Kiko (footballer, born 1972) explained

Kiko
Fullname:Francisco Miguel Narváez Machón
Birth Date:26 April 1972
Birth Place:Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Height:1.89 m
Youthclubs1:Pueblo Nuevo
Youthyears2:1985–1990
Years1:1990–1991
Years2:1991–1993
Caps2:78
Goals2:12
Years3:1993–2001
Caps3:225
Goals3:48
Years4:2002
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Totalcaps:314
Totalgoals:61
Nationalyears1:1991
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1992–1994
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:1991–1992
Nationalcaps3:12
Nationalgoals3:7
Nationalyears4:1992–1998
Nationalcaps4:26
Nationalgoals4:4

Francisco Miguel Narváez Machón (born 26 April 1972), known as Kiko, is a Spanish former professional footballer who spent most of his career with Atlético Madrid.[1]

A centre forward with tremendous technical ability and field vision, he possessed nonetheless a poor aerial game despite being almost 190 cm tall. In ten La Liga seasons (also played one year with his main club in Segunda División), he amassed totals of 271 games and 60 goals.

Kiko was a squad member at the 1992 Summer Olympics as the Spain national team won gold, on home soil. Additionally, he appeared at full level in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Cádiz

Born in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, Kiko's career began with local Cádiz CF, and he first appeared in La Liga on 14 April 1991 in a 2–3 home loss against Athletic Bilbao. Even though he played in only five further matches in the season he was intimately connected with the Andalusia club's fate as, on 9 June, in only 25 minutes of play, he gained a penalty kick and scored an 83-minute winner in a 2–1 home win over Real Zaragoza;[2] the team would miraculously retain their status, after the playoffs against CD Málaga.[3]

Atlético

After two more seasons as an undisputed starter Kiko moved, alongside teammate José María Quevedo to Atlético Madrid, upon Cádiz's 1993 relegation. There, he developed into one of Spain's most important footballers during the 90s, being an instrumental unit in Atlético's historical double in 1995–96, with goals and assists alike.

Atlético was relegated in 2000, but Kiko stayed with the club for a further campaign, not managing any goals in 32 league appearances. He finished out his career with a five-month spell at CF Extremadura also in Segunda División in 2002, teaming up with another longtime league player, Pier.[4] [5]

International career

Kiko was capped 26 times for Spain, and scored four goals. His debut came on 16 December 1992, in a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Latvia where he played the full 90 minutes.[6]

Kiko took part in UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup. He scored once against Bulgaria in the latter tournament, during a 6–1 thrashing, though this did not count for anything as Spain were knocked out in the group stage.[7]

Previously, Kiko represented the country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He scored a last-minute winner against Poland in the final, a 3–2 victory, his second of the game.[8] [9]

International goals

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kiko goal.[10]

List of international goals scored by Kiko
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 15 November 1995 Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain 1–0 3–0 Euro 1996 qualifying
2 7 February 1996 Insular, Las Palmas, Spain 1–0 1–0 Friendly
3 24 September 1997 Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia 1–0 2–1 1998 World Cup qualification
4 24 June 1998 Félix Bollaert, Lens, France 6–1 6–1 1998 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Atlético Madrid

1995–96

1995–96

Spain U23

1992[11]

Spain U21

Notes and References

  1. http://www.atletico-de-madrid.com/kiko-narvaez-arquero-gol/ Kiko Narváez, el poeta del área (Kiko Narváez, the poet of the box)
  2. News: El Cádiz dribla el descenso. Cádiz dribble relegation. Mundo Deportivo. es. 10 June 1991. 21 May 2014.
  3. News: El Cádiz consuma el milagro. Cádiz work miracle. Mundo Deportivo. es. 20 June 1991. 21 May 2014.
  4. News: Kiko y Pier fichan por el Extremadura. Kiko and Pier sign for Extremadura. El Mundo. es. 5 January 2002. 2 October 2019.
  5. News: Kiko se retira porque no tiene la cabeza en el fútbol. Kiko retires because his mind is not in football. El Mundo. es. 12 March 2002. 2 October 2019.
  6. News: Cinco goles para un triunfo vital de la selección. Five goals for national team vital win. Mundo Deportivo. es. 17 December 1992. 21 May 2014.
  7. Web site: Spain beats Bulgaria 6–1 but fails to qualify. Sports Illustrated. 24 June 1998. 21 May 2014. 9 May 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060509061816/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/06/24/spain_bulgaria/. dead.
  8. News: Supervivientes de oro. Golden survivors. El País. es. 25 February 2007. 24 May 2018.
  9. http://dameunsilbidito.enlaweb.eu/2010/04/el-triunfo-en-el-futbol-broche-de-oro-para-espana-en-barcelona-92/ El triunfo en el fútbol, broche de oro para España en Barcelona 92 (Football win, icing on the cake for Spain in Barcelona 92)
  10. Web site: Kiko. European Football. 18 December 2016.
  11. Web site: La Roja de 1992, nuestra medalla de oro Olímpica. 1992's La Roja, our Olympic gold medal. Antena 3. es. 3 July 2012. 13 July 2017.