Christiano François

Christiano François (born July 17, 1993) is a Haitian professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Rio Grande Valley FC in the USL Championship and for the Haiti national team.

Christiano François
François with Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2018
Personal information
Full name Christiano François
Date of birth (1993-07-17) July 17, 1993
Place of birth Cabaret, Haiti
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger, Forward
Team information
Current team
 Rio Grande Valley FC
Number 23
Youth career
2010–2011 Players Development Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Maryland Terrapins 24 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Central Jersey Spartans 2 (0)
2013 Baltimore Bohemians 2 (0)
2014 D.C. United 0 (0)
2014 → Richmond Kickers (loan) 10 (1)
2014 Ironbound Soul SC 10 (4)
2015 Vila Real 14 (1)
2015–2016 Felgueiras 1932 26 (3)
2016 FC Motown
2017 Rochester Rhinos 14 (1)
2018 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 33 (4)
2019 Ottawa Fury 29 (8)
2020 Reno 1868 16 (6)
2021 Miami FC 31 (11)
2022 El Paso Locomotive 26 (1)
2023– Rio Grande Valley FC 33 (3)
International career‡
2015 Haiti U23 3 (0)
2019– Haiti 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:45, 16 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 September 2019

Career

Early career

François came to the United States following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, playing prep soccer for two years at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey.[1] He enrolled in the University of Maryland's Maryland English Institute and formed a close bond with fellow Haitian Widner Saint-Cyr. Following a freshman season where he scored 5 goals in 24 games for the Terrapins, François was forced to redshirt his sophomore year due to academic reasons.[2]

D.C. United

After two years at Maryland, François decided to leave college early and sign a contract with Major League Soccer. He was claimed by D.C. United via the Waiver Draft on January 24, 2014.[3] On March 25, François was loaned to USL Pro affiliate club Richmond Kickers[4] He made his professional debut on April 5 in a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.[5]

On August 8, 2014; he was recalled from Richmond and released by D.C. United.[6]

On January 21, 2015 he signed with SC Vila Real as a forward and right-wing midfielder.[7]

In August 2015 he signed with Felgueiras 1932.

FC Motown

During 2016, François made appearances with New Jersey amateur side FC Motown.[8][9]

Rochester Rhinos

On March 21, 2017, he signed with USL side Rochester Rhinos.[10]

Ottawa Fury

Following a season with Pittsburgh Riverhounds, François signed with Ottawa Fury FC of the USL Championship on December 3, 2018.[11]

Miami FC

On January 18, 2021, François signed with USL Championship side Miami FC.[12]

El Paso Locomotive FC

François joined El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship's Western Conference on 8 February 2022.[13] He made 26 league appearances, scoring one goal and assisting another, before departing the club following the expiry of his contract.[14]

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros

On January 27, 2023, François signed with Rio Grande Valley FC.[15]

International career

He made his debut for Haiti national football team on 7 September 2019 in a CONCACAF Nations League game against Curaçao, he replaced Derrick Etienne in the 78th minute.[16]

References
  1. "Christiano Francois has gone from earthquake-ravaged Haiti to top-ranked Maryland soccer". The Washington Post. October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  2. "Maryland Terrapins lose two key players". The Washington Post. August 16, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  3. "Christiano Francois claimed in a Waiver Draft". DCunited.com. D.C. United. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. "UNITED SENDS FOUR TO RICHMOND". Richmond Kickers. 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  5. "Kickers Claim Win Against Riverhounds". USLsoccer.com. United Soccer Leagues. 5 April 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  6. Goff, Steven. "D.C. United acquires David Estrada from Seattle, loses Michael Seaton for month". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  7. "SC Vila Real contrata dois haitianos | Desportivo Transmontano". Archived from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  8. USLSoccer com Staff (16 May 2017). "Rhinos' Francois Set for Familiar Foe". USL Championship. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. "Welcome to NPSL: FC Motown". FC Motown. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  10. USLSoccer.com Staff (21 March 2017). "Rhinos Add Felix, Francois to Squad".
  11. Staff, uslchampionship.com (3 December 2018). "Fury FC Acquires François from Hounds".
  12. Communications, Miami FC (18 January 2021). "Dangerous Winger Christiano François Signs with Miami FC". Miami FC. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  13. "Locomotive FC Adds Haitian International Christiano Francois". USLChampionship.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  14. "John-Brown and Francois Not Returning For 2023 Season". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  15. "Toros sign Haitian international Christiano François". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  16. "Curaçao v Haiti game report". CONCACAF. 7 September 2019.
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