Marlee Francois
Personal information
Full name Marlee Jean Francois
Date of birth (2002-12-29) 29 December 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Bristol City
Number 36
Youth career
Camden Tigers
2013–2019 Fulham
2019–2021 Bristol City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Bristol City 0 (0)
2021 → Bath City (loan) 4 (0)
International career‡
2021– Australia U23 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:30 2 July 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:30 10 April 2023 (UTC)

Marlee Francois (born 29 December 2002) is an Australian professional footballer who plays for Bristol City as a midfielder.

Early life

Francois was born and raised in Campbelltown, New South Wales, a suburb located in Greater Western Sydney. His family moved to England in 2013 after he and his brother Tyrese Francois signed for Fulham Academy. He is of Mauritian descent through his father, and English descent through his mother.[1] Marlee left Fulham in February 2019 to join Bristol City.[2]

Club career

Bristol City

Francois signed a professional contract with Bristol City in March 2021.[3] On 20 July 2021, Francois scored against Bristol City in a friendly match for Portsmouth after he was granted permission to feature for the opposition due to the low numbers in Portsmouth's match squad. It was dubbed the "Shortest loan in history."[4] The next month Francois joined Bath City F.C. on a short-term loan.[5]

Francois signed a two-year contract extension with the option of a further year with Bristol City in August 2022.[6] Francois made his senior Bristol City first team debut appearing as a substitute in the FA Cup against West Brom on 28 January, 2023.[7]

In July 2023, Francois was included in the Bristol City first-team squad on a pre-season training camp in Austria.[8]

International career

Francois could represent England, Australia or Mauritius internationally.[9] He made his debut for the Australian under-23 team as a substitute on 2 June 2021 against Ireland under-21s.[10] He scored his first goal for Australia U-23s in June 2023 against Mexico U-23s.[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 February 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bristol City 2021–22[12] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2022–23[13] Championship 0 0 2 0 0 0 — 2 0
Total 0 0 2 0 0 0 — 2 0
Bath City (loan) 2021–22[14] National League South 4 0 0 0 — 0 0 4 0
Career total 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0

References

  1. ^ "Brotherly shove: Aussie siblings Tyrese, Marlee battling for Olympic call-ups". SBS Sport.
  2. ^ "Meet the Aussie teen brothers wanted by European clubs". SBS.com.au.
  3. ^ "Francois signs new deal". BCFC.co.uk.
  4. ^ "'Shortest loan in history?' - Aussie youngster Marlee Francois scores bizarre equaliser after pre-game club swap". Sporting News.
  5. ^ "FRANCOIS COMPLETES LOAN MOVE TO TWERTON PARK". BCFC.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Bristol City youngster eyes first-team breakthrough after penning two-year contract extension". Bristol Post.
  7. ^ "BRISTOL CITY VS. WEST BROM". Soccerway.
  8. ^ Piercy, James (3 July 2023). "Bristol City leave defensive duo at home as Nigel Pearson takes 11 U21 talents to Austria". Bristol Post. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Brotherly shove: Aussie siblings Tyrese, Marlee battling for Olympic call-ups". sbs.com.au.
  10. ^ "OLYROOS PLAYER RATINGS VS REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U/21". ftbl.com.au.
  11. ^ Lynch, Joey (13 June 2023). "Australia shock Mexico to seal Maurice Revello Tournament semifinal berth". espn. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Games played by Marlee Francois in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Games played by Marlee Francois in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  14. ^ "M. Francois: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
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