Pedro Franco
Franco playing for Beşiktaş in 2014
Personal information
Full name Pedro Camilo Franco Ulloa
Date of birth (1991-04-23) 23 April 1991
Place of birth Bogotá, Colombia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Fortaleza CEIF
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 Petrolera 26 (1)
International career‡
2009–2011 Colombia U20 14 (2)
2014–2015 Colombia 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2015

Pedro Camilo Franco Ulloa (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpeðɾo ˈfɾaŋko]; born 23 April 1991) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Fortaleza CEIF. 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]

Club career

Millonarios

Franco 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

In 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

On 15 January 2016, Franco joined San Lorenzo on a 6-month loan.[10]

Return to Millonarios

After 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

On 7 September 2017, signed with Turkish club Boluspor, on loan for the rest of the season.[12]

América de Cali

On 9 July 2018, Franco returned to Colombia, signing with América de Cali.[13]

Blooming

On 13 January 2021, Franco signed with Bolivian side Blooming,[14] after being released by América de Cali in June 2020.[15]

Fortaleza CEIF

On 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

On 2 December 2022, Franco signed for Colombian side Alianza Petrolera.[17]

International career

Franco 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

Club

As of match played 25 July 2023[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 Argetine 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

As of 6 June 2015[21]
Colombia senior team
YearAppsGoal
201420
201530
Total50

Honours

Club

Millonarios F.C.
Beşiktaş J.K.
América de Cali

International

Colombia U20

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Süper Lig - Pedro Franco Beşiktaş'ta - Süper Lig 2012-2013 - Futbol - Eurosport". Tr.eurosport.com. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  2. ↑ "Pedro Franco llegó a sus primeros 100 partidos". Ligapostobon.com.co. 2013-04-30. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  3. ↑ "Pedro Franco Beşiktaş'ta". Aksam.com.tr. 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  4. ↑ "Besiktas sign Los Millonarios defender Pedro Franco on a five-year deal". Turkish Football. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  5. ↑ "Pedro Franco nuevo jugador del Beşiktaş". comutricolor.com. 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  6. ↑ "Franco y una mala decisión" (in Spanish). Goal.com. 2014-12-16. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  7. ↑ "Noticias, Fútbol colombiano, Fútbol internacional, Champions League, Selección Colombia, Eliminatorias, Mercado de pases, Colombianos por el Mundo" (in Spanish). Goal.com. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  8. ↑ "Member associations - Turkey - League –". Uefa.com. 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  9. ↑ "Pedro Franco golle tanıştı". Son.tv. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  10. ↑ Dpa; Aires, Buenos (2016-01-18). "Pedro Franco: "Quiero dejar una huella en San Lorenzo"". Marca.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  11. ↑ "Millonarios confirmó tres nuevas contrataciones entre ellas la de Pedro Franco". RCN Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  12. ↑ Semana (2017-09-07). "El descenso de Pedro Franco". Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  13. ↑ As.com (2018-07-09). "Oficial: Pedro Franco es nuevo jugador de América". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  14. ↑ "Pedro Franco tiene nuevo equipo tras salir de América". Antena 2 (in Spanish). 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  15. ↑ Tiempo, Casa Editorial El. "Pedro Franco se va al exterior: seguirá su carrera en Bolivia". futbolred.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  16. ↑ As.com (2021-08-14). "Pedro Franco vuelve al FPC: Nuevo jugador de Fortaleza". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  17. ↑ As.com (2022-12-02). "Alianza Petrolera confirma fichaje de Pedro Franco". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  18. ↑ "Besiktas | Pedro Franco soll die Abwehr verstärken!". Gazetefutbol. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  19. ↑ "Pekerman convocรณ la selecciรณn para amistosos - La Naciรณn". Lanacion.com.co. Archived from the original on 2014-12-06. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  20. ↑ "P. Franco". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Franco, Pedro". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
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