Isco

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see ISCO.

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Alarcn and the
second or maternal family name is Surez.

Isco

Isco playing for Real Madrid in 2015

Personal information
Full name

Francisco Romn Alarcn Surez

Date of birth

21 April 1992 (age 23)

Place of birth

Benalmdena, Spain

Height

1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)

Playing position

Attacking midfielder

Club information
Current team

Real Madrid

Number

22

Youth career
Benamiel
20062009

Valencia

Senior career*
Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

20092011

Valencia B

52

(16)

20102011

Valencia

(0)

20112013

Mlaga

69

(14)

2013

Real Madrid

77

(13)

National team
2008

Spain U16

(1)

20082009

Spain U17

21

(6)

2010

Spain U18

(1)

20102011

Spain U19

12

(7)

2011

Spain U20

(1)

20112014

Spain U21

19

(10)

2012

Spain U23

(0)

2013

Spain

11

(1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league
only and correct as of 20:58, 21 November 2015 (UTC).
Appearances (goals)
National team caps and goals correct as of 8 September 2015

Francisco Romn Alarcn Surez (born 21 April 1992), commonly known as Isco (Spanish
pronunciation: [isko]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Madrid as an attacking
midfielder.[1]

He began his career at Valencia, playing mainly in its reserve team, before joining Mlaga in
2011. His performances at the Andalusian club earned him the Golden Boy award in 2012, and a
30 million move to Real Madrid in June 2013.
Isco represented Spain at various youth levels, including at the 2012 Olympics, and made his
senior international debut in 2013.
Contents
[hide]

1Club career
o

1.1Valencia

1.2Mlaga

1.3Real Madrid

2International career

3Style of play

4Career statistics
o

4.1Club

4.2International

4.3International goal

5Honours
o

5.1Club

5.2Country

5.3Individual

6References

7External links

Club career[edit]
Valencia[edit]
Isco was born in Benalmdena, Mlaga, Andalusia. As a child he played for Atltico Benamiel,
where his teammates included Charlie I'Anson, now of Valencia CF Mestalla.[2]
A product of Valencia CF's youth system, Isco made his debut with the first team on 11 November
2010, against UD Logros forthe campaign's Copa del Rey, scoring two goals in a 41 home
win.[3][4] Previously, he spent one full season with the reserves inSegunda Divisin B, netting once
in 26 games and suffering relegation.
Isco played his first La Liga match on 14 November 2010, featuring 20 minutes in a 20 home
win against Getafe CF after coming on as a substitute for Aritz Aduriz.[5]

Mlaga[edit]
In mid-July 2011, after helping Valencia's B-team return to the third level by scoring 15 goals, Isco
signed a five-year contract withMlaga CF after the club activated his buy-out clause of 6
million.[6] He scored his first goal for his new team on 21 November 2011, starting in a 31 away
win against Racing de Santander;[7] he netted again the following week in a 21 win
against Villarreal CF,[8] and finished his first season with 32 games and five goals as the
side qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.
On 18 September 2012, in Mlaga's first game in the Champions League group stage, Isco
netted twice in a 30 home win over FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, also being chosen as Man of the
Match.[9] On 22 December he scored the first goal in an eventual 32 win against Real
Madrid at La Rosaleda, leading the locals to their first victory over that opponent in 29 years; [10] in
December he won the Golden Boy award, beating Stephan El Shaarawy and Thibaut Courtois.[11]
[12]

On 28 January 2013, Isco ended speculation regarding his future by signing a new contract with
Mlaga his new buyout clause was set at 35 million. [13] He scored his eleventh goal of the
campaign on 13 March, netting the opener in a 20 home win against F.C. Porto, good enough
for last-eightqualification after the 01 loss in Portugal.[14][15]

Real Madrid[edit]

Isco with Real Madrid in 2013.

On 17 June 2013, Isco confirmed that he had received offers from Real Madrid and former
Mlaga manager Manuel Pellegrini'sManchester City, but stated he would only make a final
decision on his future after the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final.[16]On 26 June, Real
Madrid president Florentino Prez confirmed that a deal had been reached with the player and
that he would be presented by the club next week, once he passed his medical; [17] the following
day he signed a five-year contract, with Real Madrid paying 30 million for his services, thus
becoming the first signing of newly appointed manager Carlo Ancelotti.[18]
On 18 August 2013 Isco made his official debut for the Merengues, recording an assist and
scoring the winning goal in a 21 home win over Real Betis, the latter coming through an 85thminute header.[19] He continued with his form by netting two goals against Athletic Bilbao on 1
September (31, also at the Santiago Bernabu).[20]
In spite of continuing to score regularly when featured, Isco received limited opportunities in the
first team due to the 433 formation not being suited for his style, but Ancelotti stated that it was
"a temporary problem".[21] He scored 11 goals in 53 official games in his first season, including 61
minutes in theChampions League final, a 41 win over Atltico Madrid.[22]
Isco started the first game of the 201415 season season against Real Sociedad, and scored the
first in a 41 win against UD Almera on 12 December 2014.[23] He was a regular starter in the
club's FIFA Club World Cup winning campaign, scoring the last in a 40 semi-final routing of Cruz
Azul.[24] His performances over the season earned him many plaudits,[25] and he was compared
to Zinedine Zidane by the French legend himself.[26]
Prior to the start of the 201516 season, Isco switched his shirt number from 23 to 22, which he
had previously worn at Mlaga.[27] On 21 November 2015, as Real lost 04 at home to FC
Barcelona in El Clsico, he was sent off in the 84th minute for a foul on Neymar.[28] He scored

twice on 2 December, as the team won 31 at Cdiz CF in the first leg of the last 32 of the
domestic cup.[29]

International career[edit]

Isco in action against Ukraine in 2015.

Isco appeared with Spain's U17 in 2009 FIFA World Cup, scoring three times in the process as
the nation finished third. In 2011 he represented his country together with Mlaga team
mate Recio in the U-20 World Cup held in Colombia, netting one goal in an eventual quarterfinal exit.
On 28 February 2012 Isco was called to the Spanish under-23s for a friendly against Egypt, but
did not leave the bench.[30] On 15 May he was picked for the first time to the senior
team for friendlies with Serbia and South Korea, but took no part in either match. In July, he went
with the under-23 team to the Olympics in London,[31] starting all of Spain's matches as they were
eliminated without scoring a goal.
On 6 February 2013 Isco made his debut with the main squad, playing the last 30 minutes in a 3
1 win over Uruguay in Doha, Qatar.[32]Also that year he appeared at the UEFA European Under-21
Championship in Israel, he scored in the final and finished the competition with the Bronze
Boot (3 Goals) and made the team of the tournament as a key player for the eventual winners. [33]
[34]

Isco scored his first international goal for Spain in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match
against Belarus in Huelva on 15 November 2014, opening a 30 win.[35]

Style of play[edit]

Isco is known for his dribbling ability.

Isco began his career as an attacking midfielder: at Mlaga, under Manuel Pellegrini, he often
played in an attacking role in the team's 423-1 formation.[36] Following his move to Real Madrid,
manager Carlo Ancelotti played him in a deeper role requiring more sacrifice and defensive duties
than his natural position.[36]

Isco is known for his natural ability to pick out an inch-perfect pass, dribble effortlessly through
two or three challenges or drift a shot into the top corner of the goal. [37] His one-step-ahead
reading of the game, his anticipation of space and the general directing of his side's
performances are his most common traits.[37]
In 2013, Isco was credited by Marca journalist Pablo Polo as being "the most promising young
player in Spanish football", comparing his strength, skill, and low centre of gravity to Sergio
Agero, and his vision and passing abilities to Zinedine Zidane.[38] Real Madrid captainIker
Casillas predicted in 2015 that Isco would become Spain's most important player.[39][40]