Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada (born 8 July 1992) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Süper Lig club Hatayspor and captains the Costa Rica national team.
 Calvo with Minnesota United in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 July 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hatayspor | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2010 | Saprissa | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | San Jacinto Coyotes | 14 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2012 | Herediano | 23 | (1) |
| 2012 | Pérez Zeledón | 21 | (5) |
| 2013 | Nordsjælland | 3 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Herediano | 49 | (6) |
| 2015 | → Santos (loan) | 21 | (5) |
| 2015–2016 | Saprissa | 63 | (14) |
| 2017–2019 | Minnesota United | 60 | (5) |
| 2019–2021 | Chicago Fire | 62 | (5) |
| 2022 | San Jose Earthquakes | 13 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Konyaspor | 48 | (3) |
| 2024 | Juárez | 17 | (1) |
| 2024– | Hatayspor | 7 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011 | Costa Rica U20 | 4 | (1) |
| 2011– | Costa Rica | 102 | (14) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:17, 18 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editAfter starting with Deportivo Saprissa as a youth player from 2005 to 2010, Calvo moved to the United States to study at San Jacinto College after getting a scholarship and played football at university level during that period.[3]
Club career
editOn his return to Costa Rica in 2011, Calvo played for Herediano before a stint at Pérez Zeledón where he scored 5 goals in 21 matches.[4] In January 2013 he moved abroad to play for then Danish champions Nordsjælland[5] but he returned to Herediano in summer 2013.[6] In January 2015, Calvo joined Santos de Guápiles as a loan.[7]
In late May, Francisco joined Saprissa. In his first season with Saprissa, he appeared in 39 matches and scored five goals. The following season, he continued to be a set-piece threat as he scored 9 goals in 24 matches playing as a defender.
On 27 December 2016, Calvo joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United FC.[8] In 2018, Calvo was selected as an MLS All-Star, becoming the first Minnesota United player in club history to receive the honor.[citation needed]
On 3 May 2019, Calvo was traded to Chicago Fire.[9] Following the 2021 season, Calvo's contract option was declined by Chicago.[10]
On 26 January 2022, Calvo signed as a free agent with San Jose Earthquakes.[11] On 5 March 2022, Calvo scored two late set piece goals for a ten-man San Jose team to salvage a 3–3 draw at home against the Columbus Crew. This performance led to him being named in the MLS Team of the Week.[12] He then moved to Konyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
On 15 January 2024, Calvo signed with Juárez in Mexico.[13] In March 31 2024, he notches his first goal for the club by scoring a header contributing a 2-1 win against Santos Laguna.
International career
editOn 29 May 2011, Calvo made his debut with the Costa Rica senior team in San José in a friendly game against Nigeria.[14] He was also part of the Costa Rica squad at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Calvo was also a reserve call-up for Costa Rica at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[15] and later impressed senior head coach Ricardo La Volpe to win him a call-up for the Costa Rica squad at the 2011 Copa América. He made his debut in the competition in a game against Colombia, which ended in a 1–0 loss, and played in a 2–0 win against Bolivia.[16] also Francisco played Argentina in a 3–0 loss.
In May 2018, Calvo was named in Costa Rica’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[17] He later reprised the same role at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 9 November 2024[18]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Herediano | 2011–12 | Costa Rican Primera División | 23 | 1 | — | 3[a] | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| Pérez Zeledón | 2012–13 | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | 21 | 5 | ||||
| Nordsjælland | 2012–13 | Danish Superliga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Herediano | 2013–14 | Liga FPD | 29 | 3 | — | 1[a] | 0 | — | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2014–15 | 20 | 3 | — | 4[a] | 1 | — | 24 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 72 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 80 | 8 | |||
| Santos (loan) | 2014–15 | Liga FPD | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | 21 | 5 | |||
| Saprissa | 2015–16 | 39 | 5 | — | 4[a] | 0 | — | 43 | 5 | |||
| 2016–17 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 1 | — | 28 | 10 | |||
| Total | 63 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 71 | 15 | |||
| Minnesota United | 2017 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 2 | — | — | — | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2018 | 26 | 2 | — | — | — | 26 | 2 | |||||
| 2019 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 60 | 5 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 60 | 5 | ||||
| Chicago Fire | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 23 | 3 | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 24 | 3 | ||
| 2020 | 22 | 1 | — | — | — | 22 | 1 | |||||
| 2021 | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 46 | 4 | |||
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||
| Konyaspor | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | |
| 2023–24 | Süper Lig | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||
| Total | 48 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 55 | 3 | |||
| Juárez | 2023–24 | Liga MX | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2024–25 | Liga MX | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||||
| Hatayspor | 2024–25 | Süper Lig | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 370 | 46 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 397 | 48 | ||
- ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
- ^ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
- ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
edit- As of match played 18 November 2024[19]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 16 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 14 | 3 | |
| Total | 102 | 14 | |
- Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.[19]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 January 2017 | Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama |  Honduras |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2017 Copa Centroamericana |
| 2 | 13 June 2017 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Trinidad and Tobago |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 11 July 2017 | BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States |  Canada |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 4 | 3 June 2018 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Northern Ireland |
3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 14 November 2019 | Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao |  Curaçao |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 6 | 17 November 2019 | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica |  Haiti |
1–0 | 1–1 | |
| 7 | 6 June 2021 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, United States | Honduras |
2–2 | 2–2 | 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals |
| 8 | 5 June 2022 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Martinique |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 9 | 4 July 2023 | Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States |  Martinique |
2–1 | 6–4 | 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 10 | 8 September 2023 | St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England |  Saudi Arabia |
1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 20 November 2023 | Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama |  Panama |
1–3 | 1–3 | 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 12 | 2 July 2024 | Q2 Stadium, Austin, United States |  Paraguay |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2024 Copa América |
| 13 | 5 September 2024 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Guadeloupe |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 14 | 15 October 2024 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Guatemala |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| Last updated 15 October 2024 | ||||||
Honours
editCS Herediano
Deportivo Saprissa
Individual
References
edit- ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Costa Rica (CRC)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 7. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ "Francisco Calvo se abre su camino". Lanacion.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Francisco Calvo statistics". Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Francisco Calvo firmó con el campeón danés". Lanacion.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Francisco Calvo está cerca de regresar al Herediano". Lanacion.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Francisco Calvo firmó con Saprissa a partir del Invierno 2015". Lanacion.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "MNUFC Signs Dynamic Defender Francisco Calvo". Minnesota United FC. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
- ^ "Minnesota United trades Francisco Calvo to Chicago for cash". Star Tribune. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "Chicago Fire FC Announce 2021 Roster Decisions | Chicago Fire FC". Chicagofirefc.com.
- ^ "NEWS: Earthquakes Sign Costa Rica National Team Defender Francisco Calvo | San Jose Earthquakes". Sjearthquakes.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "NEWS: Francisco Calvo Selected to MLS Team of the Week". Sjearthquakes.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Francisco Calvo, refuerzo Bravo" [Francisco Calvo, Bravo reinforcement] (in Spanish). FC Juárez. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "San Jac star plays national soccer for Costa Rica". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Communications. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Una nueva figura sustituirá a Gamboa | Federación Costarricense de Fútbol". Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ [1] [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Keylor Navas & six MLS players named in Costa Rica's 23-man World Cup squad". Goal.com. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ Francisco Calvo at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Francisco Calvo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (7 June 2021). "Here is the Best XI of the Concacaf Nations League Finals" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 June 2021 – via Twitter.
External links
edit- Francisco Calvo at National-Football-Teams.com