Pedro Camilo Franco Ulloa (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpeðɾo ˈfɾaŋko]; born 23 April 1991) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Alianza F.C. (Colombia). He is frequently used as a playmaker from the defensive end and also as a defensive midfielder if needed. He is mostly known for his anticipation of the ball, ball technique and passing.[1]
 Franco playing for Beşiktaş in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pedro Camilo Franco Ulloa | ||
| Date of birth | 23 April 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Bogotá, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Alianza | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2009 | Millonarios | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2013 | Millonarios | 103 | (7) |
| 2013–2018 | Beşiktaş | 39 | (1) |
| 2016 | → San Lorenzo (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Millonarios (loan) | 35 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | → Boluspor (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | América de Cali | 40 | (3) |
| 2021 | Blooming | 4 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Fortaleza CEIF | 55 | (1) |
| 2023– | Alianza | 66 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2009–2011 | Colombia U20 | 14 | (2) |
| 2014–2015 | Colombia | 5 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 August 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2015 | |||
Club career
editMillonarios
editFranco is a youth product of Colombian team Millonarios. After making his debut in 2009 with the senior squad, he became a key defender for the Colombian capital's team. He was part of the team that won the 2012 Categoría Primera A season leading to the final on penalties, where he scored one of the penalties in victory.
In April 2013, Franco reached a remarkable 100th club career appearance.[2]
Beşiktaş
editIn June 2013, Franco signed a 5-year deal with Turkish giants Beşiktaş for a fee of €2.4 million.[3][4][5] However, he did not play in any games for the Turkish side for several months, leading many to believe that would leave in the 2014 January transfer window.[6] With no appearances in the league, Franco requested more playing time in order for potential spot in 2014 World Cup with Colombia. Beşiktaş coach, Slaven Bilić, promised to help him also guaranteeing that Franco would be included in Colombia's final list for the World Cup.[7]
After months of struggling to earn his debut, Franco finally made his official first appearance for the club in 2014 after being subbed in against Trabzonspor in the 66th minute. The game ended 1-1.[8] On February 11, 2014, he scored his first goal for Beşiktaş in a 3–0 away win against Kasımpaşa.[9]
San Lorenzo
editOn 15 January 2016, Franco joined San Lorenzo on a 6-month loan.[10]
Return to Millonarios
editAfter a mostly unsuccessful loan spell at San Lorenzo, on 5 July 2016 Franco returned to his hometown team Millonarios on a 1-year loan.[11]
Boluspor
editOn 7 September 2017, signed with Turkish club Boluspor, on loan for the rest of the season.[12]
América de Cali
editOn 9 July 2018, Franco returned to Colombia, signing with América de Cali.[13]
Blooming
editOn 13 January 2021, Franco signed with Bolivian side Blooming,[14] after being released by América de Cali in June 2020.[15]
Fortaleza CEIF
editOn 14 August 2021, Fortaleza C.E.I.F. announced the signing of Franco,[16] marking his return to Colombia after a short spell in Bolivia.
Alianza Petrolera
editOn 2 December 2022, Franco signed for Colombian side Alianza Petrolera.[17]
International career
editFranco played with the U-20 national team between 2009 and 2011. He won the 2011 edition of the Toulon Tournament where he was selected as the tournament's best defender,[18] and played in the 2011 South American Youth Championship. He also represented Colombia during the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in which his home nation hosted.
3 years after last playing for Colombia's youth national team, he was called up to the senior squad for the friendlies against Canada and El Salvador.[19] He debuted in a 3–0 win over El Salvador on 10 October, playing a full 90 minutes.
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 25 July 2023[20]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Millonarios | 2009 | Colombian Primera A | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| 2010 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2011 | 22 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| 2012 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 4 | ||
| 2013 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 4 | ||
| Total | 103 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 133 | 12 | ||
| Beşiktaş | 2013–14 | Turkish Süper Lig | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| 2014–15 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 39 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 1 | ||
| San Lorenzo (loan) | 2016 | Argentine Primera División | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Millonarios (loan) | 2016 | Colombian Primera A | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 2017 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| Total | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||
| Boluspor (loan) | 2017–18 | Turkish 1.Lig | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| América de Cali | 2018 | Colombian Primera A | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2019 | 21 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Total | 40 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 3 | ||
| Blooming | 2021 | Bolivian Primera División | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fortaleza C.E.I.F. | 2021 | Colombian Primera B | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2022 | 39 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| Total | 55 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 1 | ||
| Alianza Petrolera | 2023 | Colombian Primera A | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| Career total | 315 | 14 | 36 | 5 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 386 | 21 | ||
International
edit- As of 6 June 2015[21]
| Colombia senior team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goal |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 0 |
Honours
editClub
edit- Millonarios F.C.
- Beşiktaş J.K.
- América de Cali
International
edit- Colombia U20
Individual
edit- South American Youth Football Championship Best Player: 2011
References
edit- ^ "Süper Lig - Pedro Franco Beşiktaş'ta - Süper Lig 2012-2013 - Futbol - Eurosport". Tr.eurosport.com. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Pedro Franco llegó a sus primeros 100 partidos". Ligapostobon.com.co. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Pedro Franco Beşiktaş'ta". Aksam.com.tr. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Besiktas sign Los Millonarios defender Pedro Franco on a five-year deal". Turkish Football. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Pedro Franco nuevo jugador del Beşiktaş". comutricolor.com. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Franco y una mala decisión" (in Spanish). Goal.com. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Noticias, Fútbol colombiano, Fútbol internacional, Champions League, Selección Colombia, Eliminatorias, Mercado de pases, Colombianos por el Mundo" (in Spanish). Goal.com. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Member associations - Turkey - League –". Uefa.com. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Pedro Franco golle tanıştı". Son.tv. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ Dpa; Aires, Buenos (18 January 2016). "Pedro Franco: "Quiero dejar una huella en San Lorenzo"". Marca.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Millonarios confirmó tres nuevas contrataciones entre ellas la de Pedro Franco". RCN Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ Semana (7 September 2017). "El descenso de Pedro Franco". Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ As.com (9 July 2018). "Oficial: Pedro Franco es nuevo jugador de América". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Pedro Franco tiene nuevo equipo tras salir de América". Antena 2 (in Spanish). 13 January 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Tiempo, Casa Editorial El. "Pedro Franco se va al exterior: seguirá su carrera en Bolivia". futbolred.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ As.com (14 August 2021). "Pedro Franco vuelve al FPC: Nuevo jugador de Fortaleza". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ As.com (2 December 2022). "Alianza Petrolera confirma fichaje de Pedro Franco". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Besiktas | Pedro Franco soll die Abwehr verstärken!". Gazetefutbol. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Pekerman convocรณ la selecciรณn para amistosos - La Naciรณn". Lanacion.com.co. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "P. Franco". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Franco, Pedro". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
External links
edit- Pedro Franco – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Pedro Camilo Franco at BDFA (in Spanish)