Francisco 'Paco' Antonio Candela Pascual (born 19 January 1993) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Balompédica Linense. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a defensive midfielder.

Paco Candela
Candela with Leganés in 2016
Personal information
Full name Francisco Antonio Candela Pascual
Date of birth (1993-01-19) 19 January 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Alicante, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Linense
Number 15
Youth career
Villarreal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Villarreal C 22 (2)
2013–2016 Leganés 42 (3)
2015Sevilla B (loan) 14 (0)
2016–2018 Fuenlabrada 41 (1)
2018–2019 Hércules 28 (0)
2019 La Nucía 0 (0)
2019 CF Intercity 8 (2)
2020 Mérida 1 (0)
2020– Linense 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:10, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

Club career

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Born in Alicante, Valencian Community, Candela graduated with Villarreal CF's youth setup, and made his senior debuts with the C-team in the 2011–12 campaign, in Tercera División. On 20 August 2013 he moved to Segunda División B's CD Leganés,[1] featuring in 29 matches during his first season, which ended in promotion.

On 6 August 2014 Candela signed a new two-year deal with the Madrid side.[2] On 11 September he made his professional debut, starting in a 1–1 home draw against CD Numancia, for the campaign's Copa del Rey.[3]

On 16 January 2015 Candela was loaned to Sevilla Atlético, until June.[4] He subsequently returned to Lega after his loan expired and scored his first professional goal on 23 August, netting his team's first in a 2–3 away loss against UD Almería through a free kick.[5]

Candela joined Mérida AD on 3 January 2020.[6] However, after only one game for the club, Paco got problems with his knee and was out for the rest of his spell at the club.[7] In the summer 2020, Paco then signed with Linense.[8] After four games for the club, he hurt his knee again at the end of November 2020 and underwent a arthroscopy to repair the external meniscus of his right knee, in which he suffered a partial tear. Paco was set to be out for two months.[9][10]

References

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