Francisco José Maldonado
Encyclopedia
Francisco José 'Tati' Maldonado Collante (born 2 June 1981 in San Fernando, Cádiz, Andalusia
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for FC Cartagena
as a forward.
's youth system, played for the Andalusia
n outfit four seasons, making his La Liga
debut on 8 February 2003, playing 15 minutes in a 1–4 loss at Real Madrid
. He would only amass four appearances in two seasons combined, before moving to AD Ceuta
and then Lorca Deportiva CF, completing successful loan spells.
During the summer of 2006, Betis re-signed Maldonado from Lorca for €62,000, with the player donning shirt number 24 due to his love for the television show 24
(he also has a Jack Bauer
tattoo
on his right shin). He impressed during the summer friendlies and was given a starting place against Valencia CF
, in a 1–2 away loss season opener, as a right winger, in the absence of holder Joaquín.
Following a promising start (with another four games in the starting XI) that included an assist
against Athletic de Bilbao
in a 3–0 home success, Maldonado found himself out of favour with newly appointed coach Luis Fernández
, and finished the season with 15 appearances, going scoreless in the process.
In 2007–08, Maldonado was again loaned, to second division
team Gimnàstic de Tarragona
. After the end of the season, he joined promoted Sporting de Gijón
, on a three-year deal. On 21 December 2008, he netted his first goal for the Asturians
, in a 1–0 home win over UD Almería
, with his club narrowly avoiding top flight relegation.
After a poor second season
individually, Maldonado left for FC Cartagena
, in the second level.
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...
) is a 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 plays for FC Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
as a forward.
Club career
Maldonado, a product of Real BetisReal Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
's youth system, played for 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...
n outfit four seasons, making his 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...
debut on 8 February 2003, playing 15 minutes in a 1–4 loss at Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. He would only amass four appearances in two seasons combined, before moving to AD Ceuta
AD Ceuta
Asociación Deportiva Ceuta is a Spanish football team based in the autonomous city of Ceuta. Founded in 1996, it plays in Segunda División B – Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Alfonso Murube, with a capacity of 6,500.-History:...
and then Lorca Deportiva CF, completing successful loan spells.
During the summer of 2006, Betis re-signed Maldonado from Lorca for €62,000, with the player donning shirt number 24 due to his love for the television show 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
(he also has a Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...
tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
on his right shin). He impressed during the summer friendlies and was given a starting place against Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, in a 1–2 away loss season opener, as a right winger, in the absence of holder Joaquín.
Following a promising start (with another four games in the starting XI) that included an assist
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
against Athletic de Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
in a 3–0 home success, Maldonado found himself out of favour with newly appointed coach Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández is a Spanish-French footballer who played as a defender / midfielder. He retired as a player in 1993 to become a manager....
, and finished the season with 15 appearances, going scoreless in the process.
In 2007–08, Maldonado was again loaned, to second division
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:...
team Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona, usually referred to as Nàstic, is a Spanish sports club based in Tarragona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Its football team currently plays in Segunda División....
. After the end of the season, he joined promoted Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
, on a three-year deal. On 21 December 2008, he netted his first goal for the Asturians
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, in a 1–0 home win over UD Almería
UD Almería
Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1989 as Almería Club de Fútbol, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, with a 22,000-seat...
, with his club narrowly avoiding top flight relegation.
After a poor second season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
individually, Maldonado left for FC Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
, in the second level.