Meet the new guys: Franco Escobar

(image via Gary A. Vasquez-USA Today Sports)

Previous Club: Los Angeles FC

Acquired by: Free agency, signed through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025

Position: Right back

Who is Franco Escobar?

At 27 years of age, 28 by the start of the regular season, Franco Escobar is a veteran MLS player. The Argentine, born in Rosario, started his professional career with Newell’s Old Boys in 2015. He played 34 games for his childhood club before he made the jump to Major League Soccer in 2018. He left Newell’s after spending 10 years from the academy to the first team, joining the ranks at the club at the age of 13.

Escobar found his form quickly playing for the Five Stripes of Atlanta United. His arrival was a key component in Tata Martino’s squad that won MLS Cup in 2018. Sure, Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron took most of the attention, but Escobar showed grit and determination through out the regular season that year. He scored the second goal of MLS Cup against Portland Timbers that earned Atlanta its first championship in club history. In 2019, he helped Atlanta win the US Open Cup. After spending 3 seasons with the club, Franco was loaned out to Newell’s for the 2021 season where he saw limited action, only appearing in 7 matches.

While it seemed that Franco’s time in MLS was done, LAFC came knocking in 2022. Escobar was a rotational piece in Steve Cherundolo’s historic squad. The Argentine defender appeared in 19 matches, starting in 13 of them as LAFC won the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in 2022.

What Does Escobar Bring to Houston?

If we heard Ben Olsen say something during the offseason that stuck out it was that he was bringing the nasty. That grit, determination, and physicality that made the Dynamo great in the early years, seemed to have been lost the last 10 years. Not that Houston hasn’t had such attributes in some players, but as a collective, the club has needed to improve its aggressiveness. If there is one word that would describe Franco Escobar it’s aggressive. He is a fiery individual that will challenge every 50/50 ball fearlessly. He might find himself losing his head at times but if tamed, Escobar can be a player to lean on when called upon. He is a passionate player that will leave everything on the field.

Escobar is a versatile player whose best position is as a right back, but he has been slotted into a center back position as well as a right wing-back when needed. From comments that general manager Pat Onstad has said, Escobar might be given the role to defend first and hold his ground, unlike the attack minded role that Griffin Dorsey provides, especially with the questions regarding the left back position.

Here are Franco’s stats, thanks to fbref.com:

Franco Escobar stats profile from FBref.com

His stats compare to players like Alistair Johnston, Alex Roldan, and Joao Moutinho to name a few. Check their site for a complete scouting report.