Adrián López Rodríguez

Not to be confused with Adrián López Álvarez.
Adrián López
Personal information
Full name Adrián López Rodríguez
Date of birth 25 February 1987 (1987-02-25) (age 25)
Place of birth As Pontes, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current club Wigan Athletic
Number 24
Youth career
As Pontes
2001–2006 Deportivo La Coruña
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2008 Deportivo B 12 (0)
2007–2010 Deportivo La Coruña 26 (1)
2011– Wigan Athletic 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:06, 18 September 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Adrián López Rodríguez (born 25 February 1987 in As Pontes de García Rodríguez, A Coruña, Galicia), also known as Piscu, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Wigan Athletic in England, as a central defender.

Club career

After emerging through the ranks of local Deportivo de La Coruña, Piscu spent his first two professional seasons with the club's B side. During the 2007–08 season, he benefitted from injury to undisputed starter Alberto Lopo and made 15 La Liga starts for the first-team, the first coming on 30 September 2007, in a 1–0 loss at RCD Espanyol.

On 22 February 2009, again starting, and already a full member of the main squad, Piscu netted his first goal for the Galicians, in a 1–1 home draw against Valencia CF.[1] He finished the season with eight league appearances.

In the summer of 2010, Deportivo unilaterally renewed Piscu's contract, keeping the player at the club until June 2011.[2] The player, not having signed the contract himself, believed he was a free agent and did not turn up for training with the club.[3] While waiting for the contract dispute to be resolved by FIFA, he trained with Premier League side Wigan Athletic,[4] and the entity eventually ruled that he was a free agent and was permitted to join another club.[5]

On 31 December 2010, Piscu eventually joined the Latics on a free transfer, signing a short term deal until the end of the 2010–11 season.[5] He made his club debut in the 2010–11 FA Cup, starting in a 3–2 away win against Hull City on 8 January 2011.[6] On 5 March, he first appeared in the Premier League, in a 0–1 defeat at Manchester City.[7]

Piscu made a total of four appearances for Wigan in his first season, and extended his contract with the club for a further two years.[8]

References

  1. ^ Piscu pounces to keep Valencia in check; UEFA.com, 22 February 2009
  2. ^ "El Deportivo renueva a Piscu [Deportivo renews Piscu]" (in Spanish). Marca. 30 June 2010. http://www.marca.com/2010/06/30/futbol/equipos/deportivo/1277928969.html. Retrieved 28 December 2010. 
  3. ^ "La ausencia de Piscu sorprende en el Deportivo [Piscu's absence surprises Deportivo]" (in Spanish). El Día. 10 July 2010. http://www.eldia.es/2010-07-10/JORNADA/48-ausencia-Piscu-sorprende-Deportivo.htm. Retrieved 28 December 2010. 
  4. ^ "Piscu chooses Wigan Athletic over Deportivo La Coruna". Click Lancashire. 2 November 2010. http://www.clicklancashire.com/sport/wigan-athletic-fc/128515-piscu-chooses-wigan-athletic-over-deportivo-la-coruna.html. Retrieved 28 December 2010. 
  5. ^ a b "Lopez finally completes move". 31 December 2010. http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~2254765,00.html. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  6. ^ "Hull 2-3 Wigan". BBC Sport. 8 January 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/9341896.stm. Retrieved 17 February 2011. 
  7. ^ "Man City 1-0 Wigan". BBC Sport. 5 March 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9412220.stm. Retrieved 5 March 2011. 
  8. ^ "Piscu jugará en el Wigan inglés dos temporadas más [Piscu will play for England's Wigan another two seasons]" (in Spanish). La Voz de Galicia. 3 August 2011. http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/deportes/2011/08/03/0003_201108G3P36991.htm. Retrieved 9 August 2011. 

External links

Wigan Athletic F.C. – current squad