Isco

Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez (Spanish pronunciation: [fɾanˈθisko roˈman alaɾˈkon ˈswaɾeθ]; born 21 April 1992), commonly known as Isco ([ˈisko]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Real Madrid[4] and the Spanish national team. In 2017, he was selected as one of the 30 best players in the world for that season.[5]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Alarcón and the second or maternal family name is Suárez.

Isco
Personal information
Full name Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez[1]
Date of birth (1992-04-21) 21 April 1992[2]
Place of birth Benalmádena, Spain
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 22
Youth career
1997–1999 PDM Benalmádena
1999–2006 Atlético Benamiel
2006–2009 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Valencia B 52 (16)
2010–2011 Valencia 4 (0)
2011–2013 Málaga 69 (14)
2013– Real Madrid 201 (36)
National team‡
2008 Spain U16 3 (1)
2008–2009 Spain U17 21 (6)
2010 Spain U18 1 (1)
2010–2011 Spain U19 12 (7)
2011 Spain U20 6 (1)
2011–2014 Spain U21 19 (14)
2012 Spain U23 5 (0)
2013– Spain 38 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 24 June 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:39, 10 June 2019 (UTC)

He began his career at Valencia, playing mainly in its reserve team, before joining Málaga in 2011. His performances at Malaga earned him the Golden Boy award in 2012, and a €30 million move to Real Madrid in June 2013, with whom he won four UEFA Champions League titles.

Isco represented Spain at various youth levels, including at the 2012 Olympics, and made his senior international debut in 2013, later taking part at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Valencia

Isco was born in Benalmádena, Málaga, Andalusia. As a child he played for Atlético Benamiel, where his teammates included Charlie I'Anson.[6] A product of Valencia CF's youth system, he spent the 2009–10 season with the club's reserve team in Segunda División B, netting once in 26 games and suffering relegation.

While still registered with the reserves, Isco made his debut with the first team on 11 November 2010, against UD Logroñés for the campaign's Copa del Rey, scoring two goals in a 4–1 home win (Paco Alcácer made his senior bow in the same fixture).[7][8] He played his first La Liga match three days later, featuring for 20 minutes in a 2–0 home win against Getafe CF after coming on as a substitute for Aritz Aduriz;[9] he thereafter made three further league appearances and two in the UEFA Champions League, all from the bench,[10] and helped the B-team return to the third level by scoring 15 goals in their campaign.[11][12]

Málaga

In mid-July 2011, Isco signed a five-year contract with Málaga CF after the club activated his buy-out clause of €6 million.[13] He scored his first goal for his new team on 21 November 2011, starting in a 3–1 away win against Racing de Santander;[14] he netted again the following week in a 2–1 win against Villarreal CF,[15] and finished his first season with 32 games and five goals as the side qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.

On 18 September 2012, in Málaga's first game in the Champions League group stage, Isco netted twice in a 3–0 home win over FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, also being chosen as Man of the Match.[16] On 22 December he scored the first goal in an eventual 3–2 win against Real Madrid at La Rosaleda, leading the locals to their first victory over that opponent in 29 years;[17] in December he won the Golden Boy award, beating Stephan El Shaarawy and Thibaut Courtois.[18][19]

On 28 January 2013, Isco ended speculation regarding his future by signing a new contract with Málaga – his new buyout clause was set at €35 million.[20] He scored his eleventh goal of the campaign on 13 March, netting the opener in a 2–0 home win against FC Porto, good enough for last-eight qualification after the 0–1 loss in Portugal.[21][22]

Real Madrid

On 17 June 2013, Isco confirmed that he had received offers from Real Madrid and former Málaga manager Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City, but stated he would only make a final decision on his future after the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final.[23] On 26 June, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez confirmed that a deal had been reached with the player and that he would be presented by the club next week, once he passed his medical;[24] the following day he signed a five-year contract, with Real Madrid paying €30 million for his services, thus becoming the first signing of newly appointed manager Carlo Ancelotti.[25]

Isco with Real Madrid in 2013.

On 18 August 2013 Isco made his official debut for the Merengues, recording an assist and scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 home win over Real Betis, the latter coming through an 85th-minute header.[26] He continued with his form by netting two goals against Athletic Bilbao on 1 September (3–1, also at the Santiago Bernabéu).[27]

Isco playing for Real Madrid in 2015.

In spite of continuing to score regularly when featured, Isco received limited opportunities in the first team due to the 4–3–3 formation not being suited for his style, but Ancelotti stated that it was "a temporary problem".[28] He scored 11 goals in 53 official games in his first season, including 61 minutes in the Champions League final, a 4–1 win over Atlético Madrid.[29]

Isco started the first game of the 2014–15 season against Real Sociedad, and scored the first in a 4–1 win against UD Almería on 12 December 2014.[30] He was a regular starter in the club's FIFA Club World Cup winning campaign, scoring the last in a 4–0 semi-final routing of Cruz Azul.[31] His performances over the season earned him many plaudits,[32] and he was compared to Zinedine Zidane by the French legend himself.[33]

Prior to the start of the 2015–16 season, Isco switched his shirt number from 23 to 22, which he had previously worn at Málaga.[34] On 21 November 2015, as Real lost 0–4 at home to FC Barcelona in El Clásico, he was sent off in the 84th minute for a foul on Neymar.[35] He scored twice on 2 December, as the team won 3–1 at Cádiz CF in the first leg of the last 32 of the domestic cup.[36] Isco was a part-time starter when the team won the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League.[37]

On 11 February 2017, Isco scored Real Madrid's 100th goal of the season as he attained the game-winning goal in a 3–1 away victory against Osasuna.[38]

He appeared 30 times during the 2016–17 season, as Real Madrid won La Liga title;[39][40] he also started in the Champions League final against Juventus, which Madrid won 4–1.[41]

On 8 August 2017, Isco scored a goal in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup, contributing to Real Madrid's 2–1 victory against Manchester United. His performance earned him the man of the match award.[42]

On 14 September 2017, he signed a new deal with Real Madrid until June 2022.[43] During the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, he made eleven appearances, when Madrid won their third consecutive and 13th overall Champions League title.[44]

International career
Isco in 2010.

Isco appeared with Spain's U17 in 2009 FIFA World Cup, scoring three times in the process as the nation finished third. In 2011 he represented his country – together with Málaga teammate Recio – in the U-20 World Cup held in Colombia, netting one goal in an eventual quarter-final exit.

On 28 February 2012 Isco was called to the Spanish under-23s for a friendly against Egypt, but did not leave the bench.[45] On 15 May he was picked for the first time to the senior team for friendlies with Serbia and South Korea, but took no part in either match. In July, he went with the under-23 team to the Olympics in London,[46] starting all of Spain's matches as they were eliminated without scoring a goal.

On 6 February 2013 Isco made his debut with the main squad, playing the last 30 minutes in a 3–1 win over Uruguay in Doha, Qatar.[47] Also that year he appeared at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel, he scored in the final and finished the competition with the Bronze Boot (3 Goals) and made the team of the tournament as a key player for the eventual winners.[48][49]

Isco scored his first international goal for Spain in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belarus in Huelva on 15 November 2014, opening a 3–0 win.[50]

Isco scored his first hat-trick for Spain on 27 March 2018, netting three goals against Argentina in a 6–1 friendly win.[51]

In May 2018, he was named in Spain’s final squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[52]

Style of play
Isco is known for his dribbling ability.

Isco began his career as an attacking midfielder or as a second striker: at Málaga, under Manuel Pellegrini, he often played in an attacking role in the team's 4–2–3–1 formation.[53] Following his move to Real Madrid, manager Carlo Ancelotti also played him in a deeper midfield playmaking role requiring more sacrifice and defensive duties than his natural position.[53] He has also been deployed as a winger on occasion.[54]

A quick, skilful and creative player, with excellent technique and ball control, Isco is known for his natural ability to pick out an inch-perfect pass, dribble effortlessly through two or three challenges or drift a shot into the top corner of the goal.[55][56][57] His one-step-ahead reading of the game, his anticipation of space and the general directing of his side's performances are his most common traits.[55]

In 2013, Isco was credited by Marca journalist Pablo Polo as being "the most promising young player in Spanish football", comparing his strength, skill, and low centre of gravity to Sergio Agüero, and his vision and passing abilities to Zinedine Zidane.[58] Former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas predicted in 2015 that Isco would become Spain's most important player.[59][60]

Career statistics

Club
As of 24 June 2020[61][62]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Valencia Mestalla 2009–10 261———261
2010–11 2615——202815
Total 52160000205416
Valencia 2010–11 401220—72
Málaga 2011–12 32530——355
2012–13 37900103—4712
Total 691430103—8217
Real Madrid 2013–14 32890123—5311
2014–15 3444111041536
2015–16 31312110—435
2016–17 30104061204211
2017–18 3074111041499
2018–19 273424120376
2019–20 171104121243
Total 2013627659614330151
Career total 3266631871916344486

1 Includes 2011 Tercera División play-offs, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

International
As of 10 June 2019[62][63]
Spain
Year Apps Goals
2013 2 0
2014 4 1
2015 6 0
2016 5 1
2017 8 5
2018 11 5
2019 2 0
Total 38 12

International goals
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first.[63]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 November 2014Estadio Nuevo Colombino, Huelva, Spain Belarus1–03–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
2.15 November 2016Wembley Stadium, London, England England2–22–2Friendly
3.24 March 2017El Molinón, Gijón, Spain Israel4–14–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.2 September 2017Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain Italy1–03–0
5.2–0
6.5 September 2017Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein Liechtenstein4–08–0
7.6 October 2017Estadio José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain Albania2–03–0
8.27 March 2018Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain Argentina2–06–1Friendly
9.3–1
10.6–1
11.25 June 2018Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia Morocco1–12–22018 FIFA World Cup
12.11 September 2018Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain Croatia6–06–02018–19 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

Valencia Mestalla

Real Madrid

Spain U17

Spain U21

Individual

References
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