Dutch-Canadian soccer player
Frank Sturing (born 29 May 1997) is a professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for York United FC in the Canadian Premier League . Born in the Netherlands, he represents Canada at international level.
Early life
Sturing began playing youth soccer in the Netherlands at age five with Oranje Blauw.[ 1] He joined the youth academy of NEC at age 10.[ 2]
Club career
On 2 April 2017, Sturing made his senior debut for his debut for NEC in the Dutch Eredivisie against Vitesse .[ 3] [ 4] In February 2018, he signed an extension until June 2020 with an option for an additional year.[ 5] [ 6] At the end of the 2019-20 season, he departed the club, upon the expiry of his contract, after 13 years with the club.[ 7] [ 8]
In October 2020, Sturing joined Eerste Divisie side FC Den Bosch on an amateur basis.[ 9] [ 10]
In September 2021, Sturing signed with Austrian 2. Liga side SV Horn .[ 11] [ 12] In April 2022, he extended his contract for an additional season.[ 13] He departed the club in June 2023.[ 14]
In January 2024, he signed with Canadian Premier League club York United FC .[ 15] [ 16] Cavalry FC and Pacific FC had also been interested in signing him.[ 17] He made his debut for York on April 26 against Vancouver FC .[ 18]
International career
Sturing was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Canadian father.[ 1]
He played at the youth international level with the Netherlands U18 , Netherlands U19 , and Netherlands U20 teams.[ 19] [ 20]
In 2019, Sturing reached out to the Canadian Soccer Association to let them know he was eligible and interested in representing Canada at international level.[ 21] In 2020, Sturing obtained his Canadian passport with the goal of representing Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games,[ 22] [ 23] despite never having been to Canada before.[ 24] In March 2020, he was named to the provisional squad for the Canada U23 for their Olympic qualification matches.[ 25] [ 26] However, the 2020 qualifiers were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 27] In January 2021, he was called up to a training camp with the Canada senior team for the first time.[ 28] [ 29] In March 2021, he was originally called up to the Canada U23 for their postponed Olympic qualifies, but was then named to the Canada senior team roster for World Cup qualifiers.[ 30] On March 29, 2021, he made his senior international debut and scored his first goal in an 11-0 victory over the Cayman Islands in a 2022 World Cup qualification match.[ 31] He made a second appearance against Aruba , but has not appeared since.[ 32]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played October 27, 2024 [ 33]
^ Appearance in the Promotion playoffs
^ Appearance in the Canadian Premier League playoffs
International
As of match played June 5, 2021
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
Canada
2021
2
1
Total
2
1
International goals
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
References
^ a b Frank Sturing at the Canadian Soccer Association
^ Sommerdijk, Jan (30 May 2021). "Een Nijmegenaar die voetbalt voor Canada: het verhaal van Frank Sturing" [A Nijmegen resident who plays football for Canada: the story of Frank Sturing]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch).
^ "Frank Sturing: Nijmeegs jeugdproduct in de defensie van N.E.C." [Frank Sturing: Nijmegen youth product in NEC's defense]. NEC Nijmegen (in Dutch). 11 December 2019.
^ "Oostenrijks avontuur voor Canadees international Frank Sturing uit Nijmegen" [Austrian adventure for Canadian international Frank Sturing from Nijmegen]. Headliner (in Dutch). 2 September 2021.
^ "Frank Sturing N.E.C.'er tot 2020" [Frank Sturing NEC player until 2020]. NEC Nijmegen (in Dutch). 28 February 2020.
^ "NEC-verdediger Sturing verlengt contract" [NEC defender Sturing extends contract]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). 6 February 2018.
^ "Abrupt einde voor spelers met aflopend contract" [Abrupt end for players with expiring contracts]. Forza NEC (in Dutch). 29 May 2020.
^ van den Broek, Danny (5 December 2019). "Dit seizoen moet het gebeuren voor Frank Sturing" [This season it has to happen for Frank Sturing]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
^ van Beek, Yvonne (5 October 2020). "Verdediger Sturing sluit op amateurbasis aan bij FC Den Bosch" [Defender Sturing joins FC Den Bosch on an amateur basis]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
^ "Frank Sturing versterkt FC Den Bosch" [Frank Sturing strengthens FC Den Bosch]. Den Bosch Nieuws (in Dutch). 5 October 2020.
^ "Herzlich Willkommen Frank Sturing und Djibril Fandje Toure!" [Welcome Frank Sturing and Djibril Fandje Toure!]. SV Horn (in German). 1 September 2021.
^ Pichel, Dominique (2 September 2021). "Oostenrijks avontuur voor voormalig FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing" [Austrian adventure for former FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
^ "Sturing bleibt im Waldviertel" [Sturing stays in the Waldviertel]. SV Horn (in German). 25 April 2022.
^ Hewitt, Thomas (30 January 2024). "York United sign Canadian international centre-back Frank Sturing in surprise CPL move" . Canadian Soccer Daily .
^ "York United FC announce signing of Canadian defender Frank Sturing" . York United FC . 30 January 2024.
^ Pichel, Dominique (31 January 2024). "Wens in vervulling voor Nijmeegse oud-NEC'er Frank Sturing: voetballen in Canada" [Wish come true for former NEC player Frank Sturing from Nijmegen: playing football in Canada]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
^ Jacques, John (4 January 2024). "Multiple CPL Sides In Hunt For Frank Sturing" . Northern Tribune .
^ Tierney, Mitchell (26 April 2024). "Match Analysis: Second half masterclass powers York United past Vancouver FC" . Canadian Premier League .
^ Hessing, David (2 February 2021). "Wordt deze Nijmeegse speler van FC Den Bosch international voor Canada?" [Will this Nijmegen player from FC Den Bosch become an international for Canada?]. De Stentor (in Dutch).
^ Janssen, Sander. "Frank Sturing op avontuur met Canada: 'Oranje zit er niet meer in' " [Frank Sturing on an adventure with Canada: 'Orange is no longer an option']. Voetbal International (in Dutch).
^ Janssen, Joram (6 March 2020). "Sturing gaat vol voor interlandcarrière met Canada" [Sturing goes all out for international career with Canada]. Forza NEC (in Dutch).
^ van Mil, Lars (30 May 2020). "NEC'er Sturing kan naar Spelen in Tokio: "Ik wil daar echt bij zijn" " [NEC player Sturing can go to the Games in Tokyo: "I really want to be there"]. FC Update (in Dutch).
^ Pichel, Dominique (1 August 2020). "NEC'er Sturing wacht op club én interlanddebuut bij Canada" [NEC'er Sturing awaits club and international debut with Canada]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
^ Pichel, Dominique (16 April 2021). "Frank Sturing debuteerde al voor Canada maar was er nog nooit: 'Het volkslied heb ik helemaal meegezongen' " [Frank Sturing made his debut for Canada but had never been there before: 'I sang the entire national anthem']. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
^ "NEC'er Sturing wil naar Olympische Spelen met Canada" [NEC'er Sturing wants to go to the Olympic Games with Canada]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). 1 March 2020.
^ van den Broek, Danny (6 March 2020). " 'Mister' Sturing van NEC wil met Canada naar de Olympische Spelen in Tokio" ['Mister' Sturing from NEC wants to go to the Olympic Games in Tokyo with Canada]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
^ Pichel, Dominique (10 December 2020). "Nijmegenaar Frank Sturing wil via Den Bosch met Canada naar Tokio" [Nijmegen resident Frank Sturing wants to travel to Tokyo with Canada via Den Bosch]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
^ Davidson, Neil (1 February 2021). "Dutch-born defender Frank Sturing enjoys first taste of life with Canada soccer team" . The Globe & Mail .
^ Martens, Jan (24 December 2020). "Canadese voetbaltoekomst gloort voor FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing" [Canadian soccer future bright for FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
^ Pichel, Dominique (23 March 2021). "FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing zit plots bij de nationale ploeg van Canada" [FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing suddenly joins the Canadian national team]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
^ Pichel, Dominique (30 March 2021). "Droomdebuut voor Den Bosch-speler Frank Sturing in Canadees voetbalelftal" [Dream debut for Den Bosch player Frank Sturing in Canadian national football team]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
^ Jacques, John (17 January 2024). "Veth: Nine Stripes Set To Sign Sturing" . Northern Tribune .
^ Frank Sturing at Soccerway
External links