Francisco Javier Castaño

Francisco Javier Castaño Allende (born 29 December 1972) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He amassed La Liga totals of 121 games and seven goals over six seasons, representing in the competition Sporting de Gijón, Logroñés, Numancia and Betis. He added 150 matches and 23 goals in the Segunda División, where he appeared for all the clubs but the first.

Club career Born in Gijón, Asturias, Castaño alternated between La Liga and Segunda División during his first 13 years as a senior. He made his debut in the former competition on 2 June 1991 with Sporting de Gijón, coming on as a 68th minute substitute in a 3–0 home win against RCD Español. He scored his first goal in the Spanish top flight on 27 March 1994, contributing to a 2–1 victory over RC Celta de Vigo also at El Molinón.

Castaño promoted to the top tier three times in his professional career, with CD Logroñés in 1996, CD Numancia in 1999 and Real Betis in 2001, totalling 17 goals in the process. He also suffered relegation with the second side in 1997.

In 2003, aged 30, Castaño left Levante UD. He went on to play a further 11 seasons in his native region, with Astur CF, UP Langreo, UC Ceares, Marino de Luanco and CD Lealtad, competing in the Segunda División B and the Tercera División.

In July 2015, Castaño returned to Sporting de Gijón as youth coach. Six years later, he was appointed manager of Tercera Federación club CD Mosconia.