Frank Sturing

Frank Sturing

Sturing with NEC in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-05-29) 29 May 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Nijmegen, Netherlands
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	York United FC
Number	5
Youth career
	Oranje Blauw
2007–2016	NEC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2020	NEC	43	(1)
2020–2021	Den Bosch	18	(0)
2021–2023	SV Horn	44	(2)
2024–	York United FC	11	(0)
International career‡
2014	Netherlands U18	3	(0)
2015	Netherlands U19	1	(0)
2016	Netherlands U20	1	(0)
2021	Canada	2	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 6, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 5, 2021

Frank Sturing (born 29 May 1997) is a professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for York United FC in the Canadian Premier League. Born in the Netherlands, he represents Canada at international level.

Early life

Sturing began playing youth soccer in the Netherlands at age five with Oranje Blauw. ^[1] He joined the youth academy of NEC at age 10. ^[2]

Club career

On 2 April 2017, Sturing made his senior debut for his debut for NEC in the Dutch Eredivisie against Vitesse. ^{[3] [4]} In February 2018, he signed an extension until June 2020 with an option for an additional year. ^{[5] [6]} At the end of the 2019-20 season, he departed the club, upon the expiry of his contract, after 13 years with the club. ^{[7] [8]}

In October 2020, Sturing joined Eerste Divisie side FC Den Bosch on an amateur basis. ^{[9] [10]}

In September 2021, Sturing signed with Austrian 2. Liga side SV Horn. ^{[11] [12]} In April 2022, he extended his contract for an additional season. ^[13] He departed the club in June 2023. ^[14]

In January 2024, he signed with Canadian Premier League club York United FC. ^{[15] [16]} Cavalry FC and Pacific FC had also been interested in signing him. ^[17] He made his debut for York on April 26 against Vancouver FC. ^[18]

International career

Sturing was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Canadian father. ^[1]

He played at the youth international level with the Netherlands U18, Netherlands U19, and Netherlands U20 teams. ^{[19] [20]}

In 2019, Sturing reached out to the Canadian Soccer Association to let them know he was eligible and interested in representing Canada at international level. ^[21] In 2020, Sturing obtained his Canadian passport with the goal of representing Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games, ^{[22] [23]} despite never having been to Canada before. ^[24] In March 2020, he was named to the provisional squad for the Canada U23 for their Olympic qualification matches. ^{[25] [26]} However, the 2020 qualifiers were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[27] In January 2021, he was called up to a training camp with the Canada senior team for the first time. ^{[28] [29]} In March 2021, he was originally called up to the Canada U23 for their postponed Olympic qualifies, but was then named to the Canada senior team roster for World Cup qualifiers. ^[30] On March 29, 2021, he made his senior international debut and scored his first goal in an 11-0 victory over the Cayman Islands in a 2022 World Cup qualification match. ^[31] He made a second appearance against Aruba, but has not appearred since. ^[32]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played July 6, 2024 ^[33]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
NEC	2016–17	Eredivisie	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2017–18	Eerste Divisie	19	1	2	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	1	22	2
	2018–19		7	0	1	0	0	0	8	0
	2018–19		14	0	1	0	—		15	0
	Total		43	1	4	0	1	1	48	2
Den Bosch	2020–21	Eerste Divisie	18	0	1	0	—		19	0
SV Horn	2021–22	2. Liga	21	2	0	0	—		21	2
	2022–23		23	0	3	0	—		26	0
	Total		44	2	3	0	0	0	47	2
York United	2024	Canadian Premier League	11	0	1	0	—		12	0
Career total			116	3	9	0	1	1	126	4

1. Appearance in the Promotion playoffs

International

As of match played June 5, 2021

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Canada	2021	2	1
Total		2	1

International goals

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.

No	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	29 March 2021	IMG Academy, Bradenton, United States	Cayman Islands	1–0	11–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

References

1. Frank Sturing at the Canadian Soccer Association
2. Sommerdijk, Jan (30 May 2021). "Een Nijmegenaar die voetbalt voor Canada: het verhaal van Frank Sturing" [A Nijmegen resident who plays football for Canada: the story of Frank Sturing]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch).
3. "Frank Sturing: Nijmeegs jeugdproduct in de defensie van N.E.C." [Frank Sturing: Nijmegen youth product in NEC's defense]. NEC Nijmegen (in Dutch). 11 December 2019.
4. "Oostenrijks avontuur voor Canadees international Frank Sturing uit Nijmegen" [Austrian adventure for Canadian international Frank Sturing from Nijmegen]. Headliner (in Dutch). 2 September 2021.
5. "Frank Sturing N.E.C.'er tot 2020" [Frank Sturing NEC player until 2020]. NEC Nijmegen (in Dutch). 28 February 2020.
6. "NEC-verdediger Sturing verlengt contract" [NEC defender Sturing extends contract]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). 6 February 2018.
7. "Abrupt einde voor spelers met aflopend contract" [Abrupt end for players with expiring contracts]. Forza NEC (in Dutch). 29 May 2020.
8. van den Broek, Danny (5 December 2019). "Dit seizoen moet het gebeuren voor Frank Sturing" [This season it has to happen for Frank Sturing]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
9. van Beek, Yvonne (5 October 2020). "Verdediger Sturing sluit op amateurbasis aan bij FC Den Bosch" [Defender Sturing joins FC Den Bosch on an amateur basis]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
10. "Frank Sturing versterkt FC Den Bosch" [Frank Sturing strengthens FC Den Bosch]. Den Bosch Nieuws (in Dutch). 5 October 2020.
11. "Herzlich Willkommen Frank Sturing und Djibril Fandje Toure!" [Welcome Frank Sturing and Djibril Fandje Toure!]. SV Horn (in German). 1 September 2021.
12. Pichel, Dominique (2 September 2021). "Oostenrijks avontuur voor voormalig FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing" [Austrian adventure for former FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
13. "Sturing bleibt im Waldviertel" [Sturing stays in the Waldviertel]. SV Horn (in German). 25 April 2022.
14. Hewitt, Thomas (30 January 2024). "York United sign Canadian international centre-back Frank Sturing in surprise CPL move". Canadian Soccer Daily.
15. "York United FC announce signing of Canadian defender Frank Sturing". York United FC . 30 January 2024.
16. Pichel, Dominique (31 January 2024). "Wens in vervulling voor Nijmeegse oud-NEC'er Frank Sturing: voetballen in Canada" [Wish come true for former NEC player Frank Sturing from Nijmegen: playing football in Canada]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
17. Jacques, John (4 January 2024). "Multiple CPL Sides In Hunt For Frank Sturing". Northern Tribune.
18. Tierney, Mitchell (26 April 2024). "Match Analysis: Second half masterclass powers York United past Vancouver FC". Canadian Premier League .
19. Hessing, David (2 February 2021). "Wordt deze Nijmeegse speler van FC Den Bosch international voor Canada?" [Will this Nijmegen player from FC Den Bosch become an international for Canada?]. De Stentor (in Dutch).
20. Janssen, Sander. "Frank Sturing op avontuur met Canada: 'Oranje zit er niet meer in'" [Frank Sturing on an adventure with Canada: 'Orange is no longer an option']. Voetbal International (in Dutch).
21. Janssen, Joram (6 March 2020). "Sturing gaat vol voor interlandcarrière met Canada" [Sturing goes all out for international career with Canada]. Forza NEC (in Dutch).
22. van Mil, Lars (30 May 2020). "NEC'er Sturing kan naar Spelen in Tokio: "Ik wil daar echt bij zijn"" [NEC player Sturing can go to the Games in Tokyo: "I really want to be there"]. FC Update (in Dutch).
23. Pichel, Dominique (1 August 2020). "NEC'er Sturing wacht op club én interlanddebuut bij Canada" [NEC'er Sturing awaits club and international debut with Canada]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
24. Pichel, Dominique (16 April 2021). "Frank Sturing debuteerde al voor Canada maar was er nog nooit: 'Het volkslied heb ik helemaal meegezongen'" [Frank Sturing made his debut for Canada but had never been there before: 'I sang the entire national anthem']. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
25. "NEC'er Sturing wil naar Olympische Spelen met Canada" [NEC'er Sturing wants to go to the Olympic Games with Canada]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). 1 March 2020.
26. van den Broek, Danny (6 March 2020). "'Mister' Sturing van NEC wil met Canada naar de Olympische Spelen in Tokio" ['Mister' Sturing from NEC wants to go to the Olympic Games in Tokyo with Canada]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
27. Pichel, Dominique (10 December 2020). "Nijmegenaar Frank Sturing wil via Den Bosch met Canada naar Tokio" [Nijmegen resident Frank Sturing wants to travel to Tokyo with Canada via Den Bosch]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
28. Davidson, Neil (1 February 2021). "Dutch-born defender Frank Sturing enjoys first taste of life with Canada soccer team". The Globe & Mail .
29. Martens, Jan (24 December 2020). "Canadese voetbaltoekomst gloort voor FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing" [Canadian soccer future bright for FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
30. Pichel, Dominique (23 March 2021). "FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing zit plots bij de nationale ploeg van Canada" [FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing suddenly joins the Canadian national team]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
31. Pichel, Dominique (30 March 2021). "Droomdebuut voor Den Bosch-speler Frank Sturing in Canadees voetbalelftal" [Dream debut for Den Bosch player Frank Sturing in Canadian national football team]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
32. Jacques, John (17 January 2024). "Veth: Nine Stripes Set To Sign Sturing". Northern Tribune.
33. Frank Sturing at Soccerway

External links

• Frank Sturing at Soccerway
• Frank Sturing at the Canadian Soccer Association