Franco Russo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Franco Russo

| image =

| full_name = Franco Matías Russo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|10|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Buenos Aires, Argentina

| height = 1.85 m{{cite web |url=https://www.laliga.com/en-ES/player/f-russo |title=Franco Russo |publisher=LaLiga Santander |access-date=15 October 2022}}

| position = Centre back

| currentclub = Querétaro (on loan from Ludogorets Razgrad)

| clubnumber = 4

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = All Boys

| years1 = 2014–2015

| clubs1 = Tamarite

| caps1 = 32

| goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2015–2017

| clubs2 = Espanyol B

| caps2 = 12

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2017

| clubs3 = → Vilafranca (loan)

| caps3 = 13

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2017–2018

| clubs4 = Ontinyent

| caps4 = 33

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2018–2023

| clubs5 = Mallorca

| caps5 = 35

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2019–2020

| clubs6 = → Ponferradina (loan)

| caps6 = 36

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2023–

| clubs7 = Ludogorets Razgrad

| caps7 = 25

| goals7 = 3

| years8 = 2024

| clubs8 = → OH Leuven (loan)

| caps8 = 12

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2024–

| clubs9 = → Querétaro (loan)

| caps9 = 27

| goals9 = 2

| club-update = 27 May 2025

}}

Franco Matías Russo (born 25 October 1994) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Liga MX team Querétaro, on loan from Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad.

Club career

Born in Buenos Aires, Russo finished his formation with All Boys before moving to Spain for a trial with Rayo Vallecano. Despite being told he would earn a contract with the club, he was released after suffering a quadriceps injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/mallorca/duro-comienzo-franco-russo-podia-12182382|title=El duro comienzo de Franco Russo: "No podía ni salir para tomar un café"|trans-title=The hard beginnings of Franco Russo: "I could not leave not even for a coffee"|publisher=Sport|language=es|date=7 December 2021|accessdate=7 January 2022}}

After living in a room in Madrid and a failed trial at Lleida Esportiu, Russo signed for Tercera División side CDJ Tamarite, and made his senior debut with the club during the 2014–15 campaign. On 25 June 2015, he agreed to a two-year contract with RCD Espanyol, being initially assigned to reserves in Segunda División B.{{cite web|url=https://www.rcdespanyol.com/es/actualidad/el-espanyol-b-se-refuerza/_n:783/|title=El Espanyol B se refuerza|trans-title=Espanyol B is strengthened|publisher=RCD Espanyol|language=es|date=23 June 2015|access-date=10 July 2018}}

On 28 January 2017, after featuring rarely, Russo was loaned to FC Vilafranca in the fourth division, until June.{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/2017/01/28/espanyol/748382-russo-sale-cedido-al-vilafranca-nacho-ruiz-rescinde-su-contrato.html|title=Russo sale cedido al Vilafranca; Nacho Ruiz rescinde su contrato|trans-title=Russo leaves on loan to Vilafranca; Nacho Ruiz rescinds his contract|publisher=Vavel|language=es|date=28 January 2017|access-date=10 July 2018}} He left his parent club as his contract expired on 30 June,{{cite web|url=https://www.rcdespanyol.com/es/actualidad/franco-russo-no-continuara/_n:5369/|title=Franco Russo no continuará|trans-title=Franco Russo will not continue|publisher=RCD Espanyol|language=es|date=30 June 2017|access-date=10 July 2018}} and signed for Ontinyent CF in Segunda División B on 5 August.{{cite web|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/20170805/43350451559/el-ontinyent-se-refuerza-con-el-argentino-russo-y-el-navarro-monreal.html|title=El Ontinyent se refuerza con el argentino Russo y el navarro Monreal|trans-title=Ontinyent bolster with Argentine Russo and Navarre Monreal|publisher=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=5 August 2017|access-date=10 July 2018}}

On 9 July 2018, Russo signed a two-year contract with Segunda División side RCD Mallorca.{{cite web|url=http://www.rcdmallorca.es/contenidos/noticias/noticia/el-rcd-mallorca-ficha-a-franco-russo|title=El RCD Mallorca ficha a Franco Russo|trans-title=RCD Mallorca sign Franco Russo|publisher=RCD Mallorca|language=es|date=9 July 2018|access-date=10 July 2018}} He made his professional debut on 11 September, starting in a 1–0 home win against Real Oviedo for the season's Copa del Rey.{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2018/09/11/seleccion/1536692403_555637.html|title=El Mallorca apuesta más fuerte|trans-title=Mallorca bet higher|publisher=Diario AS|language=es|date=11 September 2018|access-date=11 September 2018}}

Russo made his debut in the second division on 29 September 2018, starting in a 1–1 away draw against CD Lugo. He contributed with only four league appearances during the campaign, as his side achieved promotion to La Liga, and was loaned to second division side SD Ponferradina on 12 July 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.sdponferradina.com/noticias/noticia/buenacasa-y-russo-se-unen-a-la-sd-ponferradina|title=Buenacasa y Russo se unen a la SD Ponferradina|trans-title=Buenacasa and Russo join SD Ponferradina|publisher=SD Ponferradina|language=es|date=12 July 2019|accessdate=12 July 2019}}

Upon returning, Russo was again a backup option as Mallorca returned to the top tier. He made his debut in the category on 21 August 2021, starting in a 1–0 away win over Deportivo Alavés.

Russo became a regular starter during the 2021–22 season under manager Luis García, and scored his first goal in the top tier on 4 December 2021, in a 2–1 win at Atlético Madrid.{{cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/mallorca/2021/12/09/61b080d7ca4741c3098b45b5.html|title=Franco Russo: "Sé lo que es estar abajo y lo mejor es seguir con los pies en la tierra"|trans-title=Franco Russo: "I know how it is like to be on the bottom and the best is to keep the feet on the ground"|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=9 December 2021|accessdate=7 January 2022}}

On 16 January 2023, Russo signed a contract with Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad.{{cite web|url=https://ludogorets.com/bg/news/?i=5272|title=Лудогорец привлече защитник от Примера дивизион|trans-title=Ludogorets signs a defender from Primera Division|publisher=PFC Ludogorets 1945|language=bg|date=16 January 2023|accessdate=17 January 2023}}