Sunny Kathleen Franco (born 10 June 1997) is an Australian women's soccer player who has played for the Newcastle Jets and the Brisbane Roar in the Australian W-League. She is currently signed with Souths United FC of the Queensland National Premier Leagues.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sunny Kathleen Franco | ||
| Date of birth | June 10, 1997[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Australia | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Souths United FC | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2015 | Brisbane Roar | 13 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | Sydney FC | 12 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Brisbane Roar | 6 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 2 | (0) |
| 2017–2020 | Manly United | ||
| 2020–2021 | Newcastle Jets | 12 | (2) |
| 2021 | Brisbane Roar | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Newcastle Jets | 6 | (1) |
| 2022-2023 | NWS Spirit | 9 | (3) |
| 2023- | Souths United FC | 21 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| Australia U-17 | 8 | (9) | |
| 2014– | Australia U-19 | 3 | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 June 2024 | |||
Club career
editQueensland is known to have been producing players of calibre for the Matildas, from Sue Monteath to former captain, Clare Polkinghorne. Sunny Franco has retained this legacy as Matildas captain for the U17 contingent.[2][3]
Whilst the team is gearing up for the AFC U16s Girls Championships, Franco is headed for doubling as a World Cup qualifier and a major contender to represent Australia. The sixteen year player has fortified her position within the past year by producing remarkable goal scores in the Championship qualifiers last November in Manila.[2]
Fast and quick to react, her yielding skill has been a result of her hard work training with a coach and undergoing a vigorous sprint-training. An aggressive midfielder reminding one of fellow Queenslander Tameka Butt, she is noted for her "pace, confidence on the ball, vision, technical ability, physicality and an eye for goal".[2]
Brisbane Roar
editIn October 2014 she scored her first W-League goal against Melbourne.[4] A month later she scored six goals in the AFC U-19 qualifier for Australia.[5]
In October 2016, Franco returned to Brisbane Roar.[6]
Manly United
editFranco joined Manly United in April 2017.[7]
Western Sydney Wanderers
editFranco joined Western Sydney Wanderers ahead of the 2017–18 season.[8]
Newcastle Jets
editFranco returned to the W-League in December 2020, joining Newcastle Jets[9]
Return to Brisbane Roar
editIn March 2021, following the conclusion of the 2020–21 W-League regular season, Franco joined Brisbane Roar ahead of the finals series.[10]
Return to Newcastle Jets
editFollowing the finals series of the 2020–21 W-League season, Franco returned Newcastle Jets, signing with them for the 2021–22 W-League season.[11]
NWS Spirit
editFranco played the 2022 season with the NWS Spirit in the NSW NPLW.[12]
Souths United
editAs of 2024, Franco plays for Souths United in the Queensland NPLW competition[12]
References
edit- ^ "Brisbane Roar [Women] » Players from A-Z". Worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ a b c "Sunny days ahead for Franco". thewomensgame.com. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ "Sunny shines as Australia seals qualification". the-afc.com. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ "W-League Rd 6 - Brisbane v Melbourne | Getty Images". Gettyimages.de. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "Sunny Franco stars as Australia accounts for Singapore 19-0 – The Women's Game". Thewomensgame.com. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "Brisbane Roar release squad members for Season 9". The Women's Game. 21 October 2016.
- ^ Raward, Charlie (27 April 2017). "Franco in the mood to entertain this season". Manly United.
- ^ Odong, Ann (8 September 2017). "Western Sydney Wanderers' Season 10 squad takes shape". The Women's Game. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017.
- ^ Newcastle Jets [@NewcastleJetsFC] (18 December 2020). "Both Chloe O'Brien and Sunny Franco come to the Hunter with plenty of W-League experience and will be vital cogs in the Jets 2020/21 campaign" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Franco returns to Roar for Westfield W-League Finals Series". Brisbane Roar. 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Sunny Franco returns to Jets". Newcastle Jets. 20 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Australia - S. Franco - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". au.soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
External links
edit- Sunny Franco at Soccerway
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