Francis (footballer, born 1981)

Francisco Jesús Pérez Malia (born 17 December 1981), commonly known as Francis, is a Spanish former footballer who played mainly as a right back.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal family name is Malia.
Francis
Francis (right) playing with Xerez in 2009
Personal information
Full name Francisco Jesús Pérez Malia
Date of birth (1981-12-17) 17 December 1981
Place of birth Barbate, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Right back / Midfielder
Youth career
Barbate
Xerez
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2010 Xerez 212 (2)
2000 → Getafe (loan) 2 (0)
2001–2002 → San Fernando (loan) 36 (3)
2002–2003 → Écija (loan) 31 (4)
2010–2016 Racing Santander 144 (0)
Total 425 (9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

During his 17-year professional career he played mainly with Xerez and Racing de Santander, appearing in 222 competitive games with the former. He amassed Segunda División totals of 219 matches and one goal over nine seasons, and competed in La Liga with both clubs.

Club career

Born in Barbate, Province of Cádiz, Francis began his senior career with local Xerez CD. After two consecutive loans with third division clubs, including Getafe CF, he returned to his alma mater and made his professional debut in 2003–04's second level, scoring once in 26 games. He went on to become an important first-team member, with the Andalusians achieving a first-ever La Liga promotion in the 2008–09 season.

Francis spent most of the short-lived top flight campaign as a right back. On 8 May 2010, as Xerez still harboured chances of staying up, he netted his only goal of the season, in a 3–2 home win against Real Zaragoza;[1] late into that month, his contract expired and he signed with Racing de Santander for four years.[2]

References
  1. Victory keeps Xerez hopes alive; ESPN Soccernet, 8 May 2010
  2. Official: Racing Santander sign Domingo Cisma and Francis; Goal, 18 May 2010
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