Chris Nanco facts for kids
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Nanco with Bethlehem Steel in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Lenroy Nanco | ||
| Date of birth | February 15, 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | North York, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Brampton Youth SC | |||
| Sigma FC | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Syracuse Orange | 84 | (21) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2016 | Sigma FC | 9+ | (1+) |
| 2017–2018 | Bethlehem Steel | 60 | (9) |
| 2019–2022 | Forge FC | 55 | (8) |
| 2023 | Des Moines Menace | 6 | (0) |
| 2023 | Sporting Kristina B | 3 | (5) |
| 2023 | Sporting Kristina | 6 | (3) |
| Total | 136+ | (26+) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011 | Canada U17 | 7 | (2) |
| 2015 | Canada U20 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 25, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 16, 2017 |
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Christopher Lenroy Nanco (born February 15, 1995) is a former professional soccer player from Canada. He played as a forward, which means he was usually one of the main attackers on the team. Chris Nanco announced his retirement from playing soccer in March 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Youth Soccer
Chris Nanco started playing soccer when he was young with the Brampton Youth SC. When he was 12 years old, he joined a team called Sigma FC. While playing for Sigma, he even had a chance to try out for the Liverpool Academy in England in 2010. This was a big opportunity for him to show his skills at a high level.
College Soccer Career
In June 2013, Chris Nanco decided to play college soccer at Syracuse University. He joined their men's soccer team, known as the Syracuse Orange. He played his first game on August 30 against the Colgate Raiders.
Scoring Goals at Syracuse
Chris scored his first two goals for Syracuse on September 9, 2013, in a game against the Manhattan Jaspers. In his second year, he was the team's second-highest scorer, with five goals and two assists. As he got older, he started playing in different positions, sometimes as a central forward or in midfield, instead of just on the wing.
Senior Year Success
In his final year, Chris was the top scorer for his team with seven goals. Because of his great performance, he was named an All-ACC First Team All-Star. This is a special award for top players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His team had an amazing record when he scored, winning all 16 games where he found the back of the net. After college, he was invited to the MLS Player Combine, which is where professional teams look for new players.
Professional Club Career
Chris Nanco played for several professional soccer clubs during his career.
Sigma FC and Bethlehem Steel
From 2014 to 2016, Chris played for Sigma FC in League1 Ontario during his college breaks. In 2016, he was chosen to be on the League1 Ontario All-Star Game roster.
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In January 2017, Chris was picked by the Philadelphia Union in the MLS SuperDraft. Soon after, in March 2017, he signed a professional contract with their team, Bethlehem Steel, which played in the USL Championship. He scored his very first professional goal in his debut game on April 15, 2017. He left the club after the 2018 season.
Success with Forge FC
In November 2018, Chris Nanco joined Forge FC. This was a big moment because Forge FC was one of the first two teams to sign players for the new Canadian Premier League in 2019. Chris helped Forge FC win the CPL championship in their very first season!
He also scored an important goal on August 22, 2019, helping Forge win a game in the CONCACAF League. In 2020, Chris missed some games due to a hamstring injury, but Forge FC still won the league title again. He continued to play for Forge FC in 2021.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2023, Chris played for the Des Moines Menace in USL League Two. Later that year, he moved to Finland and joined a club called Sporting Kristina. He played for both their main team and their second team. In March 2024, Chris Nanco announced that he was retiring from professional soccer.
International Career
Chris Nanco also represented Canada on the international stage.
Playing for Canada's Youth Teams
In January 2011, he joined the Canadian national soccer program. He attended a training camp with the Canada U17 team. He helped them win a silver medal at the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. He scored the winning goal in a game against Trinidad and Tobago, which helped Canada qualify for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Chris also played in the U-17 World Cup.
In August 2014, he was chosen to play for the Canada U20 team in the Dale Farm Milk Cup. He was also part of the team for the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
Honours
Forge FC
- Canadian Premier League: 2019, 2020, 2022
