Luna (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Francisco Javier Aguilera Blanco, aka Luna (born 23 September 1971), and sometimes Paco Luna, is a retired Spanish
professional footballer who played as a striker.
After having spent the early part of his career in his country, his La Liga
totals consisting of 60 matches and 17 goals, he appeared for two clubs in Scotland
in his late 20s and early 30s.
, Province of Cádiz, Luna made his professional debuts with UD Almería
– also in Andalusia
– then in Segunda División
, after spending his first three years as a senior in amateur football.
In January 1996, his solid performances attracted the attention of La Liga
side Albacete Balompié
; he scored 10 goals in the second part of the season, but the Castile-La Mancha
outfit was relegated after a five-year stay.
Luna signed with Sporting de Gijón
(by then also in the top division) in another winter transfer move, but his stay in Asturias
would not be very successful individually, also being loaned twice, first with Hércules CF
.
His second loan move was with Scottish Premier League
club Dundee
in 2000. Luna impressed in Scotland
, scoring three times in five starts, but cited family reasons for not returning to the country.
After one year in Mexico
, with C.F. Monterrey, where he again linked up with his "mentor" Benito Floro. Luna made a surprise return to Scotland with Hibernian
. He had a successful first season with Hibs, scoring twice in a UEFA Cup tie against AEK Athens (3–2 home win, but 3–4 aggregate exit).
Luna had a less successful second season, however, and was allowed to return to Spain in January 2003, returning to former club Almería, where he produced three 1/2 respectable seasons, in the second level. In the 2006 summer, he signed for another team in his native area, lowly Écija Balompié
.
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...
professional footballer who played as a striker.
After having spent the early part of his career in his country, 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...
totals consisting of 60 matches and 17 goals, he appeared for two clubs in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in his late 20s and early 30s.
Football career
Born in Jerez de la FronteraJerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain, situated midway between the sea and the mountains. , the city, the largest in the province, had 208,896 inhabitants; it is the fifth largest in Andalusia...
, Province of Cádiz, Luna made his professional debuts with 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...
– also in 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...
– then in 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:...
, after spending his first three years as a senior in amateur football.
In January 1996, his solid performances attracted the attention of 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...
side Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
; he scored 10 goals in the second part of the season, but the Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community of Spain. Castile-La Mancha is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's autonomous communities...
outfit was relegated after a five-year stay.
Luna signed with 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....
(by then also in the top division) in another winter transfer move, but his stay in Asturias
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...
would not be very successful individually, also being loaned twice, first with Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
.
His second loan move was with Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in 2000. Luna impressed in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, scoring three times in five starts, but cited family reasons for not returning to the country.
After one year in 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...
, with C.F. Monterrey, where he again linked up with his "mentor" Benito Floro. Luna made a surprise return to Scotland with Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. He had a successful first season with Hibs, scoring twice in a UEFA Cup tie against AEK Athens (3–2 home win, but 3–4 aggregate exit).
Luna had a less successful second season, however, and was allowed to return to Spain in January 2003, returning to former club Almería, where he produced three 1/2 respectable seasons, in the second level. In the 2006 summer, he signed for another team in his native area, lowly Écija Balompié
Écija Balompié
Écija Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Écija, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1968, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4.-Season to season:----*2 seasons in Segunda División...
.