Iván Franco

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

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 3475[lower-alpha 1]0397
2019 37113[lower-alpha 1]0397
2020 1212[lower-alpha 1]1397
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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