Joe Franchino

Football player infobox| playername= Joe Franchino
fullname = Joe Franchino
nickname = "The Troll"


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|8|9
cityofbirth = Fontana, CA
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=5|in=9
currentclub = Los Angeles Galaxy
clubnumber = 16
position = defensive-midfielder
youthyears = 1994–1995 1996–1997
youthclubs = CS Fullerton Washington
years = 1998–2000 2000–2008 2008–
clubs = Los Angeles Galaxy New England Revolution Los Angeles Galaxy
caps(goals) = 049 0(0) 162 0(5) 012 0(0)
nationalyears = 2000
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 001 0(0)
pcupdate = 4 October 2008
ntupdate = 11 June 2006

Joe Franchino (born August 9, 1976 in Fontana, California) is an American soccer player, who currently plays defensive midfielder for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

Franchino began his college soccer career at Cal State-Fullerton, where he played in 1994 and 1995, and was named to Soccer America's All-Freshman team. After his sophomore year, Franchino transferred to the University of Washington, where he played in 1996 and 1997. Franchino attended and played soccer at Damien High School in La Verne, CA which was also once coached by Al Mistri, his soccer coach at Cal State Fullerton. In Joey's sophomore year, his high school soccer team reached the CIF finals.

Following his senior year, Franchino was selected 30th overall in the 1998 MLS College Draft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. After appearing in 16 games and recording 4 assists as a rookie, Franchino became a consistent starter for the Galaxy in 1999. He played in 25 games in 1999, 16 of them starts, and recorded 3 assists. In the middle of the 2000 season, however, the Galaxy were forced by the league to give Franchino to the New England Revolution, along with Clint Mathis to the MetroStars, in exchange for the marquee acquisition of Luis Hernández. While Hernandez was a colossal failure, Franchino became an important part of the Revolution's lineup. He started all 22 games he appeared in for New England in 2000, and played a semi-regular starting role for the next six years, during some of which he was team captain.

In March, 2007, the Revolution announced that Franchino was granted an indefinite leave of absence and would not discuss the reasons for the leave of absence. [ [http://www.soccernewengland.com/articles/view_article.php?id=2506 Soccer New England: Pros ] ] Franchino did return that season, but made only three brief substitute appearances before suffering an ankle injury and missing the rest of the season.

Franchino has only played one game with the U.S. national team, earning his lone cap in a friendly against Mexico in October, 2000.

On April 18, 2008, Franchino was acquired from the New England Revolution in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. [ [http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=31688&pcid=115 Revolution Trades Joe Franchino to L.A. Galaxy ] ]

ee also

* List of current MLS players

References