Francho Serrano battles for an aerial ball against a Valladolid player on Saturday. / LALIGA
At just 24 years old, and set to turn 25 on October 17, Francho Serrano has reached the milestone of 200 official matches for Real Zaragoza. He achieves this feat during the darkest chapter in the club’s history, heading toward the Primera RFEF, all while serving as captain and symbol of the project following his renewal last season.
He has been as indispensable as he has been injury-prone since November, suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee that has not stopped him from playing, despite prudence suggesting he should rest. This is how he reached his double century of appearances for the team of his life in Valladolid, a milestone that underscores his growth and undeniable value, even as the moment feels grim for both him and Zaragoza.
With this, Francho becomes the 38th player in Zaragoza history to reach 200 official matches (the previous being goalkeeper Cristian Álvarez). His tally includes 191 league appearances totaling 15,212 minutes, all in the second division—the only level the academy graduate has known as a professional—along with nine cup appearances and 13 goals, only one of which came in this nightmare season, scored against Leganés. Francho was given his first-team debut by Lalo Arantegui, who has now returned as sporting director, in the summer of 2020 after a meteoric rise with barely any time in the reserve team. He made his debut in the 2020-21 season on Matchday 10, in Rubén Baraja’s farewell match, a 1-1 draw at the Heliodoro in Tenerife on November 1, 2020, and then became a regular under Iván Martínez and later JIM that same campaign.
He has been a fixture ever since, to varying degrees, because without that consistency it would be impossible to reach such a milestone in six seasons—with more still to come. He reached 100 games against Las Palmas on April 30, 2023, under Escribá, who will be the opposing coach this Saturday for his 200th.
Surgery is now a clear threat for Francho, who will undergo an operation on his torn meniscus at the end of the season. His knee seemed to signal enough was enough, as against Racing, when he missed three games in early April, and in Pucela last Saturday. “It’s quite painful. Whatever I can do, I’ll help the team, from the bench or on the pitch depending on the week,” said the captain after the match, indicating he could be out against Sporting. If there is the slightest chance to play, he will do so, as he has done these past months, risking his joint.
He renewed his contract last season until 2030, but the salary reality of that extension is incompatible with the Primera RFEF, meaning the rapid pace at which he has reached this milestone could soon be halted.
