Alan Franco (footballer, born 1996)

Alan Franco
Personal information
Full name Alan Javier Franco
Date of birth (1996-10-11) 11 October 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Avellaneda, Argentina
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 São Paulo
Number 28
Youth career
2011–2014 San Telmo
2015–2016 Independiente
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Independiente 83 (0)
2021–2023 Atlanta United 56 (1)
2023– São Paulo 21 (2)
International career
2018 Argentina 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:05, 28 September 2023 (UTC)

Alan Javier Franco (born 11 October 1996) is an Argentinian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Brazilian club São Paulo.

Club career

Independiente

Born in Avellaneda, Franco joined Independiente in January 2015, from San Telmo.[2] On 20 December 2016, he signed his first professional contract with the club, agreeing to a deal until 2020, and was promoted to the main squad shortly after.[3]

Franco made his first team – and Primera División – debut on 18 March 2017, starting in a 0–0 home draw against San Martín de San Juan.[4] He scored his first professional goal on 12 July, netting the first in a 4–2 Copa Sudamericana home defeat of Deportes Iquique.[5]

Franco became a starter under Ariel Holan during the 2017 Copa Sudamericana, featuring in both legs of the Final against Flamengo.[6]

Atlanta United

On 8 April 2021, Franco joined Major League Soccer side Atlanta United on a five-year contract as a designated player.[7] He made his debut for the club on 27 April 2021 in the CONCACAF Champions League against the Philadelphia Union, the club losing 3–0.[8]

São Paulo

On 5 January 2023, Franco joined Brazilian side São Paulo on a permanent deal, signing a three-year contract, with an option for another year.[9]

International career

Franco made his international debut for Argentina on September 8, 2018, in a 3-0 international friendly against the Guatemala national football team.[10]

Honours

Independiente

São Paulo

References

  1. ^ "Alan Franco". Atlanta United FC. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Inicio para la Reserva" [Start for the reserve team] (in Spanish). La Voz del Diablo. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Alan Franco firmó su primer contrato" [Alan Franco signed his first contract] (in Spanish). De la Cuña al Infierno. 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Independiente tuvo un tiempo malo y otro bueno en el 0–0 con San Martín" [Independiente had a bad and a good half in the 0–0 with San Martín] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Independiente derrotó a Iquique en la Copa Sudamericana" [Independiente defeated Iquique in the Copa Sudamericana] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Independiente win Copa Sudamericana after draw in Rio". Reuters]. 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Atlanta United signs Argentina defender Alan Franco as designated player". ESPN. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Atlanta United 0–3 Philadelphia Union". Soccerway.
  9. ^ "Alan Franco reforça o Tricolor". São Paulo FC (in Brazilian Portuguese). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Argentina vs. Guatemala - 8 September 2018 - Soccerway".