Franco Israel
{{Short description|Uruguayan footballer (born 2000)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Israel|Wibmer|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Franco Israel
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|04|22|df=y}}{{Soccerway|474734}}
| birth_place = Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Sporting CP
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = 2010–2016
| youthclubs1 = Club Artesano
| youthyears2 = 2016–2018
| youthclubs2 = Nacional
| youthyears3 = 2018–2020
| youthclubs3 = Juventus
| years1 = 2020–2022
| clubs1 = Juventus U23
| caps1 = 50
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022–
| clubs2 = Sporting CP
| caps2 = 24
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam1 = Uruguay U17
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017
| nationalteam2 = Uruguay U18
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam3 = Uruguay U20
| nationalcaps3 = 14
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2023–
| nationalteam4 = Uruguay
| nationalcaps4 = 2
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|URU}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Copa América}}
{{Medal|3rd|2024 United States|}}
{{MedalCompetition|South American Games}}
{{Medal|Silver|2018 Cochabamba|Team}}
| club-update = 3 January 2025
| ntupdate = 23 March 2024
}}
Franco Israel Wibmer (born 22 April 2000) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Uruguay national team.
Early life
Israel was born on 22 April 2000 in Nueva Helvecia, Colonia, Uruguay. His mother is of German descent. He has one older brother named Alec, whom he lived with during his tenure with Nacional. During his youth, Israel played basketball and football as a child, before opting for the latter, when the games of the two teams he represented began being scheduled on the same day.{{Cite web|url=https://observador.pt/2022/07/05/franco-israel-o-paton-que-calca-o-47-ja-defendeu-livres-de-cristiano-ronaldo-e-e-reforco-do-sporting/|title=Franco Israel, o "Patón" que calça o 47, já defendeu livres de Cristiano Ronaldo e é reforço do Sporting}} Along with his native Uruguayan passport, Israel also holds an Italian passport.{{Cite web |last=PRZdesign |title=Franco Israel |url=http://www.gbgfootball.uy/ |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=GBG Football Agency |language=en}}
Club career
= Early career =
Israel started his football career in the youth ranks of local club Artesano, before joining Nacional's youth setup in 2016, moving subsequently to the city of Montevideo.
Having impressed in Nacional's 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores campaign, which they won, Italian club Juventus decided to sign him on 17 August 2018, on a five-year deal for a transfer worth €2.2 million.{{cite web|title=Nacional U20 vs. Independiente U20 - 24 February 2018|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/24/south-america/copa-libertadores-u20/club-nacional-de-football-u20/csd-independiente-jose-teran-u20/2728072/|accessdate=28 September 2020}}{{cite web|title=Juventus, preso il giovane portiere uruguaiano Franco Israel|url=https://www.giovanibianconeri.it/juventus-preso-giovane-portiere-uruguaiano-franco-israel/|accessdate=28 September 2020}} He made his professional debut on 28 September 2020 in Juventus U23's 2–1 league win against Pro Sesto.{{cite web|title=Juventus II vs. Pro Sesto - 28 September 2020|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/09/28/italy/serie-c1/juventus-u23/ac-pro-sesto/3380039/|accessdate=28 September 2020}} On 24 November, the first team's squad Andrea Pirlo called up Israel for a UEFA Champions League match against Ferencváros; he was eventually called up three other times in the 2020–21 season.{{Soccerway|id=474734|accessdate=7 November 2021}}
=Sporting CP=
On 5 July 2022, Israel signed a five-year contract with Portuguese club Sporting CP for a fee of €650,000 for 60% of his economic rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.sporting.pt/pt/noticias/futebol/equipa-principal/2022-07-05/franco-israel-reforca-baliza-leonina|title=Franco Israel reforça baliza leonina|trans-title=Franco Israel reinforces leonine goal|publisher=Sporting CP|language=pt|date=5 July 2022|access-date=6 July 2022}} He made his competitive debut for club, on 4 October, in a Champions League away match against Marseille, where he replaced Marcus Edwards early into first half, after starting goalkeeper Antonio Adán was sent off; he conceded two goals as the match ended in a 4–1 loss.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/desporto/detalhe/erros-de-adan-e-franco-israel-custaram-derrota-do-sporting-frente-ao-marselha|title = Erros de Adán e Franco Israel custaram derrota do Sporting frente ao Marselha}} In the reverse fixture a week later, Israel made his first start, featuring in the 2–0 home loss against the same opponent.{{Cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/franca/marselha/depois-e-antes-do-sporting-marselha-perde-em-casa-nuno-tavares-titular|title = Depois e antes do Sporting: Marselha perde em casa, Nuno Tavares titular}}
International career
Israel is a former Uruguay youth international. He has represented Uruguay at several tournaments including the 2019 South American U-20 Championship and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.{{cite web|title=1 – Franco Israel – AUF|url=https://www.auf.org.uy/1-franco-israel/|access-date=28 September 2020}}{{cite web|title=Datos del plantel Sub-20 de Uruguay|url=https://www.auf.org.uy/datos-del-plantel-sub-20-de-uruguay/|access-date=28 September 2020}}
In June 2023, Israel received his first call-up to the senior team.{{cite web|title=Siguen sumándose futbolistas convocados a los entrenamientos|url=https://www.auf.org.uy/siguen-sumandose-futbolistas-convocados-a-los-entrenamientos/|date=5 June 2023|access-date=15 June 2023}} He made his debut on 14 June 2023 in a 4–1 win against Nicaragua.{{cite web|title=Selección: Bielsa eligió a Matías Viña como capitán en un equipo con muchos debutantes|url=https://www.futbol.com.uy/Deportes/Seleccion-Bielsa-eligio-a-Matias-Vina-como-capitan-en-un-equipo-con-muchos-debutantes-uc856920|date=14 June 2023|access-date=15 June 2023}} In June 2024, he was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América.{{cite web|title=Uruguay presentó los 26 convocados para la Copa América, con Luis Suárez en la lista|url=https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Deportes/Uruguay-presento-los-26-convocados-para-la-Copa-America-con-Luis-Suarez-en-la-lista-uc890665|date=8 June 2024|access-date=9 June 2024}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 29 January 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 !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Juventus U23
|18 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs}} | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22
|Serie C |32 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7{{efn|One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C, six appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs}} | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 59 | 0 | |
| rowspan="4"|Sporting CP
|3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|Primeira Liga |10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4{{Efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25
|Primeira Liga |11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8{{Efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!24 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!74 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 112 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 23 March 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=3|Uruguay
|2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 1{{efn|Includes a Non-FIFA friendly played against Basque Country, which is counted as an official match by Uruguayan Football Association.}} | 0 | |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total | 2 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Nacional U20
- U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.auf.org.uy/nacional-campe-oacute-n-de-am-eacute-rica/|title=Nacional campeón de América|date=25 February 2018|access-date=21 February 2022}}
Sporting CP
- Primeira Liga: 2023–24,{{cite web|title=Amorim's Sporting Lisbon crowned Portuguese champions|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cpdgvvy39zyo|date=6 May 2024|access-date=6 May 2024}} 2024–25{{cite web|title=Sporting beat Vitoria to clinch Portuguese title|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/sporting-beat-vitoria-clinch-portuguese-title-2025-05-17/|access-date=18 May 2025}}
- Taça de Portugal: 2024–25{{cite web|title=Sporting CP Wins 2025 Taça de Portugal After Extra-Time Thriller vs Benfica|url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/articles-video/sporting-cp-wins-2025-ta%C3%A7a-de-portugal-after-extra-time-thriller-vs-benfica-2025-05-25|access-date=26 May 2025}}
Uruguay U20
- South American Games silver medal: 2018{{cite web|title=Chile 1 - 0 Uruguay|url=https://www.auf.org.uy/sub20-chile-1-0-uruguay-cochabamba/|language=es|date=5 June 2018|access-date=26 September 2022}}
Uruguay
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.auf.org.uy/franco-israel/ Profile] at the Uruguayan Football Association website {{in lang|es}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Sporting Clube de Portugal squad}}
{{Uruguay squad 2024 Copa América}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel, Franco}}
Category:People from Nueva Helvecia
Category:Footballers from Colonia Department
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Uruguayan men's footballers
Category:Uruguay men's youth international footballers
Category:Uruguay men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Uruguay men's international footballers
Category:2024 Copa América players
Category:Uruguayan people of German descent
Category:Uruguayan sportspeople of Italian descent
Category:Primeira Liga players
Category:Juventus Next Gen players
Category:Sporting CP footballers
Category:South American Games silver medalists for Uruguay
Category:South American Games medalists in football
Category:Uruguayan expatriate men's footballers
Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Portugal