Leo Franco

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Personal information
Leo Franco
Full name	Leonardo Noeren Franco
Date of birth	May 20, 1977 (1977-05-20) (age 31)
Place of birth	San Nicolás, Argentina
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Atlético Madrid
Number	25
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1995–1997 1997–1998 1998–2004 2004–	Independiente Mérida Real Mallorca Atlético Madrid	2 (0) 0 (0) 148 (0) 118 (0)
National team²
2004-	Argentina	4 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 May 2008. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 3 May 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Leonardo Noeren Franco (born May 20, 1977 in San Nicolás, Argentina), commonly known as Leo Franco is a professional Argentine football goalkeeper who currently plays in Spain for Atlético Madrid.

Franco started his career at Independiente before moving to Spanish Mérida UD. In 1998 he transferred to Real Mallorca, where he would later become a regular starter for the club, and win the 2003 Copa del Rey. He was signed by Atlético Madrid in 2004.

With the Argentina Under-20 team, Leo Franco won the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship. On May 6, 2006 he was named as a definite squad member for the 2006 FIFA World Cup by coach José Pekerman.

Franco replaced an injured Roberto Abbondanzieri in Argentina's quarter-final clash with Germany during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Many view this sudden replacement as a key factor in Argentina's loss to Germany during the deciding penalty shootout, as Leo Franco failed to save a single shot. Yet to be fair, it isn't uncommon for a goalkeeper to not make any saves in a penalty shootout. For example Fabien Barthez who failed to make any saves in France's 2006 World Cup Final penalty shootout - the only penalty that didn't go on in hit the post. Franco had otherwise had good performances saving penalties in the Spanish Liga that year, saving two on March 23 in a match against Sevilla, and two more on December 3 in a match against Valencia^[1].

[edit] References

^ Ole Article (Spanish)

[edit] External links

Statistics at Guardian Stats Centre
Career details at National Football Teams

v • d • e

Atlético Madrid – current squad

1 Falcón • 2 Seitaridis • 3 Antonio López • 4 Pernía • 5 Motta • 6 Cléber Santana • 7 Forlán • 8 Raúl García • 9 Luis García • 10 Agüero • 11 Maxi Rodríguez • 12 Eller • 13 Abbiati • 14 Zé Castro • 15 Jurado • 17 Reyes • 19 Miguel • 20 Mista • 21 Perea • 22 Pablo • 23 Valera • 24 Simão • 25 Leo Franco • 29 Nacho • -- P. Assunção • -- Heitinga • -- Ujfaluši • Coach: Javier

v • d • e Argentina squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup

1 Abbondanzieri • 2 Ayala • 3 Sorín • 4 Coloccini • 5 Cambiasso • 6 Heinze • 7 Saviola • 8 Mascherano • 9 Crespo • 10 Riquelme • 11 Tévez • 12 Franco • 13 Scaloni • 14 Palacio • 15 Milito • 16 Aimar • 17 Cufré • 18 Rodríguez • 19 Messi • 20 Cruz • 21 Burdisso • 22 González • 23 Ustari • Coach: Pekerman