Francisco Acuña Explained

Francisco Acuña
Fullname:Francisco Javier Acuña Víctor
Birth Date:19 January 1988
Birth Place:Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Height:1.67m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2007–2008
Years1:2008–2012
Caps1:55
Goals1:7
Years2:2008–2009
Clubs2:UANL Premier
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2013
Clubs3:San Luis (loan)
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:2013
Clubs4:Atlante (loan)
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Clubs5:Morelia (loan)
Years5:2014
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Clubs6:Puebla
Years6:2014–2019
Caps6:71
Goals6:6
Clubs7:BUAP (loan)
Years7:2015–2016
Caps7:10
Goals7:1
Years8:2020
Caps8:7
Goals8:2
Years9:2021
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Years10:2021–2024
Caps10:56
Goals10:9
Club-Update:21 October 2022

Francisco Javier Acuña Víctor (born 19 January 1988) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga de Expansión MX club Sonora.

Club career

UANL

Acuña developed with the youth squads of Tigres UANL. In 2008, he made his debut with the reserves in the Primera División A, making eight appearances that season.[1] He later made his Mexican Primera División debut for UANL on 19 October 2008 as a substitute in a 4–1 win over Monterrey, and scored his first professional goal in the 90th minute of the same match.[2] He also made two appearances for UANL in the 2009 InterLiga.

In the 2009–10 season, Acuña made ten league appearances, scoring two goals. The following year, he played his first full season of professional football, making 27 league appearances and scoring four goals. He also appeared in the second leg of UANL's Clausura Liguilla series against Guadalajara.[3]

In the 2011–12 season, Acuña saw a sharp reduction in playing time, making only seven league appearances and two in the Copa Libertadores, as well as one appearance in the Apertura Liguilla against Pachuca. In the first half of the 2012–13 season, he made two league appearances and two appearances in CONCACAF Champions League before being loaned out until the end of the season.

Loan to San Luis

On 6 December 2012, Acuña was loaned to San Luis until the end of the season.[4] He made ten league appearances and three in the Copa Mexico for San Luis that year.

Loan to Morelia

In 2014, he went on loan to Monarcas Morelia, where he made two league appearances and one in the Copa Libertadores that season.[5]

Atlético Ottawa

On 30 March 2020, Acuña signed with Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa.[6] He made his debut in Ottawa's inaugural match on August 15 against York9.[7]

Necaxa

On 5 January 2021, Acuña returned to Mexico, signing with Liga MX side Necaxa.[8]

Personal life

Acuña was nicknamed "El Messi" throughout his career, a nickname he would later say generated unrealistic high expectations.[9]

Career statistics

Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[10] Continental[11] Other[12] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
UANL Premier2008–09Primera División A8080
Tigres UANL2008–09Mexican Primera División9191
2009–10Mexican Primera División1022020142
2010–11Mexican Primera División27410284
2011–12Mexican Primera División702010100
2012–13Liga MX202040
Total557206020657
San Luis (loan)2012–13Liga MX10030130
Morelia (loan)2013–14Liga MX201030
Puebla2014–15Liga MX217091
2016–17Liga MX15120171
2017–18Liga MX30340343
2018–19Liga MX21191302
2019–20Liga MX304070
Total7162610000977
BUAP (loan)2015–16Ascenso MX152104256
2016–17Ascenso MX10150151
Total2531540000407
Atlético Ottawa2020Canadian Premier League7272
Career total17818465702023323

Honours

Tigres UANL

Apertura 2011

Notes and References

  1. Web site: F. Acuña . Soccerway . 30 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Monterrey vs. Tigres UANL - 19 October 2008 . Soccerway . 30 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Tigres UANL vs. Guadalajara - 8 May 2011 . Soccerway . 30 March 2020.
  4. Web site: Francisco Acuña deja a Tigres y se va a San Luis . mediotiempo.com . 30 March 2020 . 6 December 2012.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20131214062042/http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/futbol/jugador/_/id/121708/francisco-javier-acu%C3%B1a-v%C3%ADctor Francisco Acuña Biografía, Numeritos, Noticias
  6. Web site: Atlético Ottawa Adds Midfielder Francisco Acuña . Atlético Ottawa . 30 March 2020 . 30 March 2020.
  7. Web site: Canadian Premier League. August 15, 2020.
  8. ClubNecaxa . 1346599872150048772 . 5 January 2021 . Damos la bienvenida a Francisco Acuña, quien se une a nuestra escuadra de cara al . Spanish.
  9. Web site: 'Messi', apodo que creó falsas expectativas en Francisco Acuña.
  10. Includes Interliga and Copa MX
  11. Includes North American Superliga, Copa Libertadores and CONCACAF Champions League
  12. Includes Liga MX Liguilla