Spain
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0

Francisco Vidagany Hernández (born 19 October 1940) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a left back.

He spent the great majority of his career with his hometown club Valencia in La Liga, playing 245 matches across all competitions.[1] He won the league title in 1970–71. Vidagany played four games for Spain, all in 1969.

Club career

Born in Valencia, Vidagany began his career at local Valencia CF, playing first for the reserve team Mestalla in the Segunda División. He made his first-team debut in La Liga on 16 February 1964 in a 1–0 home win over Elche.[2] On 24 June he played the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which his team lost 2–1 to compatriots Real Zaragoza at the Camp Nou.[3]

Vidagany's only two goals for the Che team came in 1964–65. On 8 October he scored in a 3–1 loss away to Belgium's RFC Liège in the first round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a minute either side of goals by opponent Henri Depireux.[4] On 27 December he scored his only top-flight goal, the game's only at home to Deportivo de La Coruña.[5]

On 2 February 1966, in the last 16 of the Fairs Cup away to Leeds United, Vidagany was involved in a fight with opponent Jack Charlton which resulted in both defenders being sent off.[6]

Vidagany was part of the Valencia squad that won the league title in 1970–71 under manager Alfredo Di Stéfano.[7] He then played in the Copa del Generalísimo final, which his club lost 4–3 to Barcelona after extra time.[8]

In August 1974, Vidagany transferred to second-tier Castellón also in the Valencian Community, where he played the final season before his retirement.[9]

International career

Vidagany earned four caps for Spain, all in 1969. His debut on 26 March was a 1–0 friendly win over Switzerland at his home ground of the Mestalla Stadium.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Parejo iguala a Kempes con 245 partidos oficiales con la camiseta del Valencia. Parejo equals Kempes with 245 official matches in the Valencia shirt . 30 August 2024 . . 12 October 2017 . Spanish.
  2. News: Valencia, 1 - Elche, 0 . 30 August 2024 . . 17 February 1964 . Spanish.
  3. News: Hernández . José . Valencia, Zaragoza y una Copa de Ferías. Valencia, Zaragoza and a Fairs Cup. 30 August 2024 . Valencia Deporte . 26 October 2011 . Spanish.
  4. News: Liegeois 2, - Valencia, 1 . 30 August 2024 . Mundo Deportivo . 9 October 1964 . Spanish.
  5. News: Valencia, 1 - Coruña, 0 . 30 August 2024 . Mundo Deportivo . 28 December 1964 . Spanish.
  6. News: Jack Charlton obituary . 30 August 2024 . . 11 July 2020.
  7. News: Valle . Conrado . La Liga que ganó el Valencia en Sarriá cumple 50 años. The league title that Valencia won at Sarriá turns 50 . 30 August 2024 . . 18 April 1971 . Spanish.
  8. News: Torres . David . Todas las finales que el Valencia CF le ganó al Barça. All the finals that Valencia beat Barça in. 30 August 2024 . El Desmarque . 25 May 2019 . Spanish.
  9. News: Llegó a Castellón el argentino Ciotti. Argentine Ciotti arrived in Castellón . 30 August 2024 . Mundo Deportivo . 2 August 1974 . Spanish.
  10. News: Pardo . Carlos . Mestalla frío y desangelado con no más de 8.000 espectadores. Cold and lifeless Mestalla with no more than 8,000 spectators . 30 August 2024 . Mundo Deportivo . 27 March 1969 . Spanish.