Name: Francisco Fernández Rodríguez
Nickname: "Paco"



Country: Spain
Club: F.C. Barcelona
Number: 3
Position: *SWP, CB
Side: RF/BS
Age: 27-28 years (04/03/1944)

Height: 177 cm
Weight: 75 kg

Attack: 67
Defence: 86
Balance: 86
Stamina: 82
Top Speed: 75
Acceleration: 76
Response: 83
Agility: 74
Dribble Accuracy: 72
Dribble Speed: 73
Short Pass Accuracy: 76
Short Pass Speed: 71
Long Pass Accuracy: 78
Long Pass Speed: 71
Shot Accuracy: 67
Shot Power: 76
Shot Technique: 62
Free Kick Accuracy: 65
Curling: 66
Header: 82
Jump: 89
Technique: 77
Aggression: 68
Mentality: 86
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 76

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 6
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Standard/Lasting

CARDS:
S07 - Man Marking
S07 - Slide Tackle

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Marking - Sliding

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence-Minded


INFO:
Gallego was only 21 when he joined Barça from Sevilla. In his ten years at the club he came to become one of its most iconic figures of the period, widely regarded for his powerful physique and immense strength, which he combined with a good touch of the ball, an accurate header and a sense of anticipation that due to his fiery nature was considered one of the "woody" players of the time, but noble. This made him the typically tough centre back of the era, and few players were willing to sweat for the colours as much as he did. His marking was ferociously tight and he was almost unbeatable in the air, a facet the club was often able to exploit by sending him up-field for set pieces, where he’d frequently head home spectacular goals with a nonchalance that almost made it look easy. Besides this, he liked sending long balls from the back with both legs, was a good technician and passer overall, fine under pressure, albeit slow but great fighter. Sober, forceful and with command in defense with a character that transferred the team.

By the late sixties he had come to be considered the finest centre back in Spain, some even said in the whole of Europe. In total in played 429 games for Barça, making him one of the all-time club leaders in terms of appearances.

In 1975 he left Barça to return to Sevilla. A testimonial took place on 30 August 1979 at the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium between Sevilla and FC Barcelona.

Gallego earned 36 caps for the Spain national team and participated in the 1964 Euro & 1966 FIFA World Cup.