Francisco Varela (footballer)

Francisco Miguel Varela Martín (born 26 October 1994) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a left back for Portuguese club Belenenses SAD.

Francisco Varela
Varela with Betis in 2015
Personal information
Full name Francisco Miguel Varela Martín
Date of birth (1994-10-26) 26 October 1994
Place of birth Atarfe, Spain
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Left back
Club information
Current team
 Belenenses SAD
Number 5
Youth career
Granada
2007–2012 Betis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Betis B 60 (6)
2014–2016 Betis 36 (0)
2016–2018 Oviedo 24 (1)
2018–2019 Rayo Majadahonda 25 (1)
2019– Belenenses SAD 8 (0)
National team
2012 Spain U18 2 (0)
2012–2013 Spain U19 6 (0)
2012 Spain U20 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:32, 13 December 2019 (UTC)
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Varela and the second or maternal family name is Martín.

Club career

Born in Atarfe, Granada, Andalusia, Varela graduated from Real Betis' youth setup, after starting it out at neighbouring Granada CF.[1] He made his senior debuts with the reserves in the 2011–12 campaign, in Segunda División B.

On 4 May 2013 Varela was called up to the main squad for a La Liga match against FC Barcelona,[2] but was an unused substitute in the eventual 2–4 away loss a day later.[3] He played his first match as a professional on 27 February 2014, replacing Rubén Castro in the 81st minute of a 2–0 away win against FC Rubin Kazan in that season's UEFA Europa League.[4]

On 24 July 2014 Varela renewed his contract with the Verdiblancos, running until 2016.[5] He made his league debut on 23 November, starting in a 1–2 home loss against Deportivo Alavés in the Segunda División championship.[6]

On 5 May 2015, Varela renewed his contract for a further season,[7] and subsequently achieved promotion to La Liga after appearing in 22 matches. He made his debut in the category on 27 September, starting in a 2–1 away win against Sporting de Gijón.[8]

On 14 July 2016, Varela signed a two-year contract with Real Oviedo in the second level, after being deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Gus Poyet.[9] He scored his only goal for the Asturians on 11 December with a late direct free kick nine minutes after replacing Néstor Susaeta in a 2–1 loss at Real Zaragoza,[10] but later lost his starting place under manager Fernando Hierro and ended his season in April 2017 to undergo surgery on his left knee.[11]

On 6 July 2018, Varela moved to fellow league team CF Rayo Majadahonda.[12] He played 26 times as the newly promoted side went straight back down, and scored once to open a 4–3 loss at Oviedo on his return to the Estadio Carlos Tartiere on 4 June 2019; the loss in the penultimate game of the season confirmed their relegation.[13]

On 30 July 2019, after Rayo's relegation, Varela moved abroad for the first time by signing for Portugal's Belenenses SAD on a three-year deal.[14] He made his debut in the Primeira Liga in the season opener on 9 August, starting in a goalless draw at Portimonense SC.[15] He lost his place to the unrelated youngster Nilton Varela after Petit became the manager, could not find a new suitor in the January 2020 transfer window, and following a shoulder operation in his homeland in March did not return to Lisbon again.[16]

Statistics
As of match played on 23 December 2017
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Betis B 2009–10[17] Segunda División B 20——20
2012–13[17] Segunda División B 343——343
2013–14[18] Tercera División 143—4[lower-alpha 1]0183
2014–15[17] Segunda División B 100——103
Total 606—40646
Betis 2012–13[17] La Liga 0000—00
2013–14[17] La Liga 00001[lower-alpha 2]010
2014–15[17] Segunda División 22000—220
2015–16[17] La Liga 14020—160
Total 3602010390
Oviedo 2016–17[17] Segunda División 16100—161
2017–18[17] Segunda División 2000—20
Total 18100—181
Career total 114720501217
  1. Appearances in Promotion Play-offs
  2. Appearance in UEFA Europa League

References
  1. "Conoce a Francisco Varela, último internacional bético" [Know Francisco Varela, the latest bético international] (in Spanish). Manquepierda. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  2. "Objetivo, vencer al Betis para dar otro paso hacia el título" [Objective, defeat Betis to make another step to the title]. Sport. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. "Un campeón a la espera" [A champion waiting] (in Spanish). Marca. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  4. "Betis thankful for Rubén magic at Rubin". UEFA.com. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  5. "Francisco Varela renueva con el Betis hasta 2016" [Francisco Varela renews with Betis until 2016] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  6. "Un gran Alavés pone contra las cuerdas a Julio Velázquez" [A great Alavés puts Julio Velázquez against the strings] (in Spanish). Marca. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  7. Espina, José A. (6 May 2015). "Varela: "Ceballos también quiere quedarse en el Betis"" [Varela: "Ceballos also wants to stay at Betis"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  8. Sevillano, J. (27 September 2015). "Varela, Portillo, Cejudo y Ndiaye, novedades en el once del Betis frente al Sporting" [Varela, Portillo, Cejudo and Ndiaye, new faces in the Betis XI against Sporting]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  9. "El Oviedo hace oficial la contratación del exbético Francisco Varela" [Oviedo turn official the signing of former bético Francisco Varela] (in Spanish). Marca. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  10. "Ángel reconcilia al Zaragoza con la victoria y con su afición" [Ángel reconciles Zaragoza with victory and with their support]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  11. Lorca, A. (17 June 2017). "Un año accidentado" [A bumpy year]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  12. "Francisco Varela llega a Majadahonda procedente del Real Oviedo y se convierte en el primer fichaje del club en Segunda División" [Francisco Varela arrives at Majadahonda from Real Oviedo and becomes the first signing of the club in Segunda División] (in Spanish). CF Rayo Majadahonda. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  13. García, Chisco (4 June 2019). "El Rayo Majadahonda desciende en el último minuto" [Rayo Majadahonda go down in the last minute]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  14. "OFICIAL: Belenenses contrata espanhol Francisco Varela" [OFFICIAL: Belenenses sign Spaniard Francisco Varela] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  15. Anjinho, Jorge (9 August 2019). "Portimonense-Belenenses, 0-0 (crónica)" [Portimonense-Belenenses, 0-0 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  16. Gouveia Pereira, Miguel (23 May 2020). "Francisco Varela não deve voltar ao Belenenses SAD" [Francisco Varela must not return to Belenenses SAD]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  17. "Varela: Francisco Miguel Varela Martín". BDFutbol. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  18. "Varela". La Preferente. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
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