Martina Franko

Martina Marie Franko (née Holan; born January 13, 1976) is a Canadian soccer defender who played for Vancouver Whitecaps.

Martina Franko
Personal information
Full name Martina Marie Franko[1]
Birth name Martina Marie Holan[2]
Date of birth (1976-01-13) January 13, 1976
Place of birth Cincinnati, Ohio, United States[3]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver Whitecaps
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Colorado College Tigers (45)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002 California Storm 14 (15)
2003–2006 Surrey United 28 (40)
2003–2006 Vancouver Whitecaps 44 (30)
2009 Los Angeles Sol 10 (0)
2010– Vancouver Whitecaps 9 (1)
International career
2005–2009 Canada 55 (5)
Managerial career
2008– Quest University Canada
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Franko performs a versatile role, and can play as either a midfielder or forward. She has been a regular on Surrey United women's premier division team playing in the British Columbia-based Metro Women's Soccer League for the past two years. The MWSL plays in the winter so no major conflict with summer leagues such as W-League.[4]

In her club career, Franko has won two W-League titles with the Vancouver Whitecaps, in 2004 and 2006.[5] After one year for Los Angeles Sol in the Women's Professional Soccer League turned on April 1, 2010 back to her former club Vancouver Whitecaps.[6]

International career

Franko won her first cap for Canada in 2005, aged 29. She scored her first goal on her second cap, against Germany, in a 4–3 loss.[5] At the 2007 Pan American Games, she helped the team achieve a bronze medal in the soccer competition;[5] later that year, she played in her first major, FIFA affiliated tournament with the Canada team, the 2007 World Cup, where she played all three group stage matches, scoring one goal, before the team was knocked out.[7] She also competed for the team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

She moved to Squamish, British Columbia, home of her husband John, in 2003.[8]

Her parents, Dana Holanová and Jaromír Holan, were the Czechoslovak national champions in ice dancing in the 1960s.[9]

Coaching career

In January 2008, Franko joined Quest University Canada as head coach of the varsity women's soccer team.[10]

Franko, also a Canadian National B licensed coach, served as an assistant coach for the Tigers during the 1998 season after receiving her bachelor's degree in psychology.

Honours

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007 – List of Players: Canada" (PDF). FIFA. September 15, 2007. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  2. "Bachelor of Arts". 1998 Commencement. Colorado College. May 18, 1998. p. 12. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  3. Martina Franko at Olympedia
  4. "Martina Franko". Beijing2008.cn. Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. Archived from the original on August 9, 2008.
  5. "Martina Franko profile". Canada Soccer. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  6. "Whitecaps women sign defensive trio". whitecapsfc.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2010.
  7. "Martina Franko profile". FIFA. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  8. "Soccer Profile". martinafrankosoccer.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009.
  9. "Former Tiger competes in Olympics: Holan playing for Canada in Beijing". cctigers.com.
  10. "Quest Profile". questu.ca. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008.
  11. Davidson, Neil (March 1, 2022). "Canada Soccer Hall of Fame adds Rhian Wilkinson, Martina Franko, Patrice Bernier". cbc.ca. The Canadian Press. Retrieved August 31, 2022.


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