Francisco Villarroya


Francisco Javier Pérez Villarroya is a Spanish retired footballer who played mostly as a left midfielder.

Club career

Born in Zaragoza, Villarroya made his professional debut with hometown's Real Zaragoza, appearing in one La Liga game in the 1984–85 season but being almost exclusively connected with the reserves for three years.
In the summer of 1990, after helping the Aragonese to two consecutive top-ten finishes in the top division – fifth in 1988–89, with the subsequent qualification to the UEFA Cup – whilst only missing a combined two matches, he signed with Real Madrid, being occasionally utilised as left back during his four-year spell and being the capital side's first-choice prior to the signing of Brazilian Roberto Carlos, battling for the position with Mikel Lasa.
After only 13 league appearances in his last two campaigns with the Merengues, following the arrival of manager Benito Floro, Villarroya signed for Deportivo de La Coruña, being relatively used and adding another Copa del Rey to his trophy cabinet. Still in the top level, he then represented Sporting de Gijón, suffering relegation in his second season.
Aged nearly 33, Villarroya closed out his career after one year with CD Badajoz in Segunda División, amassing top-flight totals of 276 matches and nine goals over 14 seasons.

International career

Villarroya earned 14 caps for the Spanish national team during slightly more than two years, and was in the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, playing all the games – mostly in the back sector – in an eventual round-of-16 exit.
His debut came on 20 September 1989 in a 1–0 friendly win over Poland, in A Coruña, featuring the full 90 minutes as a Zaragoza player.

Personal life

Villarroya's nephew, Ángel Lafita, was also a footballer. He played the vast majority of his career with Zaragoza and Deportivo.

Honours

Real Madrid
Deportivo