Paco Alcacer is no longer a professional footballer at age 33, meczyki.pl reported in a review of the striker’s career trajectory. Once regarded as one of the biggest hopes in Spain’s offensive line with 12 goals in 19 international appearances, the former “number nine” for the national team saw his career end rapidly.
The decline of the striker was marked by a sharp drop in competition levels, eventually leading him to the second league in the United Arab Emirates before his total exit from professional football.
Early Success at Valencia
Alcacer joined the Valencia academy at age 12 and debuted for the first team at 17. After a loan spell at Getafe during the 2012/13 season, he returned to Mestalla and became a starter following the sale of Roberto Soldado. During the 2013/14 campaign, he recorded 14 goals and three assists, highlighted by a hat-trick against FC Basel in a Europa League quarter-final second leg. Valencia won that match 5-0 after losing the first leg 0-3, though the team later exited in the semi-finals against Sevilla.
Over the following two seasons, Alcacer scored 29 goals. His consistency and connection to the club led to him becoming the team’s first captain at age 22. In July 2016, he told ElDesmarque, Noszenie opaski znaczy dla mnie wszystko. To mój klub, chciałbym podnosić z nim trofea
, expressing his desire to win trophies with the team. He added that he felt goosebumps when 50,000 fans at Mestalla chanted his name and noted that his best childhood memories were Valencia’s two championships.
Transition to Barcelona
The relationship with Valencia ended abruptly in August 2016. Despite owner Peter Lim initially stating that the player would stay, the club agreed to sell Alcacer to Barcelona for 30 million euro shortly after. This move caused significant friction between the fans and the club’s ownership.
At Barcelona, Alcacer struggled for playing time due to the established trio of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar. During the 2016/17 season, he spent 28 matches entirely on the bench, recording contributions to 12 goals in 1,387 minutes of play. He managed to score in the Copa del Rey final while the Uruguayan “El Pistolero” was injured. His role was further limited once Ernesto Valverde took over as manager.
Former Spanish International Ends Professional Playing Career
In the summer of 2022, the “Yellow Submarine” opted for the less known Nicolas Jackson. Consequently, the more experienced striker was sent to Sharjah FC. The report notes that players move to the United Arab Emirates for reasons other than sporting ambition.
It remains unclear what the former Spanish international intends to do now that his professional playing days have ended.
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