| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Gabriel Escudero Martínez | ||
| Date of birth | March 24, 1966 | ||
| Place of birth | Rafal, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1974–1985 | Betis Florida | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1985–1988 | Alicante | ||
| 1988–1990 | Benidorm | ||
| 1990–2001 | Hércules | 203 | (15) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2003–2007 | Hércules (assistant) | ||
| 2007 | Hércules | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Francisco Gabriel Escudero Martínez, aka Paquito (born 24 March 1966), is a retired Spanish football midfielder and manager.
The vast majority of his professional career was associated with Hércules, as he served the club as a player, coach, and director of football.
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Born in Rafal, Alicante, Valencian Community, Paquito started playing football in the neighborhood of La Florida.[1] He made his senior debuts with Alicante CF in Tercera División, going on to play two seasons with Benidorm CF,[2] helping the team promote (also finishing the regular season as champions) to Segunda División B for the second time in its history.
In 1990, Paquito remained in his native region, signing with Hércules CF, and helping it return to Segunda División in his third year. In his 11-year spell with the team, he appeared in more than 300 official games, contributing with 34 matches (one goal) as the club returned to La Liga after a 10-year absence, being again an undisputed starter in the following season, which ended in immediate relegation back; his top flight debut occurred on 1 September 1996, in a 2–1 home win against CF Extremadura.
Paquito suffered a serious injury during the 1999–00 season, with Hércules in the third division, officially retiring from football in May 2001, aged 35. He remained with the club working in directorial capacities and, in 2003, began working as an assistant coach, a position he held under managers José Carlos Granero, Juan Carlos Mandiá, José Bordalás and Josu Uribe.
In May 2007, following Uribe's dismissal, Paquito was named head coach until the end of the second division season,[3] eventually avoiding relegation with two wins, one draw and two losses in his five games in charge. He was named the club's director of football in the following season, remaining in charge for several years.[4]