Fran (footballer, born 1995)

Francisco José Rodríguez Gaitán (born 22 May 1995), commonly known as Fran, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a right back for CD Calahorra.

Fran
Personal information
Full name Francisco José Rodríguez Gaitán
Date of birth (1995-05-22) 22 May 1995
Place of birth Almuñécar, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
 Calahorra
Number 2
Youth career
2002–2007 Almuñécar 77
2007–2008 Motril
2008–2014 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Real Madrid C 24 (4)
2014–2016 Real Madrid B 29 (3)
2016–2017 Zaragoza 20 (0)
2017–2019 Almería 21 (0)
2019–2020 Rayo Majadahonda 3 (0)
2020– Calahorra 18 (1)
International career
2011 Spain U17 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 September 2021
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Gaitán.

Club career

Born in Almuñécar, Granada, Andalusia, Fran joined Real Madrid's youth setup in 2008, aged 13, after spells at AD Almuñécar 77 and Motril CF. He was promoted to the former's C-team in 2014, but made his senior debut with the reserves in a 1–2 away loss against Atlético Madrid B on 24 August.[1]

Fran scored his first senior goal on 12 October 2014, netting the game's only in an away success of the C-side over Internacional de Madrid CF. He was definitely promoted to the B-team ahead of the 2015–16 campaign, and established himself as a regular starter for the side.[2]

On 11 July 2016 Fran signed a three-year contract with Segunda División side Real Zaragoza, as a free agent.[3] He made his professional debut on 27 August, coming on as a second-half substitute for goalscorer Manuel Lanzarote in a 3–3 away draw against CD Lugo.[4]

On 12 July 2017, Fran moved to fellow second division team UD Almería on a two-year deal.[5] In the following March, he suffered a knee injury which took him out of the entire 2018–19 campaign.[6]

Fran subsequently resumed his career in the third division, representing CF Rayo Majadahonda and CD Calahorra.[7]

Personal life

Fran's older brother Andy is also a footballer. A midfielder, he too was groomed at Real Madrid.[8]

References
  1. "2–1: Castilla let the three points slip against Atlético B" (in Spanish). Real Madrid. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  2. "Real stars of tomorrow". Marca. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  3. "El lateral Fran se incorpora a la plantilla del Real Zaragoza" [Full back Fran joins the squad of Real Zaragoza] (in Spanish). Real Zaragoza. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  4. "Lugo y Zaragoza firman tablas en un partido loco" [Lugo and Zaragoza draw in a crazy match] (in Spanish). Marca. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  5. "El Almería refuerza el lateral derecho con el fichaje de Fran Rodríguez" [Almería bolster the right back with the signing of Fran Rodríguez] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ""Estoy volviendo a sentirme de nuevo futbolista"" ["I am starting to feel myself a footballer again"] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  7. "Fran Rodríguez, segundo fichaje del CD Calahorra para la temporada 2020/2021" [Fran Rodríguez, second signing of CD Calahorra for the 2020/2021 season] (in Spanish). CD Calahorra. 7 June 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  8. "Mou se lleva a Granada a Nacho, Pacheco y Andy" [Mou takes Nacho, Pacheco and Andy to Granada] (in Spanish). Marca. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
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