Carlitos
Personal information
Full name Carlos Daniel López Huesca[1]
Date of birth (1990-06-12) 12 June 1990 (age 33)[1]
Place of birth Alicante, Spain[1]
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Astana
Number 9
Youth career
1998– Alicante
Hércules
Torrellano
Murcia
Torrellano
2008–2009 Elche[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Torrellano Illice 32 (2)
2011–2012 Ontinyent 28 (6)
2012–2013 Petrotrest 20 (2)
2013–2014 Fuenlabrada 23 (2)
2014–2015 Novelda 20 (13)
2015 Aris Limassol 9 (2)
2015–2016 Eldense 33 (13)
2016–2017 Villarreal B 37 (13)
2017–2018 Wisła Kraków 36 (24)
2018–2019 Legia Warsaw 38 (16)
2019–2020 Al Wahda 9 (5)
2020–2022 Panathinaikos 62 (16)
2022–2023 Legia Warsaw 21 (1)
2023–2024 Lamia 22 (10)
2024– Astana 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 April 2024

Carlos Daniel López Huesca (born 12 June 1990), commonly known as Carlitos, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Kazakhstan Premier League club Astana.[3]

Having played no higher than Segunda División B in his own country, he spent most of his career abroad, with spells in Russia, Cyprus, Poland, the United Arab Emirates and Greece. He was the top scorer of the 2017–18 Ekstraklasa with 24 goals for Wisła Kraków.

Career

Early years

Carlitos was born in Alicante, Valencian Community. He played youth football for a number of clubs, and made his debut as a senior in Tercera División, with Torrellano Illice CF.[4]

Carlitos spent the 2011–12 season with neighbouring Ontinyent CF, in Segunda División B. In the summer of 2012 he moved abroad, going on to make his first appearances as a professional with FC Petrotrest Saint Petersburg in the National League of Russia.[5]

In January 2015, as he was top scorer with fourth-tier side Novelda CF, Carlitos joined Aris Limassol FC in the Cypriot Second Division.[6] In the summer, after helping to promotion, he returned to his country and signed for CD Eldense.[7]

Wisła Kraków

On 22 June 2017, Carlitos left Villarreal CF B and moved to Polish club Wisła Kraków.[8] In his first season in the Ekstraklasa, he won the Player of the Season as well as the Striker of the Season awards[9] after finishing top scorer with 24 goals in 36 matches.[10] This tally included a brace in a 2–1 home win in the local derby against KS Cracovia on 12 August,[11] a hat-trick on 9 March 2018 against Śląsk Wrocław[12] and a penalty nine days later in a 2–0 victory at Legia Warsaw; this was his team's first in the city in eight years.[13]

Legia Warsaw

In the summer of 2018, Carlitos was linked with a move away from cash-strapped Wisła to Lech Poznań, before joining Legia on 5 July.[14] He made his debut nine days later in the Super Cup, coming on as a 57th-minute substitute for Miroslav Radović in a 3–2 home defeat to Arka Gdynia.[15] On 17 July he played the first European game of his career, coming off the bench to conclude a 3–0 win (4–0 aggregate) over Cork City in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.[16]

Carlitos was the league season's joint third top scorer with 16 for the runners-up.[17] This included two on 21 October in a 3–3 draw when his former team visited the Stadion Wojska Polskiego.[18]

Panathinaikos

On 9 September 2019, Carlitos joined the UAE Pro League's Al Wahda FC for €1.8 million.[19] On 28 January 2020, he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Panathinaikos F.C. for an undisclosed fee.[20] His first Super League Greece goal came in a 2–2 away draw against OFI Crete F.C. on 18 October.[21] The following weekend, he missed a penalty seconds before scoring through a header in the 1–1 home draw to Volos FC.[22]

Carlitos scored a hat-trick on 16 October 2021 in a 4–1 home win over Ionikos FC, becoming the first player since Marcus Berg in 2017 to achieve this feat for the club.[23]

Return to Legia

On 16 August 2022, after again being linked with their archrivals Lech Poznań,[24] Carlitos returned to Legia Warsaw on a two-year deal.[25] In July 2023, he left by mutual consent.[26]

Personal life

Carlitos' younger brother, Rubén, is also a footballer. He too played in Kraków, but for Wisła's rivals Cracovia.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 April 2023[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ontinyent 2011–12 Segunda División B 28 6 0 0 — — 28 6
Petrotrest 2012–13 National Football League 20 2 1 0 — — 21 2
Fuenlabrada 2013–14 Segunda División B 23 2 0 0 — — 23 2
Eldense 2015–16 Segunda División B 33 13 0 0 — — 33 13
Villarreal B 2015–16 Segunda División B 4 0 — — — 4 0
2016–17 Segunda División B 33 13 — — — 33 13
Total 37 13 — — — 37 13
Wisła Kraków 2017–18 Ekstraklasa 36 24 0 0 — — 36 24
Legia Warsaw 2018–19 Ekstraklasa 36 16 3 1 5 2 1[a] 0 45 19
2019–20 Ekstraklasa 2 0 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2
Total 38 16 3 1 11 4 1 0 53 21
Al Wahda 2019–20 UAE Pro League 9 5 4 2 — — 13 7
Panathinaikos 2020–21 Super League Greece 32 6 2 0 — — 34 6
2021–22 Super League Greece 30 10 5 2 — — 35 12
2022–23 Super League Greece 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
Total 62 16 7 2 1 0 0 0 70 18
Legia Warsaw 2022–23 Ekstraklasa 21 1 4 3 — — 25 4
Lamia 2023–24 Super League Greece 22 10 0 0 — — 22 10
FC Astana 2024 Kazakhstan Premier League 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
Career total 332 108 19 8 12 4 1 0 364 120
  1. ^ Appearance in Polish Super Cup

Honours

Legia Warszawa

Panathinaikos

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Carlitos López" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Fútbol base juveniles" [Youth system juveniles] (in Spanish). Elche CF. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  3. ^ Carlitos at Soccerway
  4. ^ Campoy, Borja (16 November 2012). "Carlitos López busca goles por Rusia" [Carlitos López searches goals in Russia]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Carlos López deja el Ontinyent y se va a jugar al Petrotrest ruso" [Carlos López leaves Ontinyent and goes to play with Russia's Petrotrest] (in Spanish). Planeta Fichajes. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  6. ^ Jiménez, Juan F. (27 January 2015). "Carlitos deja el Novelda para firmar por el Aris Limassol" [Carlitos leaves Novelda to sign for Aris Limassol]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. ^ Juan, Antonio (16 July 2015). "El Eldense se nutre con jugadores de Tercera" [Eldense nourish themselves with players from Tercera]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Carlitos piłkarzem Wisły" [Carlitos a Wisła player] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Rozdano nagrody w Ekstraklasie za sezon 2017/18" [Ekstraklasa awards for the 2017/18 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  10. ^ a b "LOTTO Ekstraklasa 2017/18 – tabela strzelców" [LOTTO Ekstraklasa 2017/18 – scorers table] (in Polish). Onet.pl. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Wisła – Cracovia 2:1. Dublet Carlitosa w końcówce" [Wisła – Cracovia 2:1. Carlitos double at the death] (in Polish). Telewizja Polska. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Carlitos uno, Carlitos dos, Carlitos tres. Hattrick Hiszpana dał Wiśle zwycięstwo nad Śląskiem" [Carlitos uno, Carlitos dos, Carlitos tres. The Spaniard's hat-trick gave Wisła victory over Śląsk]. Super Express (in Polish). 9 March 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Wisła lepsza w ligowym klasyku! Wygrała w Warszawie po ośmiu latach przerwy" [Wisła better in classic! They won in Warsaw after eight years]. Super Express (in Polish). 18 March 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Carlos Lopez piłkarzem Legii Warszawa" [Carlos López is a Legia Warsaw footballer] (in Polish). Onet.pl. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Superpuchar Polski: Klątwa Legii Warszawa trwa! Arka Gdynia obroniła tytuł w meczu spektakularnych goli" [Polish Supercup: The curse of Legia Warsaw continues! Arka Gdynia defended the title in a match of spectacular goals] (in Polish). Polsat Sport. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Recap: Legia class prevails as Cork head for Europa League". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  17. ^ Manchón, Martín (20 May 2019). "Gerard Badía y Jorge Félix conquistan la Ekstraklasa" [Gerard Badía and Jorge Félix conquer the Ekstraklasa]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Legia Warszawa – Wisła Kraków 3:3. Zapis relacji na żywo [WYNIK, SKŁADY]" [Legia Warsaw – Wisła Kraków 3:3. Record of live coverage [RESULT, LINE-UPS]]. Super Express (in Polish). 21 October 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  19. ^ Monaghan, Matt (9 September 2019). "Al Wahda complete long-awaited swoop for Legia Warsaw forward Carlitos". Sport 360. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  20. ^ Nicolaides, Shaun (28 January 2020). "Carlitos officially signs with Panathinaikos". Agona Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  21. ^ Papamakarios, Petros (18 October 2020). "ΟΦΗ – Παναθηναϊκός 2–2: Μακέντα ο λυτρωτής" [ΟFI – Panathinaikos 2–2: Macheda to the rescue] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  22. ^ Papamakarios, Petros (24 October 2020). "Παναθηναϊκός – Βόλος 1–1: Οπισθοχώρησε και το πλήρωσε στο 90+2'" [Panathinaikos – Volos 1–1: They moved back and paid the price at 90+2'] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  23. ^ Papamakarios, Petros (16 October 2021). "Παναθηναϊκός – Ιωνικός 4–1: Τεσσάρα με υπογραφή Καρλίτος" [Panathinaikos – Ionikos 4–1: Four signed by Carlitos] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  24. ^ Koźmiński, Piotr (6 August 2022). "Transferowa bomba Lecha Poznań?" [Lech Poznań transfer bomb?] (in Polish). Sportowe Fakty. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Hola Carlitos! Witaj z powrotem" [Hola Carlitos! Welcome back] (in Polish). Legia Warsaw. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Carlitos odchodzi z Legii" [Carlitos leaves Legia] (in Polish). Legia Warsaw. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Rubio zawodnikiem Sandecji" [Rubio a Sandecja player] (in Polish). Sandecja Nowy Sącz. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  28. ^ a b Carlitos at Soccerway
  29. ^ Zelepien, Jacob (2 May 2023). "120 minut walki i nic! Zadecydowały dopiero rzuty karne" [120 minutes of fighting amounted to nothing! Penalties were the decisive factor] (in Polish). Interia. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  30. ^ a b "Rozdano nagrody w Ekstraklasie za sezon 2017/18" [2017/18 season Ekstraklasa Awards] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2023.

External links

FC Astana – current squad
Ekstraklasa top scorers
Categories