Kiko Femenía Explained

Kiko Femenía
Full Name:Francisco Femenía Far[1]
Birth Date:2 February 1991[2]
Birth Place:Sanet y Negrals, Spain
Height:1.74 m
Position:Right-back
Currentclub:Villarreal
Clubnumber:17
Youthyears1:2000–2001
Youthclubs1:Beniarbeig
Youthyears2:2001–2004
Youthclubs2:FB Dénia
Youthyears3:2004–2008
Youthclubs3:Hércules
Years1:2008–2009
Caps1:10
Goals1:0
Years2:2008–2011
Caps2:71
Goals2:4
Years3:2011–2013
Caps3:62
Goals3:6
Years4:2013–2014
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2015
Caps5:17
Goals5:0
Years6:2015–2017
Caps6:69
Goals6:5
Years7:2017–2022
Caps7:144
Goals7:2
Years8:2022–
Caps8:43
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2009
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2009–2010
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2011
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:5 June 2024

Francisco "Kiko" Femenía Far (pronounced as /es/; born 2 February 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for La Liga club Villarreal.

Club career

Hércules

Born in Sanet y Negrals, Province of Alicante, Valencian Community,[3] Femenía was a product of Hércules CF's youth ranks. He made his first-team debut on 15 June 2008 at just 17, appearing in a Segunda División match at Cádiz CF, a 1–1 draw which eventually certified the Andalusians' relegation even though they protested against the illegal fielding of an opposing player, specifically the youngster.[4]

Femenía played another game with the main squad in the 2008–09 season, again in the last round but against UD Salamanca (5–1 away win).[5] In the subsequent off-season, he signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a five-year deal[6] and, the following campaign, still only 18, he would be a much more important midfield unit, being the first substitute for veteran Francisco Rufete and totalling nearly 1,000 minutes in the league to help the club return to La Liga after an absence of 13 years.[3]

On 28 August 2010, Femenía made his debut in the top division, replacing Abel Aguilar in the second half of the home fixture against Athletic Bilbao. After only a few minutes on the pitch, however, and a couple of poor decisions, he suffered an anxiety attack from which he later fully recovered, although the Basques eventually won 1–0.[7]

Barcelona

Femenía joined FC Barcelona Atlètic on 6 July 2011, for 2 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons.[8] He scored his first official goal for his new team on 4 September, opening the score in a 4–0 away victory over FC Cartagena.[9]

Femenía netted five times in 30 games – 23 starts – in his first season, helping the Catalans to the eighth position.[10]

Real Madrid

In late August 2013, Femenía was released by Barcelona, stating that he had been "ruined emotionally".[11] Just hours later, he signed for Real Madrid, being assigned to the reserves in the second division.[12]

Femenía appeared in only five matches during the whole campaign, which ended in relegation, and left the club in December 2014.[13] [14]

Alcorcón

On 7 January 2015, Femenía signed a six-month deal with AD Alcorcón also of the second tier.[15] He totalled 996 minutes of action during the season, helping his team finish 11th.[16]

Alavés

On 2 July 2015, Femenía moved to fellow league side Deportivo Alavés after agreeing to a one-year contract.[17] He contributed 38 appearances and five goals in his debut campaign as they returned to the top flight after ten years, and was eventually reconverted into a right-back.[18] [19]

Femenía left the Mendizorrotza Stadium on 6 June 2017, as his contract was due to expire.[20]

Watford

On 1 July 2017, Femenía signed for Watford after agreeing to a four-year deal.[21] He made his debut in the Premier League on 12 August, coming on for injured Daryl Janmaat early into a 3–3 home draw against Liverpool.[22]

Femenía scored his first league goal for the English club on 31 March 2018, helping the hosts earn one point after a 2–2 home draw with Bournemouth.[23]

Villarreal

On 28 July 2022, aged 31, Femenía returned to Spain after five years and joined Villarreal CF on a three-year contract, for an undisclosed fee.[24] [25]

Career statistics

[26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hércules B2007–08Regional Preferente1010
2008–099090
Total10010!0
Hércules2007–08Segunda División100010
2008–09100010
2009–1035350403
2010–11La Liga34110351
Total7146077!4
Barcelona B2011–12Segunda División305305
2012–13321321
Total62662!6
Real Madrid B2013–14Segunda División5050
Alcorcón2014–15Segunda División17000170
Alavés2015–16Segunda División38520405
2016–17La Liga31060370
Total6958077!5
Watford2017–18Premier League2310000231
2018–192913020341
2019–202800010290
2020–21Championship3700000370
2021–22Premier League2700010280
Total14423040001512
Villarreal2022–23La Liga2002060280
Career total39817190406042717

Honours

Alavés

2015–16[19]

Watford

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed. Premier League. 2 February 2018. 17 February 2018.
  2. Web site: Kiko. Eurosport. 8 February 2022.
  3. https://as.com/futbol/2020/06/18/reportajes/1592472905_029993.html ¿Qué fue de los héroes del último ascenso a Primera del Hércules? (What happened to the heroes of Hércules' last promotion to Primera?)
  4. https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/futbol/confirmado-el-descenso-del-cadiz-a-segunda-b-5821759 Confirmado el descenso del Cádiz a Segunda B (Cádiz's relegation to Segunda B confirmed)
  5. http://www.marca.com/2009/06/20/futbol/2adivision/1245525955.html El Hércules se despide a lo grande (Hércules say goodbye in style)
  6. https://www.laverdad.es/alicante/20090812/deportes_alicante/hercules/kiko-firmara-contrato-profesional-20090812.html Kiko firmará un contrato profesional por cinco temporadas con el Hércules (Kiko will sign five-year professional contract with Hércules)
  7. http://elhercules.com/actualidad/59341-kiko-femenia-derrota-a-la-ansiedad Kiko Femenía derrota a la anxiedad (Kiko Femenía defeats anxiety)
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20110709035719/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/castellano/noticies/futbol_b/temporada11-12/07/06/n110706118298.html Kiko Femenía se incorpora al Barça B (Kiko Femenía joins Barça B)
  9. https://www.diariodealmeria.es/deportes/Rafinha-lidera-Barca-goleada-Cartagena_0_512349083.html Un gran Rafinha lidera al Barça B en la goleada al Cartagena (Great Rafinha leads Barça B in rout of Cartagena)
  10. https://www.marca.com/futbol/alaves/2016/09/11/57d532d922601d9d0c8b45ab.html La venganza de Kiko Femenía en el Camp Nou (The revenge of Kiko Femenía at the Camp Nou)
  11. http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1537132/kiko-femenia-slams-barcelona-leaves-real-madrid?cc=5739 Madrid-bound Femenia slams Barcelona
  12. https://archive.today/20130912114103/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/ActualidadCantera1314_en/News/1193040523950/1330157928677/noticia/Noticia/Kiko_Femenia,_new_Castilla_player.htm Kiko Femenia, new Castilla player
  13. https://as.com/futbol/2014/06/09/primera/1402272491_947720.html La caída a segunda B del Castilla pone a ‘La Fábrica’ en apuros (Castilla drop to Segunda B leaves 'The Factory' in trouble)
  14. https://www.lainformacion.com/deporte/arturo-rodriguez-rescinde-contrato-y-su-vacante-la-ocupa-kiko-femenia_IVyn2LYMmvksXmU714Ada5/ Arturo Rodríguez rescinde contrato y su vacante la ocupa Kiko Femenía (Arturo Rodríguez terminates contract and his roster spot will be taken by Kiko Femenía)
  15. https://www.adalcorcon.com/noticia/kiko-femenia-nuevo-futbolista-de-la-a-d-alcorcon Kiko Femenía, nuevo futbolista de la A.D. Alcorcón (Kiko Femenía, new footballer of A.D. Alcorcón)
  16. https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20190611/462801480556/roland-duchatelet-pone-fin-a-su-silenciosa-etapa-en-el-alcorcon.html Roland Duchatelet pone fin a su silenciosa etapa en el Alcorcón (Roland Duchatelet puts an end to his quiet spell at Alcorcón)
  17. https://www.deportivoalaves.com/noticia/el-deportivo-alaves-cierra-el-fichaje-de-kiko-femenia El Deportivo Alavés cierra el fichaje de Kiko Femenía (Deportivo Alavés complete the signing of Kiko Femenía)
  18. http://deportes.elpais.com/deportes/2016/05/29/actualidad/1464551891_854403.html El Alavés vuelve a Primera (Alavés return to Primera)
  19. https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/alaves/680016-deportivo-alaves-1617-kiko-femenia.html Deportivo Alavés 2016/2017: Kiko Femenía (2016/2017 Deportivo Alavés: Kiko Femenía)
  20. http://www.deportivoalaves.com/noticia/gracias-kiko-por-estas-2-temporadas-gloriosas Gracias Kiko por estas 2 temporadas Gloriosas (Thanks Kiko for these 2 Glorious seasons)
  21. https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/official-femenia-joins-hornets Official: Femenía joins Hornets
  22. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/08/12/watford-vs-liverpool-premier-league-live-score-updates-team/ Watford 3 Liverpool 3: Miguel Britos scrambles home controversial injury-time equaliser in six-goal thriller
  23. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/31/watford-bournemouth-premier-league-match-report Jermain Defoe rescues late point for Bournemouth at Watford
  24. Web site: Official: Femenía completes Spain move. Watford F.C.. 28 July 2022. 28 July 2022.
  25. Web site: Kiko Femenía ya es groguet. Kiko Femenía is already yellow. Villarreal CF. es. 28 July 2022. 28 July 2022.
  26. Web site: Kiko Femenía. Soccerway. 20 January 2019.
  27. Web site: Manchester City 6–0 Watford. BBC Sport. Phil. McNulty. 18 May 2019. 18 May 2019.