Darío Javier Franco Gatti (born 17 January 1969) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current manager of Quilmes Atlético Club.

Darío Franco
Personal information
Full name Darío Javier Franco Gatti
Date of birth (1969-01-17) 17 January 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Cruz Alta [es], Argentina
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Almirante Brown (manager)
Youth career
Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1991 Newell's Old Boys 100 (4)
1991–1995 Zaragoza 91 (7)
1995–1997 Club Atlas 85 (11)
1998–2004 Morelia 241 (19)
International career
1991–1994 Argentina 22 (6)
Managerial career
2006 Morelia
2006–2007 Tecos UAG
2008–2009 Club Atlas
2010–2011 San Martín de San Juan
2011–2012 Instituto
2013 Universidad de Chile
2013–2014 Aldosivi
2014–2015 Defensa y Justicia
2015–2016 Colón
2016–2017 Aldosivi
2017–2018 Instituto
2019 San Luis de Quillota
2020 Olmedo
2022–2023 Gimnasia Jujuy
2023 Binacional
2023– Almirante Brown
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Argentina
Copa América
Winner 1991 Chile
Winner 1993 Ecuador
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner 1992 Saudi Arabia
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Winner 1993 Argentina
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Club

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Franco made his football debut in his native country, briefly playing with Newell's Old Boys before joining Spain's Real Zaragoza winning the 1994 Copa del Rey Final and the following season the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final against incumbent Champions and heavy favourites Arsenal F.C. He arrived in Mexico in 1995 to play for Atlas. After three years with the club, he was transferred to Monarcas Morelia, where he won the 2000 championship.

International

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He played also for Argentina's national team, and scored two goals in the 1991 Copa América, which Argentina won. In the 1993 edition he was selected to replace the banned Claudio Caniggia, but was seriously injured in Argentina's first match.[citation needed]

Managerial career

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After his playing career ended, Franco became the manager of Tecos UAG. The president of the club fired him on Saturday August 18, 2007 after Tecos lost 4–1 to Pachuca in their first game of the season and were then beaten 3–0 by Atlante F.C. in their third game. The only point he earned came from a 0–0 draw against Chivas de Guadalajara in the second game. In Clausura 2009, Franco managed Atlas. After their second game, a 4–0 defeat to Cruz Azul, Franco was fired[citation needed] and was replaced by Ricardo La Volpe.

Between 2010 and 2013, Franco managed San Martín de San Juan and Instituto.[1] In 2013, Franco signed a contract with Universidad de Chile, but he was fired after six months.[1] He managed Aldosivi in 2013 and Defensa y Justicia in 2014.[1] He departed Defensa y Justicia in 2015 and subsequently became manager of Colón. In 2016, after leaving Colón, he returned to Aldosivi to become the club's manager for the second time.[1] He rejoined Instituto de Córdoba on 1 November 2017.[2]

Honours

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As Player

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Newell's Old Boys
Real Zaragoza
Monarcas Morelia
Argentina

As Manager

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Universidad de Chile

Personal life

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His son Emiliano Franco is a footballer.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Darío Franco at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  2. ^ "B Nacional: Darío Franco es el nuevo DT de Instituto de Córdoba" [B Nacional: Darío Franco is the new coach of Instituto de Córdoba] (in Spanish). 1 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Darío Franco: Decidí no ser el técnico de Newell's porque mi hijo entrena en el club". Infobae. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
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