Francisco Javier Casquero Paredes (born 11 March 1976) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played usually as a central midfielder.

Over 11 seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 322 matches and 43 goals, mainly with Getafe (six years) and Sevilla (four).

Playing career Early years Born in Talavera de la Reina, Province of Toledo, Casquero starting playing professionally with local CD Toledo in the Segunda División, also being loaned for six months to lowly Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.Casquero gana enteros (Casquero option stronger by the day); Huelva Información, 12 July 2017 (in Spanish)

He then spent the 1999–2000 season with Atlético Madrid B,Casquero, del Toledo, fichado (Toledo's Casquero, signed); Mundo Deportivo, 26 February 1999 (in Spanish) where his consistent performances were not enough to prevent their relegation to the third tier.Nos vamos a la ‘B’ (Off to 'B' we go); OneFootball, 15 May 2021 (in Spanish)

Sevilla and Santander Casquero signed with Sevilla FC of the same tier in the summer of 2000,Juan Carlos se va al Atlético (Juan Carlos goes to Atlético); Mundo Deportivo, 23 June 2000 (in Spanish) and with four goals in 38 games he helped the club to achieve promotion after a one-year absence,El Sevilla, a Primera por la puerta grande (Sevilla, to Primera through the front door); Mundo Deportivo, 4 June 2001 (in Spanish) making his La Liga debut on 26 August 2001 in a 1–2 home loss against FC Barcelona.Una vez más, Kluivert (Once again, Kluivert); Mundo Deportivo, 27 August 2001 (in Spanish)El Sevilla-Barça de los 16 debuts (The Sevilla-Barça of the 16 debuts); Sport, 23 February 2019 (in Spanish) He would score seven goals in his first top-flight campaign."Sentimos el Sevilla como algo nuestro" ("We feel Sevilla as something of our own"); Diario AS, 23 July 2002 (in Spanish)

Known for his powerful shot,Un castigo inmerecido (Undeserved punishment); El País, 10 April 2008 (in Spanish)El Athletic vuelve a naufragar en el Coliseum (0–0) (Athletic again stranded at the Coliseum (0–0)); El Mundo, 8 January 2012 (in Spanish) Casquero went on to become one of Sevilla's most effective players, helping in the Andalusians' consolidation with two sixth-places from 2003 to 2005 (although he appeared scarcely in the second). After that, he was deemed surplus to requirements and joined Racing de Santander,Casquero, Esteban y Silva inician una nueva etapa (Casquero, Esteban and Silva's new lease of life); Mundo Deportivo, 8 July 2005 (in Spanish) where he played one season in the top division.

Getafe Already a veteran, Casquero moved for 2006–07 to Madrid's Getafe CF,Casquero deja el Racing para jugar en el Getafe (Casquero leaves Racing to play in Getafe); El Diario Montañés, 5 July 2006 (in Spanish) quickly becoming an undisputed starter. On 10 May 2007, he was one of three players on target in a 4–0 home defeat of Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, which meant qualification for the decisive match for the first time ever after a 6–5 aggregate win.K.O. histórico del Barça (Historical Barça K.O.); El Mundo, 10 May 2007 (in Spanish)

Casquero was instrumental in the side's quarter-final run in the UEFA Cup, notably scoring in that stage against FC Bayern Munich in a 3–3 home draw and 4–4 aggregate loss.Getafe 3–3 Bayern Munich ; ESPN Soccernet, 10 April 2008 In the 2007–08 season he appeared in 50 competitive matches, netting eight times.Los goles imposibles de Casquero (Casquero's impossible goals); El País, 15 April 2008 (in Spanish)

On 21 April 2009, in the last minute of a 3–2 loss at Real Madrid, Casquero was involved in an incident with Pepe (with the score then at 2–2): he was fouled in the area by his adversary, and then kicked twice while still on the ground after the penalty kick was awarded. He shot it awkwardly, and Gonzalo Higuaín scored in the next play for the final defeat.La salvajada de Pepe le dejará sin clásico (Pepe's savagery will leave him out of El Clásico); Marca, 21 April 2009 (in Spanish)Higuaín caps late Madrid fightback; UEFA, 21 April 2009

Challenged by new signing Dani Parejo in the following two seasons,La baja de Parejo abre la puerta a Casquero (Parejo's absence opens the door for Casquero); Diario AS, 16 September 2009 (in Spanish)El Getafe respira y ahoga a Osasuna (Getafe breathe and drown Osasuna); La Voz de Galicia, 16 May 2011 (in Spanish) Casquero still appeared in a total of 59 games, scoring six goals as Getafe consecutively managed to retain their top-division status. Aged 36, he was released by the club in July 2012.Casquero: "En Getafe he vivido los seis mejores años de mi carrera" (Casquero: "I had the best six years of my career in Getafe"); Marca, 6 July 2012 (in Spanish)

Later career Casquero signed a one-year contract with UD Almería on 24 July 2012.El Almería ficha a Javi Casquero (Almería sign Javi Casquero) ; UD Almería, 24 July 2012 (in Spanish) He was released on the last day of the following year's January transfer window before signing with another team in division two, Sporting de Gijón, the following month.Casquero, nuevo jugador rojiblanco (Casquero, new red-and-white player) ; Sporting Gijón, 20 February 2013 (in Spanish)

Coaching career In March 2015, Casquero was named assistant manager at Getafe under interim Pablo Franco.Pablo Franco sigue y Casquero será su ayudante (Pablo Franco continues and Casquero will be his assistant); Marca, 3 March 2015 (in Spanish) He remained in that position until June.Casquero: "En el Getafe ahora mismo todo es una incertidumbre" (Casquero: "Uncertainty all over Getafe right now"); Marca, 17 June 2015 (in Spanish)

Casquero's first head coaching experience arrived on 12 July 2017, when he was appointed at Segunda División B club Recreativo de Huelva.Javi Casquero, nuevo entrenador del Recreativo de Huelva (Javi Casquero, new manager of Recreativo de Huelva); Marca, 12 July 2017 (in Spanish) After less than four months in charge, he was dismissed due to poor results.Javier Casquero, destituido como entrenador del 'Recre' (Javier Casquero, dismissed as manager of 'Recre') ; Diario AS, 2 November 2017 (in Spanish)

Honours Sevilla Segunda División: 2000–01

References

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