Paco Llorente

1. Overview

Francisco "Paco" Llorente Gento (born 21 May 1965)Francisco "Paco" Llorente Gento_{Francisco "Paco" Llorente Gento}^Spanish is a Spanish retired footballer who primarily played as a right winger. He spent 13 seasons in La Liga, Spain's top professional football league, accumulating 207 appearances and scoring 11 goals. Throughout his career, he represented three prominent Spanish clubs: Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, and SD Compostela. Llorente is also notable for his family background, stemming from a renowned sporting lineage that includes several professional athletes in both football and basketball, notably his uncle, the legendary Real Madrid winger Francisco Gento. This article delves into his early life, professional club and international careers, and his notable family connections.

2. Early life

Francisco Llorente Gento was born on 21 May 1965 in Valladolid, a city located in the Castile and León autonomous community of Spain. His early football development included a brief period within the youth system of Real Madrid.

3. Club career

Paco Llorente's club career spanned over a decade, beginning with a brief stint at Atlético Madrid before a more significant period at Real Madrid, and concluding his professional playing days with SD Compostela.

4. International career

Paco Llorente earned a single cap for the Spanish national team. His debut came on 18 November 1987, during a qualifying match for UEFA Euro 1988 against the Albanian national team. The game was held in Seville, where Spain secured a comprehensive 5-0 victory, with Llorente scoring one of the five goals. Despite his contribution in the qualifiers, he was not selected for the final squad that traveled to West Germany for the tournament finals.

5. Personal life and family

Francisco Llorente Gento hails from a highly distinguished sporting family with deep roots in both Spanish football and basketball. His mother was María Antonia Gento. His most renowned relative is his uncle, Francisco Gento, a legendary Real Madrid footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest wingers of all time.

Llorente has three brothers, all of whom also became professional athletes:

• José Luis Llorente (born 1959) had a successful career in top-level basketball, playing for more than a decade, including for Real Madrid Baloncesto.
• Antonio "Toñín" Llorente (born 1963) also played top-level basketball for over a decade, notably for Real Madrid.
• Julio Llorente (born 1966) was a professional defender in football, accumulating nearly 400 official appearances throughout his career. He played alongside Paco at Real Madrid from 1988 to 1990.

The sporting legacy extends further within his immediate family, as his son, Marcos Llorente, has also played for Real Madrid. Additionally, his father-in-law, Ramón Grosso, was another notable footballer who had a significant career with Real Madrid.

6. Honours