Franco Russo
Personal information
Full name Franco Matías Russo
Date of birth (1994-10-25) 25 October 1994
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Ludogorets Razgrad
Number 22
Youth career
All Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Tamarite 32 (3)
2015–2017 Espanyol B 12 (0)
2017 → Vilafranca (loan) 13 (0)
2017–2018 Ontinyent 33 (1)
2018–2023 Mallorca 35 (1)
2019–2020 → Ponferradina (loan) 36 (1)
2023– Ludogorets Razgrad 25 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 December 2023

Franco Matías Russo (born 25 October 1994) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Buenos Aires, Russo finished his formation with All Boys before moving to Spain for a trial with Rayo Vallecano. Despite being told he would earn a contract with the club, he was released after suffering a quadriceps injury.[2]

After living in a room in Madrid and a failed trial at Lleida Esportiu, Russo signed for Tercera División side CDJ Tamarite,[2] and made his senior debut with the club during the 2014–15 campaign. On 25 June 2015, he agreed to a two-year contract with RCD Espanyol, being initially assigned to reserves in Segunda División B.[3]

On 28 January 2017, after featuring rarely, Russo was loaned to FC Vilafranca in the fourth division, until June.[4] He left his parent club as his contract expired on 30 June,[5] and signed for Ontinyent CF in Segunda División B on 5 August.[6]

On 9 July 2018, Russo signed a two-year contract with Segunda División side RCD Mallorca.[7] He made his professional debut on 11 September, starting in a 1–0 home win against Real Oviedo for the season's Copa del Rey.[8]

Russo made his debut in the second division on 29 September 2018, starting in a 1–1 away draw against CD Lugo. He contributed with only four league appearances during the campaign, as his side achieved promotion to La Liga, and was loaned to second division side SD Ponferradina on 12 July 2019.[9]

Upon returning, Russo was again a backup option as Mallorca returned to the top tier. He made his debut in the category on 21 August 2021, starting in a 1–0 away win over Deportivo Alavés.

Russo became a regular starter during the 2021–22 season under manager Luis García, and scored his first goal in the top tier on 4 December 2021, in a 2–1 win at Atlético Madrid.[10]

On 16 January 2023, Russo signed a contract with Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Franco Russo". LaLiga Santander. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 "El duro comienzo de Franco Russo: "No podía ni salir para tomar un café"" [The hard beginnings of Franco Russo: "I could not leave not even for a coffee"] (in Spanish). Sport. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "El Espanyol B se refuerza" [Espanyol B is strengthened] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "Russo sale cedido al Vilafranca; Nacho Ruiz rescinde su contrato" [Russo leaves on loan to Vilafranca; Nacho Ruiz rescinds his contract] (in Spanish). Vavel. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Franco Russo no continuará" [Franco Russo will not continue] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "El Ontinyent se refuerza con el argentino Russo y el navarro Monreal" [Ontinyent bolster with Argentine Russo and Navarre Monreal] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "El RCD Mallorca ficha a Franco Russo" [RCD Mallorca sign Franco Russo] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "El Mallorca apuesta más fuerte" [Mallorca bet higher] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Buenacasa y Russo se unen a la SD Ponferradina" [Buenacasa and Russo join SD Ponferradina] (in Spanish). SD Ponferradina. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  10. ↑ "Franco Russo: "Sé lo que es estar abajo y lo mejor es seguir con los pies en la tierra"" [Franco Russo: "I know how it is like to be on the bottom and the best is to keep the feet on the ground"] (in Spanish). Marca. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Лудогорец привлече защитник от Примера дивизион" [Ludogorets signs a defender from Primera Division] (in Bulgarian). PFC Ludogorets 1945. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
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