Francisco Higuera
Encyclopedia
Francisco Higuera Fernández (born 30 January 1965 in Escurial
, Cáceres) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played mostly as an attacking midfielder – sometimes he could appear in the forward position.
He appeared in 367 La Liga
games over the course of 12 seasons (76 goals), in representation of Mallorca
and Zaragoza
.
, Higuera made his senior debuts at only 17, in a Segunda División
game against Deportivo de La Coruña
on 10 October 1982 (3–0 home win), and finished his first season with 16 games and two goals as the Balearic Islands
club promoted to La Liga
. His first appearance in the top level occurred on 24 September 1983 in a 0–3 loss at Atlético de Madrid, and he went on to experience two relegations from the category with the team.
In the 1988 summer, Higuera signed with Real Zaragoza
, being an everpresent fixture with the Aragon
ese. In 1993–94, he scored a career-best 12 goals, while also scoring the decisive penalty
in the shootout win over Celta de Vigo
, in that season's Copa del Rey
final, and being instrumental in the club's 1995 victory in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
, all this while often partnered offensively with Miguel Pardeza, Gustavo Poyet
and Juan Esnáider
(they recorded, in the 1994–95 season, an impressive 5–4 away win against FC Barcelona
).
Higuera decided to have an abroad experience in 1997, at 32, and joined Mexico
's Puebla FC, being accompanied by Pardeza in the adventure. He returned home after one season, signing with lowly Xerez CD
(by then in Segunda División B
) and retiring in 2000.
After serving as general manager
to the Andalusia
ns for several seasons, Higuera switched to another modest club, Lorca Deportiva CF, in 2009, also in that capacity.
for Spain
, the first arriving on 15 January 1992, in a friendly match
with Portugal
.
Escurial
Escurial is a village in Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain....
, Cáceres) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played mostly as an attacking midfielder – sometimes he could appear in the forward position.
He appeared in 367 La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
games over the course of 12 seasons (76 goals), in representation of Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
and Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
.
Club career
After playing in all the youth categories at RCD MallorcaRCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
, Higuera made his senior debuts at only 17, in a Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
game against Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
on 10 October 1982 (3–0 home win), and finished his first season with 16 games and two goals as the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
club promoted to La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. His first appearance in the top level occurred on 24 September 1983 in a 0–3 loss at Atlético de Madrid, and he went on to experience two relegations from the category with the team.
In the 1988 summer, Higuera signed with Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, being an everpresent fixture with the Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
ese. In 1993–94, he scored a career-best 12 goals, while also scoring the decisive penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the shootout win over Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, in that season's Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
final, and being instrumental in the club's 1995 victory in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, all this while often partnered offensively with Miguel Pardeza, Gustavo Poyet
Gustavo Poyet
Gustavo Augusto Gus Poyet Domínguez is a former Uruguay international footballer and current manager of English side Brighton & Hove Albion.During his playing career, Poyet featured for teams including Real Zaragoza, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur....
and Juan Esnáider
Juan Esnáider
Juan Eduardo Esnáider is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a striker. His surname is a Spanish spelling reform of the German Schneider, which means "tailor"...
(they recorded, in the 1994–95 season, an impressive 5–4 away win against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
).
Higuera decided to have an abroad experience in 1997, at 32, and joined Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's Puebla FC, being accompanied by Pardeza in the adventure. He returned home after one season, signing with lowly Xerez CD
Xerez CD
Xerez Club Deportivo, S.A.D., usually just Xerez, is a Spanish football team based in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
(by then in Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
) and retiring in 2000.
After serving as general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
to the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns for several seasons, Higuera switched to another modest club, Lorca Deportiva CF, in 2009, also in that capacity.
International career
Higuera gained six capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, the first arriving on 15 January 1992, in a friendly match
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
with Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7 September 1994 | Tsirion Stadium Tsirion Stadium Tsirion Stadium is an all seater multi-purpose stadium in Limassol, Cyprus. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of AEL Limassol, Apollon Limassol, Aris Limassol and APEP Pitsilias. In the past, especially in 1990s, it was used as the home ground for the Cyprus... , Limassol Limassol Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the... , Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... |
0–1 | 1–2 | Euro 1996 qualifying UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 2 -Standings:-Results and fixtures:--------------------------------------------... |
Honours
Zaragoza- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1994–95 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1993–941993–94 Copa del ReyThe Copa del Rey 1993–94 is the 90th staging of the Copa del Rey.The competition started on August 15, 1993 and concluded on April 20, 1994 with the Final, held at the Estadio Vicente Calderón in Madrid....