Frankie Amaya

Frankie Amaya

Amaya with FC Cincinnati in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Franuel Amaya [1]
Date of birth	(2000-09-26) September 26, 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth	Santa Ana, California, United States
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Toluca
Number	24
Youth career
2014–2017	Pateadores
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018	UCLA Bruins	14	(2)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	FC Cincinnati	40	(1)
2019	→ Orange County SC (loan)	2	(0)
2021–2024	New York Red Bulls	91	(8)
2024–	Toluca	5	(0)
International career
2018–2019	United States U20	9	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 25, 2024

Franuel "Frankie" Amaya (born September 26, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Liga MX club Toluca.

Career

Youth and college

Amaya played club soccer for Pateadores SC in Orange County, California. With the club, he helped the team win the region's West Conference and was named the West Conference Best XI. Ahead of the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Amaya was listed as a four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com, and ranked number six overall in the IMG Academy Top 150 for his graduating class. Amaya was also listed by TDS has the number one club player in Southern California, and the number four midfielder nationally.

During the 2018 season, Amaya made 14 appearances with UCLA, 10 of which were starts. Amaya made his college soccer debut on August 24, 2018, against Coastal Carolina. With UCLA, Amaya scored twice, with his first goal coming on September 22, 2018, against UC Santa Barbara in a 1–3 loss. Amaya tallied two assists on the season with his first coming on August 28, 2018, against UC San Diego, and his second coming on October 13, 2018, against San Diego State. Amaya did not appear for any more matches with UCLA after October 28, as he joined the U.S. under 20s for the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

At the conclusion of the 2018 Pac-12 Conference men's soccer season, Amaya was honored with Freshman All-American, First Team All-Pac-12, and Second Team All-Far West Region honors.

FC Cincinnati

On January 4, 2019, Amaya signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer forgoing his final three years of college eligibility. ^[3] On January 11, 2019, he was drafted first overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by FC Cincinnati. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

On July 16, 2020, Amaya scored his first professional goal for FC Cincinnati in the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament against Atlanta United, in which was the only goal of the game, a 1–0 win for FC Cincinnati. ^[7]

New York Red Bulls

On April 9, 2021, Amaya was rumored to be traded from FC Cincinnati to the New York Red Bulls. ^[8] The trade, which was officially confirmed on April 20, was in exchange for $950,000 in general allocation money, with an additional $125,000 of potential allocation money depending on performance incentives. ^[9] On April 25, 2021, Amaya made his first appearance for New York in a 3–2 loss to Los Angeles Galaxy. ^[10] On May 8, 2021, he scored his first goal for New York in a 2–0 victory over Toronto FC. ^[11]

On June 24, 2023, Amaya recorded his first two-goal game of his career, scoring twice for New York in a 4–0 victory over Atlanta United, his second goal of the match was New York's 1,500th goal in club history across all competitions. As a result of his performance he was selected to the MLS team of the Match Day. ^[12] On July 8, 2023, Amaya recorded a goal and an assist to help New York to a 2–1 victory over New England Revolution. His play during that match earned him another selection to the MLS Team of the Match Day. ^[13]

International career

Amaya with the U.S. men's U-20 team in 2019

Amaya made his debut with the United States national under-20 team on March 21, 2018, against France. ^[14] He was also named to the squad for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in November 2018. ^[15]

On November 30, 2020, Amaya was called up by the United States national team for a friendly against El Salvador. ^[16] On December 1, he was removed from the squad after contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by Andres Perea. ^[17]

Personal life

Born in the United States to Mexican parents, Amaya holds a U.S. and Mexican citizenship. ^[6]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played June 2, 2024 ^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
FC Cincinnati	2019	MLS	19	0	2	0	—		—		21	0
	2020	MLS	21	1	—		—		—		21	1
	Total		40	1	2	0	—		—		42	1
Orange County SC (loan)	2019	USL	2	0	—		—		—		2	0
New York Red Bulls	2021	MLS	22	1	—		—		—		22	1
	2022	MLS	24	1	5	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	30	1
	2023	MLS	25	5	—		4 [lower-alpha 2]	0	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	32	5
	2024	MLS	20	1	—		—		—		20	1
	Total		91	8	5	0	4	0	4	0	104	8
Career total			133	9	7	0	4	0	4	0	148	9

1. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
2. Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honors

United States U20

• CONCACAF U-20 Championship: 2018

References

1. "National team roster, 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF . June 18, 2021. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
2. "Frankie Amaya". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
3. Danneman, Joe (January 11, 2019). "FC Cincinnati selects Frankie Amaya with top pick". WXIX-TV . Gray Television . Retrieved January 11, 2019.
4. Carlisle, Jeff (January 11, 2019). "FC Cincinnati selects UCLA's Frankie Amaya with top pick in MLS SuperDraft". ESPN . Retrieved January 11, 2019.
5. Creditor, Avi (January 11, 2019). "UCLA's Frankie Amaya Goes No. 1 to FC Cincinnati in 2019 MLS SuperDraft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
6. Scoby, Ashley. "MLS SuperDraft: FC Cincinnati selects Frankie Amaya No. 1 overall". ProSoccerUSA.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
7. Bogert, Tom. "Atlanta United 0, FC Cincinnati 1 – MLS is Back Tournament Match Recap". MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
8. Brennan, Pat (April 9, 2021). "Sources: FC Cincinnati trades Frankie Amaya to New York Red Bulls". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
9. Bogert, Tom (April 20, 2021). "Official: New York Red Bulls acquire Frankie Amaya from FC Cincinnati". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
10. Liljenwall, Ari (April 25, 2021). "Recap: LA Galaxy 3, New York Red Bulls 2". Major League Soccer .
11. "New York Red Bulls scoot to 2-0 win over Toronto FC". ESPN. May 8, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
12. Jones, Christopher (June 26, 2023). "Brace Off the Bench Earns Frankie Amaya a Spot on MLS Team of the Matchday". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
13. Jones, Christopher (July 10, 2023). "Frankie Amaya Makes MLS Team of the Matchday For Second Time this Season". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
14. "U.S. Soccer YNT on Twitter: He just received his first U-20 #USMNT cap. Say hello to @Pateadores_ midfielder Frankie Amaya, and learn how futsal and the @ussoccer_acad has helped him succeed". Twitter. U.S. Soccer. March 22, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
15. "U-20 Mnt Head Coach Tab Ramos Names 20-player Roster for 2018 Concacaf Under-20 Championship". ussoccer.com. U.S. Soccer. October 22, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
16. "Berhalter Calls 22 Players ahead of USA-El Salvador on Dec. 9 at Inter Miami FC Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale". ussoccer.com. U.S. Soccer. November 30, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
17. "Andres Perea to Replace Frankie Amaya on USMNT Training Camp Roster for USA-El Salvador Due to Positive Covid-19 Test". ussoccer.com. U.S. Soccer. December 1, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
18. Frankie Amaya at Soccerway. Retrieved January 3, 2021.

External links

• Frankie Amaya at Major League Soccer
• Frankie Amaya at UCLA Athletics