Francisco Pavón
Encyclopedia
Francisco "Paco" Pavón Barahona (born 9 January 1980) is a Spanish
footballer who plays as a central defender.
His name became associated with the Los Galácticos policy when Real Madrid
– where he spent most of his professional career – president Florentino Pérez
promised to build a team full of Zidanes and Pavones – expensive high profile recruits like Zinedine Zidane
and youth team graduates
like Pavón.
, Pavón progressed through the ranks at Real Madrid
, starting with the junior side Tendillo, until he established himself with the B side
. He then made his La Liga
debut against Athletic de Bilbao
at the Bernabéu
, on 6 October 2001. Shortly after that 2–0 win, he would seal a seven-year deal with the club, going on to make a further 27 league appearances during the season, and adding the campaign's UEFA Champions League
.
In the subsequent two seasons, Pavón played an additional 51 league contests, scoring a rare goal on 8 May 2004, in a 2–3 home loss to RCD Mallorca
. His role would diminish drastically onwards, as the defender made no competitive appearances whatsoever during 2006–07.
On 25 April 2007, media speculation indicated that Pavón was close to agreeing a four-year deal with Premier League club Bolton Wanderers
, rejoining former teammate Iván Campo
, but nothing came of it. He eventually put pen-to-paper a four-year deal with Real Zaragoza
on July, after his release from Real Madrid, but appeared in just eight league games through 2007–08, as the Aragon
side was relegated.
In 2008–09's Segunda División
, Pavón netted his first goal for Zaragoza, in a 2–1 home win over Real Murcia
, also relegated the previous season; he contributed much more consistently as the team immediately promoted.
In the 2009–10 season
, Pavón was only third or fourth-choice stopper, but still managed to score twice as Zaragoza maintained its division status. In the very last minute of the 2010 summer transfer window, he signed with AC Arles-Avignon, reuniting with former Real Madrid teammate Álvaro Mejía.
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 as a central defender.
His name became associated with the Los Galácticos policy when 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...
– where he spent most of his professional career – president Florentino Pérez
Florentino Pérez
Florentino Pérez Rodríguez is a Spanish businessman, civil engineer, former politician, and current president of Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, as well as ACS...
promised to build a team full of Zidanes and Pavones – expensive high profile recruits like Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
and youth team graduates
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
like Pavón.
Football career
Born in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Pavón progressed through the ranks 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...
, starting with the junior side Tendillo, until he established himself with the B side
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
. He then made 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 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...
at the Bernabéu
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is an all-seater football stadium in Madrid, Spain. It was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 and is owned by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. It has a current capacity of 85,454 spectators....
, on 6 October 2001. Shortly after that 2–0 win, he would seal a seven-year deal with the club, going on to make a further 27 league appearances during the season, and adding the campaign's UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
In the subsequent two seasons, Pavón played an additional 51 league contests, scoring a rare goal on 8 May 2004, in a 2–3 home loss to RCD 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....
. His role would diminish drastically onwards, as the defender made no competitive appearances whatsoever during 2006–07.
On 25 April 2007, media speculation indicated that Pavón was close to agreeing a four-year deal with Premier League club Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, rejoining former teammate Iván Campo
Iván Campo
Iván Campo Ramos is a retired Spanish footballer.Originally a central defender, Campo featured in a defensive midfield role in his later years...
, but nothing came of it. He eventually put pen-to-paper a four-year deal 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...
on July, after his release from Real Madrid, but appeared in just eight league games through 2007–08, as 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...
side was relegated.
In 2008–09's 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:...
, Pavón netted his first goal for Zaragoza, in a 2–1 home win over Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
, also relegated the previous season; he contributed much more consistently as the team immediately promoted.
In the 2009–10 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;"|...
, Pavón was only third or fourth-choice stopper, but still managed to score twice as Zaragoza maintained its division status. In the very last minute of the 2010 summer transfer window, he signed with AC Arles-Avignon, reuniting with former Real Madrid teammate Álvaro Mejía.
Honours
- Real Madrid:
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 2001–02 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 20022002 Intercontinental CupThe 2002 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 3 December 2002 between Real Madrid, winners of the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, and Olimpia, winners of the 2002 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the neutral venue of the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama in front of... - UEFA Super Cup: 20022002 UEFA Super CupThe 2002 UEFA Super Cup was played on August 30, 2002 between Real Madrid of Spain and Feyenoord of the Netherlands. Real Madrid qualified by beating Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final. Feyenoord had made it to the Super Cup after beating Borussia Dortmund in the 2002 UEFA Cup...
- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 2002–03, 2006–07 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 2003
- UEFA Champions League