Fran Sol
{{short description|Spanish footballer (born 1992)}}
{{family name hatnote|Sol|Ortiz|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Fran Sol
| image = FranSol2019.jpg
| caption = Sol with Dynamo Kyiv in 2019
| full_name = Francisco Sol Ortiz{{cite web|url=https://www.malagacf.com/jugador/fran-sol|title=Francisco Sol Ortiz|publisher=Málaga CF|language=es|access-date=14 August 2022}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|3|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Madrid, Spain
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 1998–2000 | youthclubs1 = AV Vicálvaro
| youthyears2 = 2000–2002 | youthclubs2 = Rayo Vallecano
| youthyears3 = 2002–2010 | youthclubs3 = Real Madrid
| years1 = 2010–2014 | clubs1 = Real Madrid C | caps1 = 62 | goals1 = 33
| years2 = 2012–2013 | clubs2 = → Lugo (loan) | caps2 = 12 | goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2013 | clubs3 = → Oviedo (loan) | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2014–2016 | clubs4 = Villarreal B | caps4 = 71 | goals4 = 27
| years5 = 2015 | clubs5 = Villarreal | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2016–2018 | clubs6 = Willem II | caps6 = 79 | goals6 = 39
| years7 = 2019–2023 | clubs7 = Dynamo Kyiv | caps7 = 17 | goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2020–2021 | clubs8 = → Tenerife (loan) | caps8 = 38 | goals8 = 10
| years9 = 2021–2022 | clubs9 = → Eibar (loan) | caps9 = 29 | goals9 = 5
| years10 = 2022–2023 | clubs10 = → Málaga (loan) | caps10 = 32 | goals10 = 3
| years11 = 2023–2025 | clubs11 = AEK Larnaca | caps11 = 63 | goals11 = 20
| totalcaps = | totalgoals =
| club-update = 14:22, 26 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Francisco "Fran" Sol Ortiz (born 13 March 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward.
He played for Real Madrid and Villarreal early in his career, spending nearly all of that time out on loan or in reserve teams. He had 2{{frac|1|2}} successful years with Willem II of the Dutch Eredivisie, totalling 88 matches and 47 goals. His four-year spell at Dynamo Kyiv was mostly spent in his country's Segunda División.
Club career
=Real Madrid=
Born in Madrid, Sol joined Real Madrid's youth system in July 2002 at the age of 10, and began playing with the Alevín B-team. In the 2010–11 season, he made his senior debut with Real Madrid C, in a match against CF Trival Valderas in the Tercera División.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2010/08/30/pagina-37/5887833/pdf.html|title=Un golazo de Seidel le da la victoria a los alfareros en 'terreno blanco'|trans-title=Seidel wonder goal gives alfareros the win in 'white territory'|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Borja|last=Asenjo|language=es|date=30 August 2010|access-date=30 April 2013}}
For the 2012–13 campaign, Sol was loaned to CD Lugo.{{cite web|url=http://www.todomercadoweb.es/mercado-futbolistico/fran-sol-cedido-al-lugo-13332|title=Fran Sol, cedido al Lugo|trans-title=Fran Sol, loaned to Lugo|publisher=Todo Mercado Web|language=es|date=16 July 2012|access-date=30 April 2013}} He made his professional debut on 25 August 2012, coming on as a substitute for Mauro Quiroga in the 77th minute of a 1–1 away draw against UD Las Palmas.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2012/08/25/futbol/2adivision/1345926934.html|title=Entretenido encuentro que pudo ganar cualquiera|trans-title=Entertaining match could have gone both ways|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=25 August 2012|access-date=7 May 2013}} Early into the following month, he made his first start in the Segunda División, helping his team to the same result at Sporting de Gijón.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2012/09/09/futbol/2adivision/1347216464.html|title=El Sporting sigue sin conocer el sabor del triunfo|trans-title=Sporting yet to taste win|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=9 September 2012|access-date=7 May 2013}}
On 14 December 2012, Sol scored the 3–2 game winner against Real Madrid Castilla.{{cite web|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/ActualidadCantera1213/1330130806495/noticia/Cronica/3-2:_El_Castilla_merecio_mas_en_Lugo.htm|title=El Castilla mereció más en Lugo|trans-title=Castilla deserved more in Lugo|publisher=Real Madrid CF|language=es|date=14 December 2012|access-date=30 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201071905/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/ActualidadCantera1213/1330130806495/noticia/Cronica/3-2:_El_Castilla_merecio_mas_en_Lugo.htm|archive-date=1 February 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/cdlugo/2012/12/15/gol-duro-marcar-fran-sol/00031355596787820994423.htm|title=El gol "más duro" de marcar para Fran Sol|trans-title=The "hardest" goal Fran Sol ever scored|newspaper=La Voz de Galicia|language=es|date=15 December 2012|access-date=24 August 2022}} On 16 January of the following year, however, his loan spell was ended and he joined Real Oviedo of the Segunda División B, in the same situation.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/01/16/futbol/equipos/lugo/1358345832.html|title=Sol se marcha cedido al Oviedo y Guayre ficha por el Lugo|trans-title=Sol leaves for Oviedo on loan and Guayre signs for Lugo|newspaper=Marca|first1=Andrés|last1=Armero|first2=Manuel|last2=Fente|language=es|date=16 January 2013|access-date=30 April 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.todomercadoweb.es/mercado-futbolistico/real-oviedo-fran-sol-confirma-su-llegada-32241|title=Real Oviedo, Fran Sol confirma su llegada|trans-title=Real Oviedo, Fran Sol confirms arrival|publisher=Todo Mercado Web|language=es|date=18 January 2013|access-date=30 April 2013}} He made his debut with the Asturians on 20 January 2013, replacing Diego Cervero for the last minutes of the away match against CF Fuenlabrada.{{cite web|url=https://www.futbolasturiano.es/noticias2/1633.htm|title=Golpe de autoridad en Fuenlabrada|trans-title=They stake a claim in Fuenlabrada|publisher=Fútbol Asturiano|language=es|date=20 January 2013|access-date=24 August 2022}}
=Villarreal=
Sol moved to Villarreal CF's reserves on 2 July 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.villarrealcf.es/es/noticias/portada-ultimas-novedades/item/5965-cuatro-refuerzos-para-el-villarreal-b|title=Cuatro refuerzos para el Villarreal B|trans-title=Four additions to Villarreal B|publisher=Villarreal CF|language=es|date=2 July 2014|access-date=5 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141205175112/http://www.villarrealcf.es/es/noticias/portada-ultimas-novedades/item/5965-cuatro-refuerzos-para-el-villarreal-b|archive-date=5 December 2014}} On 25 April 2015, he appeared in his first competitive game with the Valencians' main squad, replacing Jaume Costa in a 0–0 La Liga draw at Real Sociedad.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2014_15/la-liga/jornada_33/rso_vil/|title=La Liga se les hace larga|trans-title=Neverending League for them|newspaper=Marca|first=Ramiro|last=Aldunate|language=es|date=25 April 2015|access-date=30 April 2015}}
=Willem II=
Sol moved abroad for the first time on 25 June 2016, signing a three-year deal at Eredivisie club Willem II{{cite news|url=http://www.levante-emv.com/castello/2016/06/25/fran-sol-ficha-tres-temporadas/1436593.html|title=Fran Sol ficha por tres temporadas por el Willem II holandés|trans-title=Fran Sol signs for three years at Netherlands' Willem II|newspaper=Levante-EMV|first=Juan F.|last=Roca|language=es|date=25 June 2016|access-date=2 October 2016}} and scoring on his debut on 6 August, a 1–4 home defeat to SBV Vitesse; two weeks later he netted the winner in a 2–1 victory at AFC Ajax, his team's first win there in history.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/espanoles-mundo/2016/08/21/57b8d370ca4741421e8b45e2.html|title=Fran Sol hace historia con el Willem II|trans-title=Fran Sol makes history with Willem II|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=21 August 2016|access-date=2 October 2016}}
In October 2017, Sol underwent an operation to remove a testicular tumour.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/willem-ii-fans-pay-touching-tribute-to-fran-sol-after-undergoing-/worr8hhr6qig14xsisvywg5aq|title=Willem II fans pay touching tribute to Fran Sol after undergoing operation to remove tumour|publisher=Goal|date=28 October 2017|access-date=20 February 2019}} The following 10 March, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 win over league leaders PSV Eindhoven at the Koning Willem II Stadion, putting him on top of the season's goalscoring charts.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/espanoles-mundo/2018/03/10/5aa44672e2704eaa5a8b45ec.html|title=Fran Sol anota un 'hat-trick' ante el PSV y ya es Pichichi en Holanda|trans-title=Fran Sol scores a hat-trick against PSV and is now top scorer in Holland|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=10 March 2018|access-date=20 February 2019}}
Sol scored another three goals on 26 August 2018 in a victory by the same score over Heracles Almelo.{{cite web|url=http://www.football-oranje.com/sol-nets-hat-trick-as-willem-ii-rout-heracles/|title=Sol nets hat-trick as Willem II rout Heracles|work=Football Oranje |access-date=20 February 2019|date=26 August 2018}} Across his 30-month stay in the Netherlands he was the top flight's highest goalscorer with 39, five ahead of nearest rival Luuk de Jong.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2019/01/16/internacional/1547677077_503550.html|title=Se acabó el culebrón: Fran Sol ficha por el Dinamo de Kiev |trans-title=The soap opera is over: Fran Sol signs for Dynamo Kyiv|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Martín|last=Manchón|language=es|date=16 January 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}
=Dynamo Kyiv=
In January 2019, Sol signed for FC Dynamo Kyiv of the Ukrainian Premier League for an estimated €3 million fee. He made his debut on 14 February away to Olympiacos F.C. in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League, starting in a 2–2 draw.{{cite news|url=https://www.bd.nl/willem-ii/fran-sol-speelt-met-dynamo-kiev-gelijk-tegen-olympiakos-piraeus-van-kostas-tsimikas~a3bd879a/|title=Fran Sol speelt met Dynamo Kiev gelijk tegen Olympiakos Piraeus van Kostas Tsimikas|trans-title=Fran Sol plays in Dynamo Kyiv draw against Kostas Tsimikas' Olympiacos|newspaper=Brabants Dagblad|first=Yvonne|last=Van Beek|language=nl|date=14 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}} On his maiden league appearance 11 days later, he scored in a 5–0 home win over FC Zorya Luhansk.{{cite news|url=https://www.abola.pt/Internacional/Noticias/Ver/775550|title=Paulo Fonseca reentra no campeonato com vitória|trans-title=Paulo Fonseca re-enters championship with victory|newspaper=A Bola|language=pt|date=25 February 2019|access-date=27 February 2019}} His debut season was ended in the next match against FC Desna Chernihiv, due to a shoulder injury.{{cite web|url=https://football.ua/ukraine/385321-sol-mozhet-propustit-okolo-dvukh-mesjacev.html|title=Соль может пропустить около двух месяцев|trans-title=Sol could miss around two months|publisher=Football UA|language=ru|date=2 March 2019|access-date=27 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://football.ua/ukraine/390440-sol-i-verbich-v-nyneshnem-sezone-bolshe-ne-sygrajut-besedin-mozhet-uspet-vosstanovitsja-k-poslednim-matcham.html|title=Соль и Вербич в нынешнем сезоне больше не сыграют, Беседин может успеть восстановиться к последним матчам|trans-title=Sol and Verbič will not feature the rest of the season, Besyedin might come back for the last matches|publisher=Football UA|language=ru|date=6 May 2019|access-date=27 May 2019}}
Sol returned to Spain and its second division on 2 October 2020, after agreeing to a one-year loan contract with CD Tenerife.{{cite web|url=https://www.clubdeportivotenerife.es/noticia/fran-sol-refuerzo-ofensivo-para-el-cd-tenerife|title=Fran Sol, refuerzo ofensivo para el CD Tenerife|trans-title=Fran Sol, attacking addition for CD Tenerife|publisher=CD Tenerife|language=es|date=2 October 2020|access-date=2 October 2020}} The following 7 July, he moved to SD Eibar in the same league also in a temporary deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.sdeibar.com/noticia/fran-sol-nuevo-goleador-armero|title=Fran Sol, nuevo goleador armero|trans-title=Fran Sol, new armero scorer|publisher=SD Eibar|language=es|date=7 July 2021|access-date=9 August 2021}} Used almost equally as a starter and substitute, he scored five goals – including two in a 3–1 victory at Málaga CF on 23 April 2022 while playing 14 minutes{{cite news|url=https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga_cf/Resultado-cronica-Malaga-CF-Eibar_0_1677132640.html|title=Pinchan el globo del Málaga CF de Guede (1–3)|trans-title=Guede's Málaga CF's balloon bursts (1–3)|newspaper=Málaga Hoy|language=es|date=23 April 2022|access-date=17 October 2022}}– as the Basques made the play-off semi-finals.
On 6 July 2022, Sol was loaned for a third time to a side in his country's second division, this time Málaga.{{cite web|url=https://www.malagacf.com/en/news/shots-and-goals-with-fran-sol|title=Shots and goals with Fran Sol|publisher=Málaga CF|date=6 July 2022|access-date=2 August 2022}} More often than not a substitute, he contributed just three goals – plus one in the cup – as his team suffered relegation.{{cite web|url=https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/malaga-cf/20230630/el-proximo-destino-exotico-de-fran-sol-coincidiria-con-dos-ex-del-malaga_300025218.html|title=El posible destino exótico de Fran Sol: coincidiría con dos ex del Málaga|trans-title=Fran Sol's possible exotic destination: he would be a teammate of two ex-Málaga players|publisher=El Desmarque|language=es|date=30 June 2023|access-date=16 September 2023}}
=AEK Larnaca=
In July 2023, Sol moved to the third foreign country of his career, signing for AEK Larnaca FC of compatriot José Luis Oltra.{{cite news|url=https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga_cf/Fran-Sol-AEK-Larnaca-Chipre_0_1807920698.html|title=Fran Sol emigra al AEK Larnaca de Chipre|trans-title=Fran Sol emigrates to Cyprus' AEK Larnaca|newspaper=Málaga Hoy|first=Alberto S.|last=Fernández|language=es|date=3 July 2023|access-date=16 September 2023}} In just his second game in the Cypriot First Division on 28 August, he scored four goals in a 5–5 home draw with Ethnikos Achna FC.{{cite web|url=http://sportdirectradio.es/fran-sol-anota-un-poker-e-iguala-sus-goles-de-la-pasada-temporada/|title=Fran Sol anota un póker e iguala sus goles de la pasada temporada|trans-title=Fran Sol scores four goals and equals his record from last season|publisher=Sport Direct Radio|language=es|date=29 August 2023|access-date=16 September 2023}}
Personal life
Sol learned four foreign languages: French, Dutch, English and Russian.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/fran-sol-no-es-habitual-que-un-futbolista-escriba-un-libro-de-ciencia-ficcion-n/|title=Fran Sol: "No es habitual que un futbolista escriba un libro de ciencia-ficción"|trans-title=Fran Sol: "It's not normal for a footballer to write a science fiction book"|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Carlos|last=Cariño|language=es|date=8 September 2022|access-date=17 October 2022}} A fan of science fiction literature, he wrote his own novel in 2020 titled Madrid 2035, in which the protagonist is a former tennis player.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/2020/07/12/5f09d7b3e2704efd2c8b45d3.html|title=Fran Sol se lanza a la escritura y presenta su primera novela: Madrid 2035|trans-title=Fran Sol launches himself into writing and presents his first novel: Madrid 2035|newspaper=Marca|first=Hugo|last=Cerezo|language=es|date=12 July 2020|access-date=17 October 2022}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 30 May 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Copa del Rey, KNVB Cup, Ukrainian Cup, Cypriot Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Real Madrid C
|2009–10{{cite web|url=https://www.besoccer.com/player/career-path/fran-sol-102037|title=Fran Sol|publisher=Be Soccer|access-date=8 March 2023}} |rowspan="3"|Tercera División |4 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 7 | ||||
| 2010–11
|9 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 7 | ||||
| 2011–12
|18 | 12 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 12 | ||||
| 2013–14
|31 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 7 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!62 | 33 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 62 | 33 | ||||
| Lugo (loan)
|12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 1 | |||
| Oviedo (loan)
|Segunda División B |10 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=pp|Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs}} | 0 | 11 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Villarreal B
|rowspan="2"|Segunda División B |36 | 11 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 11 | ||||
| 2015–16
|35 | 16 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=pp}} | 0 | 37 | 16 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!71 | 27 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 73 | 27 | |||
| Villarreal
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Willem II
|2016–17{{WorldFootball.net|fran-sol}} |rowspan="3"|Eredivisie |30 | 10 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 10 | |||
| 2017–18
|32 | 16 | 5 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 20 | |||
| 2018–19
|17 | 13 | 3 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 17 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!79 | 39 | 9 | 8 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 88 | 47 | |||
| rowspan="4"|Dynamo Kyiv
|2018–19{{Soccerway|francisco-sol-ortiz/261274}} |rowspan="3"|Ukrainian Premier League |2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 2 | |||
| 2019–20
|13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in Ukrainian Super Cup}} | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 4 | |
| Tenerife
|Segunda División |38 | 10 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 10 | |||
| Eibar
|Segunda División |29 | 5 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs}} | 0 | 34 | 5 | ||
| Málaga
|Segunda División |32 | 3 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 4 | |||
| rowspan="3"|AEK Larnaca
|rowspan="2"|Cypriot First Division |34 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 15 | ||
| 2024–25
|29 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 6 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!63 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 75 | 21 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!415 | 140 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 456 | 152 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Dynamo Kyiv
AEK Larnaca
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{BDFutbol|101816}}
- {{AS.com|fran_sol/22277}}
- {{LaPreferente|84055/fran-sol}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sol, Fran}}
Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Madrid
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Tercera División players
Category:Real Madrid C footballers
Category:Villarreal CF B players
Category:Villarreal CF players
Category:Willem II Tilburg players
Category:Ukrainian Premier League players
Category:FC Dynamo Kyiv players
Category:Cypriot First Division players
Category:AEK Larnaca FC players
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands