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Franco Escobar

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Franco Escobar
Escobar in 2018
Personal information
Full name Franco Nicolás Escobar
Date of birth (1995-02-21) 21 February 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
Houston Dynamo
Number 2
Youth career
Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Newell's Old Boys 34 (0)
2018–2021 Atlanta United 63 (2)
2019 Atlanta United 2 1 (0)
2021Newell's Old Boys (loan) 7 (0)
2022 Los Angeles FC 19 (1)
2023– Houston Dynamo 52 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2024

Franco Nicolás Escobar (born 21 February 1995) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo.

Club career

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Newell's Old Boys

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Escobar began his career in the Newell's Old Boys academy. He made his first team debut on 7 June 2015, getting the start against Boca Juniors in a 4–0 loss.[2] He made 15 appearances during his debut season as Newell's finished 16th in the table.[3] Escobar made 6 appearances during the 2016 season and 12 in the 2016–17 season, playing as both a rightback and a centerback. He made 2 appearance during the 2017–18 season prior to being sold.[3]

Atlanta United

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On 8 December 2017 Escobar signed with MLS side Atlanta United.[4] On 3 March 2018 he made his debut for Atlanta, playing 90 minutes in a 4–0 loss to the Houston Dynamo in the opening match of the season.[5] He suffered a concussion on 17 March in a 4–1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps that would keep him out for the next 4 games.[6][5] On 5 May, late in a 2–1 against the Chicago Fire, Escobar collided with Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan and injured his chest.[7] Escobar would miss the next 3 matches. He scored his first goal for Atlanta on 21 October, helping Atlanta to a 2–1 win over Chicago.[5] Escobar finished the regular season with 22 appearances and 1 goal as Atlanta finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference.[5][8] During Atlanta's playoff run, Escobar played every minute of the 5 games, scored 2 goals, and had an assist, including one in the final where Atlanta beat the Portland Timbers 2–0.[8][9] He was named to the MLS Cup Playoffs Best XI.[10]

Franco Escobar playing for Atlanta United on June 2, 2018

On 16 January 2019, on the first day of preseason, Escobar suffered a fractured right clavicle.[11] The injury forced him to miss all of Atlanta's CONCACAF Champions League matches as well as the first 3 games of the MLS season. After making an appearance for Atlanta United 2 to regain fitness, he made his first MLS match of the season in a 2–0 loss to the Columbus Crew on 30 March.[12] Escobar ended the regular season with 1 goal and 3 assists in 25 appearances, helping Atlanta finish 2nd in the East.[13][14] In the opening round of the playoffs, Escobar scored the lone goal to give Atlanta a 1–0 win over the New England Revolution.[12] He played every minute of Atlanta's 3 playoff games, with the run ending in the Conference Finals following a 2–0 loss to Toronto FC.[12] In the 2019 Campeones Cup, Atlanta beat Club América 3–2, but Escobar was forced out of the game due to injury.[15]

In a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Escobar played in 16 of the 23 matches and had 2 assists.[13] Atlanta finished the season 12th in the conference, missing the playoffs for the first time in team history.[16] In CCL play, Escobar made 3 appearances as Atlanta fell to Club América in the quarterfinals 3–1 on aggregate.[2]

Loan to Newell's Old Boys

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On 9 February 2021, Escobar returned to Newell's Old Boys on a loan deal until 1 January 2022.[17] On 16 February, Escobar broke his foot (fifth metatarsal) in training.[18][19] He made his first appearance of the loan on 17 July, playing 58 minutes in a 3–2 win over Talleres de Córdoba.[20] In Newell's next match, Escobar had to be subbed off due to pain in his foot.[21] He would miss the next 18 matches.[20] He recovered from his injury to play in the final 5 games the year, ending the season with 7 appearances.[20]

Los Angeles FC

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On 12 December 2021, Atlanta traded Escobar to Los Angeles FC in exchange for $600,000 in General Allocation Money.[22] He made his LAFC debut on 26 February, playing the full match in a 3–0 win over the Colorado Rapids in the opening game of the season.[23] On 6 March, LAFC drew 1–1 with the Portland Timbers, Escobar was forced off 13 minutes into the game with a calf injury that would keep him out for 6 games.[23][24] He scored his first goal for LAFC on 7 May, his second game back from the injury, to give LAFC a 2–2 draw with the Philadelphia Union.[23] Escobar missed another 4 MLS games plus an Open Cup game in May due to his calf.[23][25] He also missed 3 games due to a concussion at the end of the season.[26] Escobar ended the season with 1 goal and 1 assist in 19 regular season appearances, helping LAFC win the Supporters' Shield.[23] He made just one appearance in the playoffs, coming on as a late sub in a 3–0 win over Austin FC in the conference final.[23] LAFC would go onto win MLS Cup 2022 3–0 on penalties against Philadelphia.[26]

Escobar's contract expired following the 2022 season.[27]

Houston Dynamo

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On 12 January 2023, Escobar signed with the Houston Dynamo.[28]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 15 February 2023[29][30][13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Newell's Old Boys 2015 Primera División 15 0 0 0 15 0
2016 6 0 0 0 6 0
2016–17 12 0 0 0 12 0
2017–18 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Total 34 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 0
Atlanta United 2018 Major League Soccer 22 1 1 0 5 2 28 3
2019 25 1 5 0 3 1 0 0 1[c] 0 34 2
2020 16[d] 0 3[e] 0 19 0
Total 63 2 6 0 8 3 3 0 1 0 81 5
Atlanta United 2 (loan) 2019 USL Championship 1 0 1 0
Newell's Old Boys (loan) 2021 Primera División 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
LAFC 2022 Major League Soccer 19 1 2 0 1 0 22 1
Houston Dynamo 2023 Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 124 3 9 0 9 3 3 0 1 0 146 6
  1. ^ Includes Copa Argentina and U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^ Includes MLS Cup Playoffs and Copa de la Liga Profesional
  3. ^ Appearances in Campeones Cup
  4. ^ Includes three appearances in the MLS is Back Tournament group stage
  5. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League

Honours

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Atlanta United

Los Angeles FC

Houston Dynamo

Personal life

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Escobar obtained a green card in 2020, classifying him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Franco Escobar". Los Angeles FC. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Argentina - F. Escobar - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Franco Escobar Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more". FBref.com. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Atlanta United acquires Franco Escobar from Newell's Old Boys". 8 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d "Franco Escobar 2018 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  6. ^ Usry, Rob (21 March 2018). "Franco Escobar suffers concussion, return date unknown". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  7. ^ Kruskic, Haris (18 May 2018). "Injury Report: Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b "2018 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  9. ^ Roberson, Doug (8 December 2018). "MLS Cup champs: Atlanta United defeats Portland". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  10. ^ Boehm, Charles (11 December 2018). "Team of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs: Who made the postseason Best XI?". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Franco Escobar to miss 6-8 weeks with fractured clavicle". Atlanta United. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Franco Escobar 2019 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  13. ^ a b c "Franco Escobar". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  14. ^ "2019 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  15. ^ Usry, Rob (15 August 2019). "Some thoughts on Atlanta United lifting a second trophy in nine months". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  16. ^ "2020 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Franco Escobar loaned to Newell's Old Boys in Argentina". Atlanta United. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Atlanta United loanee Franco Escobar breaks bone in foot after Newell's return". Major League Soccer. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  19. ^ newells_admin (16 February 2021). "Franco Escobar injured: suffers broken metatarsal in training". newellscarajo.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  20. ^ a b c "Franco Escobar 2021 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  21. ^ Boys, Club Atlético Newell's Old. "Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys". Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  22. ^ "LAFC Acquires Defender Franco Escobar From Atlanta United". LAFC. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Franco Escobar 2022 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Player Availability Report | LAFC at Orlando City 4/2/22". LAFC. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Player Availability Report | LAFC at Colorado Rapids 5/14/22". LAFC. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  26. ^ a b Rodriguez, Alicia (13 December 2022). "LAFC 2022 Player Postmortem: Franco Escobar". Angels on Parade. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  27. ^ "LAFC Announces Roster Moves For 2023 Season". LAFC. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Official: Houston Dynamo sign defender Franco Escobar in free agency". Major League Soccer. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  29. ^ Franco Escobar at Soccerway. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  30. ^ "Franco Escobar Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more". FBref.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Ezequiel Barco, Franco Escobar, Eric Remedi become U.S. permanent residents, no longer occupy international roster spots". Atlanta United. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
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