The Spaniard's Newcastle United career may be remembered for all the wrong reasons but the Asian Champions League has discovered it's new hero.
Though his performances on the pitch were anything but, the name Xisco has become an unforgettable emblem of the baffling recruitment carried out at Newcastle United since the turn of the century.
Despite accumulating just eleven games, and one goal, the once seventh choice Spanish striker remained contracted to The Magpies for five whole seasons. Simply put, they just couldn’t get rid of him.
After learning that the 30-year-old is currently plying his trade with Thai outfit Muangthong United, they of Robbie Fowler fame, you’d be tempted to believe Xisco is merely whiling away the final years of a nomadic career.
And, in fairness, you probably wouldn’t be too far from the truth. Though it’s not much of a stretch to suggest that he has achieved far more in just a few months in the South East Asia than he managed during half a decade on Tyneside.
Netting the winner in Tuesday’s Asian Champions League clash against Japanese giants Kashima Antlers, Xisco has scribed his name into footballing folklore in that part of the world. To call Muangthong’s triumph an underdog tale would be something of an understatement.
He missed a number of clear chances of course but, with the time ticking over the 90 minute mark, the Spaniard popped up to coolly slot home the winner. David, or rather Xisco, had just defeated a team chock full of Goliaths to secure one of the greatest shocks in the history of the Asian Champions League.
'It's an amazing feeling to win a game in the Asian Champions League," Xisco told ESPN. "I'm very proud to be the man who scored the winning goal, and to make a little bit of history with this amazing club."
Xisco may forever remain a cautionary tale on Tyneside but, whatever happens, he’ll never have to buy his own drinks in Thailand.