Alan Franco (footballer, born 1996)

Alan Javier Franco (born 11 October 1996) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United and the Argentina national team.

Alan Franco
Personal information
Full name Alan Javier Franco
Date of birth (1996-10-11) 11 October 1996
Place of birth Avellaneda, Argentina
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Atlanta United
Number 6
Youth career
2011–2014 San Telmo
2015–2016 Independiente
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Independiente 83 (0)
2021– Atlanta United 31 (0)
National team
2018– Argentina 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:21, 1 May 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Independiente

Born in Avellaneda, Franco joined Independiente in January 2015, from San Telmo.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] He scored his first professional goal on 12 July, netting the first in a 4–2 Copa Sudamericana home defeat of Deportes Iquique.[4]

Franco became a starter under Ariel Holan during the 2017 Copa Sudamericana, featuring in both legs of the Final against Flamengo.[5]

Atlanta United

On 8 April 2021, Franco joined Major League Soccer side Atlanta United on a five-year contract as a designated player.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

Honours

Independiente

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Alan Franco firmó su primer contrato" [Alan Franco signed his first contract] (in Spanish). De la Cuña al Infierno. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  3. "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.
  4. "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.
  5. "Independiente win Copa Sudamericana after draw in Rio". Reuters]. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  6. "Atlanta United signs Argentina defender Alan Franco as designated player". ESPN. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. "Atlanta United 0–3 Philadelphia Union". Soccerway.
  8. "Argentina vs. Guatemala - 8 September 2018 - Soccerway".
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