Lucas Villafáñez
{{short description|Greek footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Lucas Villafáñez
| image =
| full_name = Lucas Martín Villafáñez
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|04|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina
| height = 1.71 m
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Volos
| clubnumber = 19
| youthyears1 = 2002-2008
| youthclubs1 = CAI
| years1 = 2008–2010
| clubs1 = CAI
| caps1 = 55
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2010–2011
| clubs2 = → Independiente (loan)
| caps2 = 8
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2011–2016
| clubs3 = Independiente
| caps3 = 23
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2013–2014
| clubs4 = → Huracán (loan)
| caps4 = 20
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2014–2016
| clubs5 = → Panetolikos (loan)
| caps5 = 38
| goals5 = 11
| years6 = 2016–2018
| clubs6 = Panathinaikos
| caps6 = 63
| goals6 = 9
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs7 = Alanyaspor
| caps7 = 47
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2019–2020
| clubs8 = Morelia
| caps8 = 16
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2020–2022
| clubs9 = Panathinaikos
| caps9 = 52
| goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2022–2024
| clubs10 = APOEL
| caps10 = 45
| goals10 = 4
| years11 = 2024–
| clubs11 = Volos
| caps11 = 12
| goals11 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2011
| nationalteam1 = Argentina U20
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2011
| nationalteam2 = Argentina U22
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| club-update = 30 November 2024
}}
Lucas Martín Villafáñez ({{IPA|es|biʝaˈfaɲes|}}; born 4 October 1991) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Greek Super League club Volos.
Club career
Villafáñez made his professional debut in the Primera B Nacional with his hometown club Comisión de Actividades Infantiles, when he was 16 years old. In total he played 57 games with the club, scoring 12 goals.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
In 2010, Independiente acquired the player on a one-year loan deal. He debuted in the Argentine Primera División on a 0–1 defeat to Tigre for the 2010 Apertura, despite the game being played in February 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.argentinesoccer.com/player_apps.cfm?id=vlfz&Championship=ap10&Team=ind |title=Opening '10 statistics |publisher=Argentine Soccer |access-date=29 July 2011 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820040824/http://argentinesoccer.com/player_apps.cfm?id=vlfz&Championship=ap10&Team=ind |url-status=dead }}
On 2 May 2011, Villafáñez scored his first goal with Independiente, in a 1–1 draw with Boca Juniors.{{cite web |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/cronica?id=311624 |title=Boca igualó con Independiente y ambos siguen lejos |publisher=ESPN Deportes |language=es |date=2 May 2011 |access-date=29 July 2011 }}
In summer 2013, the hitch that had a contract until June 2014 and would not be taken into account by Miguel Angel Brindisi was asked by Antonio Mohamed after his arrival in Huracán F.C. and eventually would be signing with the "Globe". After several days of negotiation and obstacles, it was finally decided that Villafáñez would go on loan to Huracán F.C. for the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.elrojoesmipasion.com/independiente/2013/07/lucas-villafanez-se-va-a-huracan/|title=Lucas Villafáñez se va a Huracán|publisher=elrojoesmipasion.com|language=es|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610220722/http://elrojoesmipasion.com/independiente/2013/07/lucas-villafanez-se-va-a-huracan/|archive-date=10 June 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cahuracan.com/2013/08/02/lucas-villafanez-nuevo-jugador-de-huracan/|title=Lucas Villafañez nuevo jugador de Huracán|publisher=cahuracan.com|language=es|date=2 August 2013|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414013425/http://www.cahuracan.com/2013/08/02/lucas-villafanez-nuevo-jugador-de-huracan/|url-status=dead}} On 1 August 2014, Villafáñez signed a two-year contract with Greek Super League side Panetolikos on loan from Independiente,{{cite web|url=http://allsportsagrinio.gr/archives/82171|script-title=el:ΜΠΑΜ με Βιγιαφάνιες ο Παναιτωλικός|publisher=allsportsagrinio.gr|language=el|date=31 July 2014|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803071102/http://allsportsagrinio.gr/archives/82171|archive-date=3 August 2014|url-status=dead}} along with his former Independiente teammates Fernando Godoy and Nicolás Martinez.{{cite web|url=http://www.elcomercial.com.ar/index.php?option=com_telam&view=deauno&idnota=478208&Itemid=116|title=LOS ARGENTINOS PARRA Y VILLAFAÑEZ SE SUMAN AL FUTBOL GRIEGO|publisher=elcomercial.com.ar|language=es|date=1 August 2013|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051554/http://www.elcomercial.com.ar/index.php?option=com_telam&view=deauno&idnota=478208&Itemid=116|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}
In December 2015, Villafáñez was linked with a move to AEK Athens.{{cite web |url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/144753/aek-monitoring-villafanez |title=AEK monitoring Villafanez |publisher=www.sdna.gr|language=en|date=10 December 2015}} On 24 January 2016, he scored with a close-range effort at the beginning of a match against Veria which Panetolikos won 1–0 and scooped its first away victory since August 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/160682/panaitolikos-leave-veria-victorious-vid|title=Panaitolikos leave Veria victorious |publisher=www.sdna.gr|language=en|date=24 January 2016}}
=Panathinaikos=
On 27 January 2016, Panathinaikos bought the Villafáñez's playing rights from Independiente, so from the summer of 2016, he would have belonged to the "Greens". Panetolikos, however, wanted to make a profit form the player's transfer and gave him to Panathinaikos from 1 February.{{Cite web|title = Κωστούλας: Τα βρήκε με Ιντεπεντιέντε ο Παναθηναϊκός για Βιγιαφάνιες-Panathinaikos agreed with Independiente for Villafañez|url = http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panaitolikos/kwstoulas-ta-vrhke-me-intepentiente-o-panathhnaikos-gia-vigiafanies.3880784.html|website = www.sport24.gr|access-date = 28 January 2016}}
On 6 March 2016, he scored his first goal with the club in a 2–0 home win against Atromitos.{{Cite web|title = Panathinaikos beat Atromitos at Leto's return |url = http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/176253/panathinaikos-beat-atromitos-letos-return|website = www.sdna.gr|date = 6 March 2016|access-date = 6 March 2016}} On 28 October 2017, thanks to a close-range effort by the Argentinian attacking midfielder, Panathinaikos won 1–0 at Super League derby clash against champions Olympiacos.{{Cite web|title = Με Βιγιαφάνιες ο Παναθηναϊκός 1-0 τον Ολυμπιακό |url = http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/me-gkol-toy-vigiafanies-o-panathhnaikos-1-0-ton-olympiako.4911887.html|website = www.sport24.gr|access-date = 28 October 2017}} On 7 January 2018, Marinos Ouzounidis’ team, which had last tasted victory in the Super League back on 28 October with a 1–0 derby win over Olympiacos, finally stopped the rot in the first game of 2018 thanks to a pair of penalties from Villafáñez in a 2–0 win home game against Platanias.{{Cite web|title = Παναθηναϊκός - Πλατανιάς 2-0 |url = http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/article/1182256/panathinaikos-platanias-2-0|website = www.gazzetta.gr|access-date = 7 January 2018}}
On 14 January 2018, with Panathinaikos in financial difficulties, French website "Foot Mercato" reported Villafáñez had been offered to three Ligue 1 clubs, namely Nantes, Saint-Étienne and Toulouse for the January transfer window on a loan basis till the end of the season with a purchase option in the range of €2 million for the summer of 2018.{{Cite news|title = Προτάθηκε σε Ναντ, Σεντ-Ετιέν και Τουλούζ ο Βιγιαφάνιες |url = http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/protathhke-se-nant-sent-etien-kai-toylouz-o-vigiafanies.5028504.html |website = www.sport24.gr |access-date = 14 January 2018}}
Villafáñez left the club having 73 appearances (10 goals, 13 assists) in all competitions.
=Alanyaspor=
On 23 January 2018, Turkish club Alanyaspor initially offered an €800,000 transfer fee to Panathinaikos for Villafáñez. The transfer offer involved two Greek internationals, Giorgos Tzavellas and Giannis Maniatis.{{Cite web |title = ALANYASPOR, 10 NUMARA TRANSFERİ YAPIYOR! HASAN ÇAVUŞOĞLU AÇIKLADI |url = http://turkfutbol.com/alanyaspor-10-numara-transferi-yapiyor-hasan-cavusoglu-acikladi-24412/ |publisher = turkfutbol.com |access-date = 23 January 2018 |archive-date = 20 June 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153044/https://www.turkfutbol.com/alanyaspor-10-numara-transferi-yapiyor-hasan-cavusoglu-acikladi-24412/ |url-status = dead }} According to various sources, the transfer could be set in the range of €1.1 million, with Villafáñez agreeing to a 2.5-year contract, with annual earnings levelled to €800,000 per year.{{Cite web|title = Ετοιμάζει βαλίτσες ο Βιγιαφάνιες |url = http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/etoimazei-valitses-o-vigiafanies.5045424.html|website = www.sport24.gr|access-date = 24 January 2018}} After three days of negotiations, Panathinaikos agreed with Alanyaspor for a total transfer amount of €1.2 million. The financial struggling Greens will receive a net amount of €900,000, as Villafáñez ex-club Panetolikos retained a 10% resale rate, while from the total transfer amount Panathinaikos will cover his debt both to the player's rights from Independiente and his annual delayed salary.{{Cite web|title = Οριστικό: με 1,2 εκατ. ευρώ στην Αλάνιασπορ ο Βιγιαφάνιες |url = http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/oristiko-me-1-2-ekat-eyrw-sthn-alaniaspor-o-vigiafanes.5046979.html |publisher = www.sport24.gr |access-date = 25 January 2018}}{{Cite web|title = Villafanez, Aytemiz Alanyaspor'da |date = 26 January 2018 |url = http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sporarena/villafanez-aytemiz-alanyasporda-40722667 |publisher = www.hurriyet.com.tr |access-date = 26 January 2018}} On 27 January 2018, two days after his arrival, he made his debut with the club as a starter in a 3–1 home win game against Alanyaspor. On 18 May 2018, in the last matchday of the season he scored his first goal with the club in a 3–2 home win game against Antalyaspor.
=Morelia=
On 3 July 2019, Monarcas Morelia presented Villafáñez as their new player.[https://www.mimorelia.com/lucas-villafanez-llega-a-monarcas-morelia/ Lucas Villafañez llega a Monarcas Morelia], mimorelia.com, 3 July 2019
=Return to Panathinaikos=
In July 2020, Villafáñez returned to the Greek giants Panathinaikos F.C. with a two-year deal from Monarcas Morelia.
International career
Villafáñez was part of Sergio Batista's Argentina U20 in 2010. In 2011, he was selected to represent Argentina at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Villafanez also is of partial-Greek descent, expressed his desire to play for Greece, through his maternal great-grandfather, who was born in Piraeus.{{Cite web|title = Villafanez: "I am dreaming of playing for Greece National Team" |date = 4 March 2016 |url = http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/175556/villafanez-i-am-dreaming-playing-greece-national-team |publisher = www.sdna.gr |access-date = 4 March 2016}} In 2014, Villafáñez started the procedure in order to claim the Greek citizenship. In December 2017, he was in the final stages for acquiring the citizenship and was to be available for the national team.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|7 April 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/lucas-villafane/64646/|title=L. VILLAFÁÑEZ
|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=7 April 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | ||||||||||
| colspan="3"|Club performance
!colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|CAI
|rowspan="2"|Primera B Nacional |25 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 4 | |||||
| 2009-10
|30 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 7 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!55 | 11 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 55 | 11 | |||||
| Independiente (loan)
|8 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 2 | |||||
| rowspan="3"|Independiente
|rowspan="2"|Argentine Primera División |13 | 0 | 1{{efn|name="CA"|Appearance(s) in Copa Argentina}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 0 | ||||
| 2012-13
|10 | 0 | 1{{efn|name="CA"}} | 0 | 4{{efn|name="COS"|Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana}} | 1 | 15 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 1 | |||
| Huracán (loan)
|Primera B Nacional |20 | 2 | 1{{efn|name="CA"}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 2 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Panetolikos (loan)
|rowspan="2"|Super League Greece |19 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 6 | |||||
| 2015-16
|19 | 5 | 2{{efn|name="GC"|Appearance(s) in Greek Cup}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 6 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!38 | 11 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 12 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Panathinaikos
|rowspan="3"|Super League Greece |11 | 2 | 1{{efn|name="GC"}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 2 | ||||
| 2016-17
|30 | 2 | 7{{efn|name="GC"}} | 1 | 9{{efn|name="UEL"|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 46 | 3 | |||
| 2017-18
|12 | 5 | 3{{efn|name="GC"}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!53 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 73 | 10 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Alanyaspor
|rowspan="2"|Süper Lig |15 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 1 | |||||
| 2018-19
|32 | 0 | 4{{efn|name="TC"|Appearance(s) in Turkish Cup}} | 5 | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 5 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!47 | 1 | 4 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | 51 | 6 | ||||
| Morelia
|16 | 2 | 6{{efn|name="CM"|Appearance(s) in Copa MX}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 3 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Panathinaikos
|rowspan="2"|Super League Greece |26 | 2 | 2{{efn|name="GC"}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 2 | ||||
| 2021-22
|26 | 1 | 7{{efn|name="GC"}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!52 | 3 | 9 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 61 | 3 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|APOEL
|rowspan="2"|Cyta Championship |18 | 0 | 1{{efn|name="CC"|Appearance(s) in Cypriot Cup}} | 0 | 4{{efn|name="UEC"|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2023-24
|27 | 4 | 1{{efn|name="CC"}} | 0 | 6{{efn|name="UEC"}} | 0 | 34 | 4 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!45 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 57 | 4 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career Total
!357 | 45 | 37 | 8 | 23 | 1 | 417 | 54 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Panathinaikos
- Greek Cup: 2021–22{{Cite web |last=Georgakopoulos |first=George |date=22 May 2022 |title=Panathinaikos ends eight-year trophy drought lifting the Greek Cup |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/sports/1185019/panathinaikos-ends-eight-year-trophy-drought-lifting-the-greek-cup/ |access-date=31 January 2023 |website=Ekathimerini}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|lucas-villafane/64646}}
- {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904001819/http://www.futbolxxi.com/Futbolista.aspx?ID=14456&SEOFutbolista=Villafanez+Lucas+Martin |date=4 September 2012 |title=Argentine Primera statistics at Fútbol XXI}} {{in lang|es}}
{{Volos N.F.C. squad}}
{{Turkish Cup topscorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villafanez, Lucas}}
Category:Argentine men's footballers
Category:Argentine people of Greek descent
Category:Argentine Primera División players
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Argentina men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
Category:Pan American Games medalists in football
Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Argentina
Category:Footballers at the 2011 Pan American Games
Category:Primera Nacional players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:Cypriot First Division players
Category:Comisión de Actividades Infantiles footballers
Category:Club Atlético Independiente footballers
Category:Club Atlético Huracán footballers
Category:Panetolikos F.C. players
Category:Panathinaikos F.C. players
Category:Alanyaspor footballers
Category:Atlético Morelia players
Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus