Francesc “Kiku” Prats played football for UE Figueres and Girona FC during the 1990s because he possessed exceptional talent, not because he harbored any genuine passion for the sport, Diari de Girona reported.
Early Talent and Childhood Schoolyard Matches
Long before reaching the senior ranks, Prats built a reputation in Figueres as a prodigious youth talent. Growing up attending La Salle, he routinely dominated schoolyard games alongside future Real Madrid player Álvaro Benito and Marc Oliva. Al pati, érem jo, en Marc Oliva i l’Álvaro contra cent nens. I sempre guanyàvem nosaltres setanta mil a zero,
Prats recalled of those matches. The two childhood friends later crossed paths unexpectedly at the under-14 Spanish Championship in Zaragoza, where Catalonia defeated Madrid 4-0 in the final.
Despite earning a call-up to the Catalan regional side and drawing praise from talent evaluators, Prats never viewed football as an overarching ambition. A childhood friend, Candi, frequently reminded him of his unusual relationship with the sport: Tu eres un desgraciat. Eres el millor que hem vist mai, però tu jugaves a futbol perquè eres bo, no pas perquè t’agradés.
Senior Breakthroughs and Clashes at Vilatenim
Prats entered the Figueres senior setup during a time when the club maintained a high-level professional structure in Segunda B. At age fifteen, after youth coordinator Pere Gratacós promoted him to the youth squad, technical secretary Pitxi Alonso noticed Prats scoring from the halfway line and invited him to train with the first team. Opportunities remained sparse, however, limited to a handful of substitute appearances and friendlies.
One of his most memorable outings came in June 1995 during a tribute match for Pitu Duran against FC Barcelona at Vilatenim. Entering as a second-half substitute, Prats quickly drew the attention of Barcelona’s seasoned defenders. Vaig entrar a la segona part i en la primera pilota que toco, faig una sotana a l’Stoitchkov… Ell es regira… i pam, cop de colze al llavis…
Prats recounted with a laugh. Moments later, a challenge from Miguel Ángel Nadal sent him airborne. He also scored a rare long-range left-footed strike against Andorra during his Segunda B stint.
Managerial Roadblocks and Transition to Law
Progression at Figueres stalled following the arrival of coach Xavi Agustí. Kiku, ets boníssim, però tenim un problema. Has estat el màxim golejador de la pretemporada i tot perfecte. Res a dir. Ara bé, ets jove i per mi els joves són inexperiència, errors i problemes. No jugaràs,
Agustí told him despite Prats leading the team in pre-season scoring. That friction prompted Pere Gratacós to bring him to CE Roses, where Prats helped the club achieve promotion to Primera Catalana.
As he heard older teammates discuss post-football careers in factories or supermarkets, Prats resolved to chart a different course. Jo no volia allò i vaig decidir estudiar,
he explained. Although he intended to quit football at 22 to study law in Barcelona, Gratacós persuaded him to join Girona FC in Primera Catalana. Prats spent a successful season and a half at Montilivi alongside veterans and rising prospects before brief stints at CE Palafrugell ended his playing career at age 25.
Return to Sailing and Real Estate Management
Upon stepping away from football, Prats returned to sailing, working as a youth coach in l’Estartit and guiding young sailors—including Dani Codina—to regional and national selections. Since 2013, he has served as the manager of the Engel & Völkers real estate agency in Roses, overseeing offices across Peralada, Cadaqués, and Figueres.
Worth a look
