Kobe Franklin
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Kobe Lloyd Franklin | ||
Date of birth | May 10, 2003 | ||
Place of birth |
Toronto, Ontario , Canada | ||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Toronto FC | ||
Number | 19 | ||
Youth career | |||
Beach Community Soccer | |||
Power Soccer | |||
Evanston SC | |||
2012–2016 | Chicago Fire FC | ||
2017–2021 |
Toronto FC | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018 |
Toronto FC III | 1 | (1) |
2021–2022 | Toronto FC II | 44 | (4) |
2022 | → Toronto FC (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2023– | Toronto FC | 35 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2019 | Canada U17 | 2 | (0) |
2022– | Canada U20 | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 27, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 26, 2022 |
Kobe Lloyd Franklin (born May 10, 2003) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a defender for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.
Early life
Born in Toronto, Franklin began playing soccer at age four with Beach Community Soccer.[1][2] Shortly after he began to play with Power Soccer Academy.[3] When he was 9, his family moved to Chicago, where he began playing with Evanston SC before quickly joining the academy of Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.[3] He later returned to Toronto, joining the Toronto FC Academy in February 2017.[4]
Club career
He made his senior debut playing for the Senior Academy team,
On May 13, 2021, he signed his first professional contract with
On April 1, 2022, he joined the first team, Toronto FC on a short-term four-day loan.[12] He signed additional four day loans on April 23, May 4, and May 7.[13][14][15] He made his Major League Soccer debut on May 4, 2022, as a second half substitute against FC Cincinnati.[16] In February 2023, he signed a two-year homegrown player contract with two option years with Toronto FC.[17][18] After a few substitute appearances, Franklin made his first start on April 29, 2023 against New York City FC.[19][20]
International career
Franklin represented the Canada U17 team at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[21] In June 2022, he was named to the Canadian U-20 team for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[22]
Career statistics
- As of match played April 27, 2024[23]
Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Toronto FC III
|
2018[24] | League1 Ontario | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||
Toronto FC II | 2021 | USL League One | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 2 | ||||
2022 | MLS Next Pro | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 2 | ||||
Total | 44 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
Toronto FC (loan) | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
Toronto FC | 2023 | 27 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 29 | 0 | |||
2024 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |||
Total | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
Career total | 81 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 86 | 5 |
- ^ Appearance in Leagues Cup
References
- ^ Kobe Franklin at the Canadian Soccer Association
- ^ Vigliano, Ricardo (October 9, 2019). "Kobe Franklin, who started his soccer career in the Beach, set to suit up for Canada at FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil". Beach Metro Community News.
- ^ a b Franklin, Kobe. "My Story". Kobe Franklin.
- ^ a b "Toronto FC II Sign Kobe Franklin". Toronto FC. May 13, 2021.
- ^ Whyte, Kacian (August 20, 2018). "TFC III Roll Over OSU 4-0 As Franklin Makes History". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "North Texas SC Falls 2-1 Away to Toronto FC II". FC Dallas. May 22, 2021.
- ^ Steiner, Ben (August 19, 2021). "A Resilient Group: TFC II level twice to claim a point in Wisconsin". Waking the Red.
- ^ Schnittker, Nicholas (October 1, 2021). "Trio of rapid second-half goals sinks North Carolina FC in Toronto". Technician.
- ^ "Franklin racks up two nominations for USL League One Awards". Toronto FC. November 9, 2021.
- ^ Molinaro, John (November 29, 2023). "Kobe Franklin a rare success story in TFC's disastrous season". TFC Republic.
- ^ Molinaro, John (March 10, 2023). "TFC's Kobe Franklin: 'Never any doubts in my mind I could play at this level so soon'". TFC Republic.
- ^ "Toronto FC sign defender Kobe Franklin to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. April 1, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto FC sign Antonoglou and Franklin to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. April 23, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto FC sign Antonoglou, Franklin, Rothrock and Yeates to short-term agreements". Toronto FC. May 4, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto adds Antonoglou, Franklin, Rothrock and Yeates to weekend roster". Toronto FC. May 7, 2022.
- ^ "Depleted Toronto FC concede early, drop 3rd straight in shutout loss to Cincinnati FC". CBC Sports. May 4, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto FC Sign Homegrown Defender Kobe Franklin". Toronto FC. February 24, 2023.
- ^ Molinaro, John (February 24, 2023). "Transaction tracker: TFC adds defender Kobe Franklin to roster". TFC Republic.
- ^ Molinaro, John (May 3, 2023). "Kobe Franklin rose to the occasion in his first start for TFC". TFC Republic.
- ^ Molinaro, John (September 13, 2023). "TFC's Kobe Franklin continues to come of age in his rookie year". TFC Republic.
- ^ Molinaro, John (October 25, 2019). "What you need to know: Canada at the U-17 FIFA World Cup". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ "Canada announces squad for Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship". Toronto FC. June 10, 2022.
- ^ Kobe Franklin at Soccerway
- ^ "Kobe Franklin 2018 Stats". League1 Ontario.