Corine Franco

Corine Cécile Franco (née Petit) (born 5 October 1983) is a retired French football player who is best known for having played for France and Olympique Lyonnais of the Division 1 Féminine. Franco served as vice-captain of the French club and played as a physical, yet creative defensive midfielder, often acting as a deep-lying playmaker. She was often utilized as a right back at international level.

Franco is one of the most decorated players at club level in women's professional football, having won five European Cups and 10 Division 1 Féminine trophies.

She competed for France at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Club career

Early career

Franco was born on the west coast of France and began her career playing for Avenir Maritime Laleu in her hometown. She later moved to ES Rochellaise before securing a move to D1 Féminine club ASJ Soyaux at the start of the millennium. Franco spent two years in the youth system before making her league debut during the 2002–03 season. In her debut season, she scored four goals. The 2003–04 season saw Franco's opportunities in the team increase as she was given a permanent role in the starting eleven. Over the next four seasons, she appeared in all 22 matches scoring double-digit goals on two occasions. In her final season with Soyaux, she appeared in 19 matches scoring seven goals. Her successful seven-year career gained the attention of defending champions Olympique Lyonnais and Franco eventually secured a move to the club.

Lyon

In Franco's first season with Lyon, she appeared in 19 matches, starting 17, and scored two goals en route to Lyon winning their second straight D1 Féminine title and Franco's first of her career. The 2008–09 season also gave Franco the opportunity to display her talents on the European stage as Lyon were participating in the 2008–09 UEFA Women's Cup. Lyon cruised through the group stage portion of the tournament and in the knockout rounds, they faced Italian club A.S.D. CF Bardolino. Lyon won the tie 9–1 on aggregate as Franco scoring a goal in both legs. Lyon eventually suffered elimination in the semi-finals to German club FCR 2001 Duisburg.

On 15 October 2010, it was confirmed by Lyon officials that Franco suffered a rupture of her anterior cruciate ligament, as well as her medial meniscus and lateral meniscus in her right knee. She suffered the injury while playing in a UEFA Women's Champions League match against AZ Alkmaar. Franco missed six months.

She retired at the end of the 2017—2018 football season, after having won the domestic league and Champions League titles with Lyon.

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 8 June 2016

International

(Correct as of 7 March 2014)

International goals Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 25 February 2003 Stade Municipal de Albi, Albi, France Friendly 2 23 April 2008 Yiannis Pathiakakis Stadium, Ano Liossia, Greece UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying 3 7 March 2009 Tasos Markou Stadium, Paralimni, Cyprus 2009 Cyprus Cup 4 10 March 2009 Makario Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus 2009 Cyprus Cup 5 23 September 2009 Stadion NK Inter Zaprešić, Zaprešić, Croatia 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification 6 23 September 2009 Stadion NK Inter Zaprešić, Zaprešić, Croatia 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification 7 28 October 2009 Stade Jules Deschaseaux, Le Havre, France 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification 8 27 March 2010 Stade de la Libération, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification 9 14 September 2011 Ness Ziona Stadium, Ness Ziona, Israel UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying 10 4 July 2012 Stade de la Source, Orléans, France Friendly 11 29 November 2012 Erdgas Sportpark, Halle, Germany Friendly

Honours

Club

Lyon Division 1 Féminine: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–2017, 2017–2018 Coupe de France Féminine: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 UEFA Women's Champions League: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18

International France Cyprus Cup: Winner 2012