Iván Franco

Iván René Franco Díaz (born 16 April 2000) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays for Libertad as an attacking midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Franco and the second or maternal family name is Díaz.
Iván Franco
Personal information
Full name Iván René Franco Díaz
Date of birth (2000-04-16) 16 April 2000
Place of birth Ybycuí, Paraguay
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Libertad
Number 10
Youth career
Libertad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Libertad 83 (19)
National team‡
2018– Paraguay U20 3 (0)
2019– Paraguay 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:59, 9 June 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2019

Club career

Born in Ybycuí, Franco joined Libertad's youth setup after being spotted at Football Dreams.[1] Promoted to the main squad for the 2018 season, he made his professional – and Primera División – debut for Libertad on 2 February of that year, starting in a 2–2 away draw against Sportivo Luqueño.[2]

Franco scored his first professional goal on 4 March 2018, netting his team's second in a 4–1 away routing of 3 de Febrero.[3] Nine days later, he made his Copa Libertadores debut by starting in a 2–0 away defeat of Atlético Tucumán.[4] He contributed with five appearances in the latter tournament, as his side were knocked out by eventual runners up Boca Juniors in the round of 16.[5]

International career

On 21 December 2018, Franco was called up by Paraguay under-20s for the 2019 South American U-20 Championship.[6]

On 10 September 2019, Franco made his senior international debut with the Paraguay national team in a 4–2 friendly win away to Jordan.

Style of play

Franco has been praised for the ability and quickness of thought to play as a playmaker in the ‘number 10’ role.[7] He was dubbed as Paraguay's new star by South American football expert Tim Vickery on the BBC’s World Football Phone-In show.[8]

Career statistics
As of 1 September 2020.[9]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Libertad 2018 Primera División 347—5[lower-alpha 1]0—397
2019 3711—3[lower-alpha 1]0—397
2020 121—2[lower-alpha 1]1—397
Career total 831900101009320
  1. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores.

References
  1. "Iván Franco cumplió su sueño y ya pinta para crack" [Iván Franco fulfilled his dream and already poses as star] (in Spanish). Monumental 1080 AM. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  2. "Mucho premio para Libertad e injusto empate para Luque" [Too much prize for Libertad and unfair draw for Luque] (in Spanish). Ñandutí. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  3. "Libertad golea en el Este y sigue de cerca al líder del Apertura" [Libertad thrash in Este and follow closely the leader of the Apertura] (in Spanish). La Nación. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  4. "Copa Libertadores: Libertad derrotó 2–0 a Atlético Tucumán por el grupo de Peñarol" [Copa Libertadores: Libertad defeated Atlético Tucumán by 2–0 in Peñarol's group] (in Spanish). Fútbol.uy. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  5. "Boca no tuvo piedad ante Libertad y goleó 4 a 2" [Boca had no mercy against Libertad and thrashed by 4–2] (in Spanish). Canal Showsport. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  6. "La Albirroja Sub 20 tiene su lista para el Sudamericano de Chile" [The Albirroja under-20 have their list for the South American of Chile] (in Spanish). Tigo Sports. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  7. "Iván Franco, el joven "10" que gana cancha en Libertad" [Iván Franco, the young "10" who wins the field at Libertad] (in Spanish). D10. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. "5 live's World Football Phone-in - Downloads - BBC Radio 5 live". BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. Iván Franco at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
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