Waylon Francis facts for kids
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Francis with the Columbus Crew in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Waylon Dwayne Francis Box | ||
| Date of birth | September 20, 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Limón, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Left-back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Liberia | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2011 | Brujas | 9 | (0) |
| 2011 | Limón | 18 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Herediano | 68 | (1) |
| 2014–2017 | Columbus Crew | 83 | (0) |
| 2018 | Seattle Sounders FC | 11 | (0) |
| 2018 | Seattle Sounders FC 2 | 1 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Columbus Crew | 44 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Herediano | 37 | (0) |
| 2024- | Liberia | 14 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2013–2019 | Costa Rica | 6 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Waylon Dwayne Francis Box (born September 20, 1990) is a professional football player from Costa Rica. He plays as a left-back for the team Liberia. A left-back is a defender who plays on the left side of the field. Their job is to stop opposing players and help their team attack.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Waylon Francis started his football journey in the youth system of Deportivo Saprissa. He made his first professional appearance in Costa Rica's top league with Brujas on January 13, 2011. This match was against Barrio México.
Early Club Teams
After playing for Brujas, Waylon joined Limón for one season. In 2012, he moved to Herediano, another well-known Costa Rican club. He scored his first career goal while playing for Herediano. This important goal happened in Panama during a 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League game.
Joining Major League Soccer
Waylon's great play with Herediano, especially in the Champions League, caught the eye of teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). MLS is the top football league in the United States and Canada. Columbus Crew SC signed him as their first new player for the 2014 season.
He played his first MLS game for Columbus Crew on March 8, 2014. It was a big 3–0 win against D.C. United. In 2015, Waylon was chosen to play in the 2015 MLS All-Star Game. This special game featured MLS stars playing against Tottenham Hotspur, a famous team from England.
Waylon had surgery on his right shoulder in late 2016, which meant he missed the end of that season. After four years with Columbus Crew, his contract option was not renewed in December 2017.
Moving to Seattle and Back to Columbus
On December 14, 2017, Waylon was traded to Seattle Sounders FC. He played there for a short time. Then, on February 5, 2019, he was traded back to Columbus Crew SC.
Columbus Crew decided not to renew his contract after the 2020 season. However, he re-signed with the club in January 2021. After the 2021 season, Columbus again chose not to renew his contract.
In February 2022, Waylon signed a three-year deal to return to Herediano in Costa Rica. This brought him back to his home country. He currently plays for Liberia.
International Football
Waylon Francis also played for his country, Costa Rica. He was part of Costa Rica's Under-23 team.
Copa Centroamericana Victory
He was a member of the team that won the 2013 Copa Centroamericana. This was a big tournament for teams in Central America. Waylon made his international debut for the senior team during this tournament, playing against Nicaragua.
FIFA World Cup Experience
Waylon was also part of the Costa Rica team that reached the quarterfinals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This was a huge achievement for Costa Rica! Even though he did not play in any matches, he was a key part of the team's spirit. He is remembered for a famous moment of celebration after the team qualified for the quarterfinals.
Career Statistics
International Games Played
| National team | Year | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 0 | |
Awards and Achievements
Waylon Francis has won several important titles with his teams:
- Herediano
- Liga FPD: Clausura 2012, Clausura 2013
- Columbus Crew
- MLS Cup: 2020
- Campeones Cup: 2021
- Costa Rica
- Copa Centroamericana: 2013
Personal Life
Waylon Francis earned his U.S. green card in June 2016. This allowed him to be considered a "domestic player" in MLS, which is helpful for team rosters.
See also
In Spanish: Waylon Francis para niños
