Francisco Aguilar (footballer, born 1949) explained

Francisco Aguilar
Fullname:Francisco Javier Aguilar García[1]
Birth Date:26 March 1949
Birth Place:Santander, Spain
Death Place:Madrid, Spain
Height:1.72 m
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:Racing Santander
Years1:1968–1971
Caps1:37
Goals1:10
Years2:1971–1979
Caps2:144
Goals2:34
Years3:1979–1981
Caps3:46
Goals3:6
Years4:1981–1983
Caps4:73
Goals4:18
Totalcaps:300
Totalgoals:68
Nationalyears1:1971
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:1971–1973
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:1

Francisco Javier Aguilar García (26 March 1949 – 11 May 2020) was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a forward.

Club career

Born in Santander, Aguilar started his career with local Racing de Santander,[2] making his senior debut at 19 and helping the Cantabrians to achieve promotion to the Segunda División in 1970. The following year, he signed with La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid alongside teammate Santillana,[2] finishing his first season with 31 matches (28 starts) and six goals as the team won the national championship; he added three in only four appearances in the UEFA Cup, but they were eliminated in the second round.[3]

Safe for two seasons, Aguilar was regularly used during his spell, winning five leagues and two Copa del Rey – including the double in the 1974–75 campaign – and appearing in 190 competitive games.[2] In the summer of 1979 he joined Sporting de Gijón, playing regularly but only managing to score on six occasions during his spell.[4]

Aguilar retired from football in June 1983 at the age of 34, after two years with another club in Madrid, second-tier Rayo Vallecano (12 goals from 36 appearances in his first).[3] Over ten seasons, he amassed top-flight totals of 190 matches and 40 goals.

International career

In one year and a half, Aguilar played three matches for Spain.[2] He made his debut on 24 November 1971 in a UEFA Euro 1972 qualifier against Cyprus in Granada, replacing Real Madrid teammate Amancio Amaro at half-time and scoring the fifth goal in an eventual 7–0 rout.[5]

Aguilar also represented the nation at under-23 level.[6]

Death

Aguilar died on 11 May 2020 in Madrid aged 71,[7] due to cancer.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aguilar. Worldfootball. 28 November 2017.
  2. News: Fallece Ico Aguilar, jugador cántabro del Real Madrid en la década de los setenta. Death of Ico Aguilar, Cantabrian player of Real Madrid in the 70s. La Vanguardia. es. 12 May 2020. 12 May 2020.
  3. News: Fallece Ico Aguilar, extremo del Real Madrid de los años 70. Death of Ico Aguilar, Real Madrid winger in the 70s. Diario AS. Agustín. Martín. es. 11 May 2020. 12 May 2020.
  4. News: Fallece Ico Aguilar, exjugador del Sporting. Death of Ico Aguilar, former Sporting player. La Nueva España. Ángel. Cabranes. es. 11 May 2020. 12 May 2020.
  5. News: 7–0: Festival de goles español. 7–0: Spanish goal fest. Mundo Deportivo. Carlos. Pardo. es. 25 November 1971. 12 May 2020.
  6. Web site: Отборочный матч I молодёжного чемпионата Европы 1972 г.. Qualification match of the 1st European Youth Championship in 1972. Russia Matches. ru. 27 October 2011. 6 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Official announcement: passing of Ico Aguilar. Real Madrid CF. 11 May 2020. 12 May 2020.