Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the acquisition of midfielder Floyd Franks to the club’s Major League Soccer roster, pending receipt of his international transfer certificate. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“I’m very pleased to add Floyd to the team,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie. “He’s different than a lot of players that we have. He brings aggressiveness and he can play a number of different positions. He’ll add great depth to the squad.”
Franks, 27, played the last two seasons under Rennie at North American Soccer League (NASL) club Carolina RailHawks. Last season, the native of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, helped lead the RailHawks to the NASL regular season title after registering four assists in 25 starts for the North Carolina-based outfit. During his first season with Carolina in 2010, Franks scored two goals and added three assists in 33 appearances, as the RailHawks claimed the NASL Conference title in the United States Soccer Federation Division-2 Professional League.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity to join Whitecaps FC,” said Franks. “The Whitecaps are a great organization and one of the longest standing clubs in North America, and Martin is a great coach, who I know and respect. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Prior to his time with Carolina, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound midfielder spent a season-and-a-half with Danish club Blokhus FC from 2008 to 2009. During his time with Blokhus, Franks scored four goals and added 13 assists.
Originally drafted 10th overall in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft by Chicago Fire, Franks scored his first professional goal in a 3-0 away win over Toronto FC on July 29, 2007. Following two seasons with the Fire, Franks first played for Rennie at Cleveland City Stars in 2008. He scored two goals and added one assist in 17 appearances for the Ohio club, as Cleveland claimed the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Second Division championship title that season.
Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Franks played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 2002 to 2005. He finished his 49ers career with 18 goals and 15 assists in 71 appearances. The midfielder was a two-time All-Conference USA selection and an All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection during his four years at UNC Charlotte.
Floyd Franks
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
Born: April 5, 1984, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hometown: Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: Carolina RailHawks (North American Soccer League)
How Acquired: Signed on March 5, 2012
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