| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Denzil Franco | ||
| Date of birth | 30 June 1985[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Saligao, Goa, India | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000ā2003 | Sesa FA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003ā2005 | Salgaocar | ||
| 2005ā2008 | Sporting Goa | ||
| 2008 | Salgaocar | ||
| 2008ā2010 | Mahindra United | ||
| 2010ā2014 | Churchill Brothers | ||
| 2014ā2015 | AtlĆ©tico de Kolkata | 10 | (0) |
| 2016 | Goa | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | Churchill Brothers | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | Bardez | ||
| National teamā” | |||
| 2010ā2014 | India | 12 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 December 2017 ā” National team caps and goals correct as of 11 December 2017 | |||
Denzil Franco (born 30 June 1985) is an Indian professional footballer who last played as a defender for Bardez in the Goa Professional League. Also an All India Trinamool Congress politician.
Franco currently works as a colour commentator and analyst, covering Indian football for Star Sports.[2]
Career[edit | edit source]
Early career[edit | edit source]
Born in Saligao, Goa, Franco began his footballing career through his father, Joe Franco, who was a footballer in Mumbai.[3] He soon joined the Sesa Football Academy and stayed there until he signed with Salgaocar of the National Football League.[3] He then joined Sporting Goa in 2005 and stayed with the club until 2008.[4] He rejoined Salgaocar temporarily for the Goa Professional League before signing with I-League side Mahindra United.[5][6]
Churchill Brothers[edit | edit source]
In November 2010, it was confirmed that Franco had signed with Churchill Brothers prior to the start of the 2010ā11 season and after Mahindra United disbanded.[7] While with Churchill Brothers, Franco helped the club win the I-League in 2012ā13.[8] He then soon after helped them complete the double when Churchill Brothers won the Federation Cup 2013ā14.[9]
Later career[edit | edit source]
On 22 July 2014, Franco was one of many players available for selection during the 2014 ISL Inaugural Domestic Draft. He was selected by AtlĆ©tico de Kolkata.[10] He made his debut for the Indian Super League side in the very first ISL match ever when AtlĆ©tico de Kolkata took on Mumbai City at the Salt Lake Stadium. He started and played the full match as Kolkata won 3ā0.[11] On 23 October 2014, in a match against Goa, Franco suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and had to be substituted off after 22 minutes. He proceeded to miss the rest of the season.[12]
After making ten appearances for Kolkata over two seasons, Franco moved back to his home state to play for Goa.[13] He appeared on the bench six times but didn't play at all during the season, mainly due to injury.[14] After his time with Goa, Franco returned to Churchill Brothers for the 2016ā17 I-League.[15] After the season concluded, Franco signed with Goa Professional League side FC Bardez.[16]
International[edit | edit source]
Franco made his international debut for India on 17 February 2010 in the AFC Challenge Cup against Kyrgyzstan.[17] He was part of the India squad which won the 2012 Nehru Cup and even played in the final against Cameroon A.[18]
International goals[edit | edit source]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 17 February 2010 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka |  Kyrgyzstan |
1ā2 | 1ā2 | 2010 AFC Challenge Cup |
Honours[edit | edit source]
Club[edit | edit source]
- Churchill Brothers[19]
- AtlƩtico de Kolkata[19]
International[edit | edit source]
- India[19]
References[edit | edit source]
- ā "Player Profiles". The All India Football Federation.
- ā "Franco Star Sports". Star Sports (Twitter).
- ā 3.0 3.1 "Thehardtackle Exclusive: "diego Simeone Is a Friend" ā Atletico De Kolkata's Denzil Franco". The Hard Tackle. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "Transfers 2006". IndianFootball.de.
- ā "Luck-shines-on-Sporting". Herald Goa. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "Mahindra United held to a 1ā1 draw by Churchill Brother SC". The All India Football Federation. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "I-League: Team Profile ā Churchill Brothers". Goal.com. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "Churchill Brothers are I-League champions 2012/13". Western India Football Association. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "Maiden Federation Cup Title for Churchill Brothers". The All India Football Federation. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "1. Atletico de Kolkata". Goal.com. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "Atletico de Kolkata 3ā0 Mumbai City". Soccerway.
- ā Mitra, Atanu. "Denzil Franco Ruled Out of Indian Super League". Goal.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "Denzil Franco joins FC Goa, goalkeeper Kattimani to follow". Times of India. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā Bera, Kaustav (16 December 2016). "Indian Super League 2016 Analysis: Fc Goa ā How the Gaurs Looked Wayward From the Very Beginning". Goal.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā Noronha, Anselm (6 January 2017). "I-League 2016/17 Team Profile: Under-prepared Churchill Brothers Could Pay the Price". Goal.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ā "Transfers 2017". KolkataFootball.
- ā "India 1ā2 Kyrgyzstan". Soccerway.
- ā "Cameroon A 2ā2 India". Soccerway.
- ā 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Denzil Franco". Soccerway.