Forge FC has added another local talent to its inaugural squad.
Midfielder Giuliano Frano, 25, joins the Hamilton-based club as a two-time League1 Ontario Best XI and All-Star with Sigma FC.
The Mississauga-native made 38 appearances for Sigma FC, registering 11 goals while playing under current Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis.
Frano split the previous two seasons with the United Soccer League’s Seattle Sounders FC 2 (2015) and Whitecaps FC 2 (2016), making 47 total appearances and scoring three goals.
“We’re very happy to be adding Giuliano to our squad,” said Smyrniotis in a release. “Giuliano’s excellent play over the last four years in both the USL and League1 Ontario will definitely be an asset to our building process as a team. Beyond his football qualities, he is a fierce competitor and will bring a great mentality and work ethic to the pitch every day.”
Prior to joining the pro ranks, Frano started all 34 games in his two years playing NCAA Division I soccer at Boston College (2013-14), leading the Golden Eagles with four goals in his junior season. Before transferring to Boston College, Frano played two years at NCAA Division II University of Montevallo in Alabama (2011-12), where he started 31 of the 40 games he appeared in for the Falcons.
At the international level, the five-foot-11, 163-pound midfielder earned two appearances for Canada’s U-23 men’s national team at the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.
Forge FC will host York9 FC at Tim Hortons Field in the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural match Sat., April 27, at 1 p.m.
The CPL will launch with seven teams: Cavalry FC (Calgary), FC Edmonton, Forge FC (Hamilton), HFX Wanderers FC (Halifax), Pacific FC (Victoria), Valour FC (Winnipeg), York 9 FC (York Region).
More teams are expected to join in 2020.
Frano is the club’s eighth player signing ahead of camp, joining Canadian midfielders Kyle Bekker and Tristan Borges, along with forwards Chris Nanco and Marcel Zajac, Swedish midfielder Alexander Achinioti Jönsson, as well as Cameroon defender Bertrand Owundi.
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