Leo Franco

Leonardo "Leo" Neoren Franco (born 20 May 1977) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
After starting out at Independiente in 1995 he went on to spend the vast majority of his career in Spain, playing 328 La Liga games over the course of 14 seasons in representation of Mallorca, Atlético Madrid and Zaragoza.
An Argentine international for two years, Franco represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup.

Born in San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Buenos Aires, Franco started his career at Club Atlético Independiente, moving at the age of 20 to Spain with CP Mérida where he did not appear in La Liga, barred by Carlos Navarro Montoya and suffering team relegation. In the following year he joined RCD Mallorca, spending his first season with the B-team and again dropping down a level, now in the second division.

Franco would be however promoted to the Balearic Islands side's main squad, going on to establish himself as the starter after replacing compatriot Carlos Roa in the pecking order. In the 2000–01 campaign he appeared in 27 games as Mallorca finished in a best-ever third position, and helped the club win the Copa del Rey two years after.

Franco was signed by Atlético Madrid in 2004, being first-choice from the beginning. Until the end of 2007–08 he saved seven penalties, including two against Sevilla FC on 23 March 2006 (0–1 home loss) and two more at Real Betis on 2 December (1–0 win). Precisely during that season, he was challenged by newly signed Christian Abbiati (loaned by A.C. Milan), but regained his starting status in the 2008–09 season, relegating veteran Grégory Coupet to the bench.

On 1 July 2009, aged 32, after not seeing his contract with the Colchoneros renewed, Franco left Atlético – as Coupet– and signed with Galatasaray S.K. in Turkey. His first Süper Lig appearance took place on 9 August, in a 3–2 away win against Gaziantepspor.

Franco returned to Spain after only one year, signing with Real Zaragoza for two seasons. He made his official debut on 29 August 2010, keeping a clean sheet at Deportivo de La Coruña in a 0–0 draw.

Franco left the Aragonese side in the 2014 summer, and subsequently moved to San Lorenzo de Almagro. On 24 July 2015, after appearing rarely, he moved to SD Huesca, newly promoted to the second tier.

With the Argentina under-20 team, Franco won the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia. On 6 May 2006, two years after making his debut for the senior side, he was selected by coach José Pekerman – also the manager of the under-20s – to the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

On 30 June 2006, Franco replaced injured Roberto Abbondanzieri in the quarter-final clash against hosts Germany, failing to save one single penalty shootout attempt.

Club

As of 28 December 2013

International