A tough centre back and leader from Windsor, Ontario who joined the Whitecaps FC Academy in 2018 and then the Development Squad in 2019, Gianfranco Facchineri signed an MLS Homegrown contract in January 2020.
Facchineri was given the Whitecaps FC BMO RESP Academy Male Player recognition at the club’s year-end awards in 2019.
USL CHAMPIONSHIP
'21: Facchineri spent the first half of the year training with the ‘Caps first team. In August, the youngster was loaned out to San Diego Loyal SC from the USL Championship through to the end of the regular season, making six appearances.
CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE
'20: Facchineri was loaned out to Atlético Ottawa from July through September, collecting three starts in five appearances, and tallying eight tackles won, 10 clearances, two interceptions, and a block in his short stint.
DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
'19: Facchineri moved up to the Development Squad from the Academy, and impressed against strong competition including during trips to South Korea and Mexico.
DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
'18-'19: After joining Whitecaps FC Academy in August 2018, he made 14 starts for the U-17 and U-19 sides in the Development Academy, including playoffs. '17-'18: Prior to his move to Vancouver, he played in 23 matches, including two in the playoffs for Vardar U-17's, scoring three goals. '16-'17: Facchineri made 25 appearances while scoring six goals for the Vardar U-14's. '15-'16: He started all 22 appearances and scored three goals for Vardar U-14's.
BEFORE WHITECAPS FC
Prior to his arrival in Vancouver, Facchineri developed in his youth at Windsor Ciociaro SC, Windsor FC Nationals, and Vardar SC in Ontario before joining Whitecaps FC in 2018. He was selected to the Ontario Provincial Team Program at the U-14 and U-15 age levels.
INTERNATIONAL
Facchineri had a busy 2019 in international competition, co-captaining Canada at the Concacaf U-17 Championship then representing his country at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, playing every minute in both tournaments and collecting seven caps. In the decisive match against Costa Rica in the Concacaf U-17 Championship, he scored the winning penalty shootout goal.
