Vancouver Sun

Whitecaps add seasoned veteran MLS defender Franklin to ‘hungry team’

- J.J. ADAMS jadams@postmedia.com

The parallels are easy to draw. They play the same position. Their styles are similar. They both played NCAA soccer and were both picked in the top 10 of the MLS SuperDraft. Both made their profession­al debuts against the New York Red Bulls.

But they’re at opposite ends of their careers.

The Vancouver Whitecaps signed right back Sean Franklin on Thursday, a move aimed at providing competitio­n for his young soccer doppelgang­er, Jake Nerwinski. Franklin has been with the team since training camp in Hawaii, and will now suit up for his 11th season.

“You’re always looking for that veteran-and-young combo in every aspect of the team,” said head coach Carl Robinson. “We needed someone to compete with Jake. He’s got excellent potential, we know that. He’s going into his second year, and to make Jake better we needed someone who could push him, but also not stand in his way, and I think we’ve got the right balance with Sean.

“He’s a good, experience­d guy who understand­s the role. He’s a big addition for us.”

Franklin, a California native, was the fourth overall pick by the L.A. Galaxy in the 2008 SuperDraft and was later named rookie of the year. He was part of the Galaxy squad that won back-to-back MLS Cups in 2011 and 2012, and is a two-time MLS all-star (2008, 2014).

Nerwinski, the seventh pick overall in the 2017 draft, won the battle at right back with Sheanon Williams last season, installing himself as the incumbent starter. He signed an extension with the team during pre-season in Hawaii, keeping him in Vancouver through 2019, with options for 2020 and 2021.

Both are strong, fast defensive players with the ability to push the ball up the flank, fitting in with the formations the team plays most. The move brings depth and competitio­n to the position, two traits Robinson prizes.

“It’s huge for me to join this club,” said the 32-year-old Franklin, who spent six years with the Galaxy before joining D.C. United for the past four. “We have a young team, it’s a hungry team, and I think it’s a team that can do well and be successful in this league.

“(Nerwinski) is a great player. Every day, positions are up for grabs, and everyone’s competing, and that’s want you want from your team — everyone fighting for spots. I’m going to push him, he’s going to push me, and we’re going to make each other better.”

Robinson felt the team had lost a lot of experience, and with the departures of players like Jordan Harvey — the team’s all-time leader in MLS games played (184) — Matias Laba (No. 4, 116), Christian Bolanos and Fredy Montero, he felt like his team needed some veteran voices in the locker-room.

 ?? ROB CARR/ GETTY IMAGES ?? Defender Sean Franklin, left, shown playing with D.C. United in 2015, has signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He was an MLS allstar in 2008 and 2014.
ROB CARR/ GETTY IMAGES Defender Sean Franklin, left, shown playing with D.C. United in 2015, has signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He was an MLS allstar in 2008 and 2014.

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