Marlee Francois
Marlee François | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 29, 2002 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Professional footballer |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Known for | Winger for Auckland FC |
Marlee François (born 29 December 2002) is a professional Australian footballer who operates primarily as a winger for the A-League Men side Auckland FC.
Early life
François was born in Campbelltown, New South Wales to a father of Mauritian descent and a mother of English-Mauritian heritage. In 2013, his family moved to England when he and his brother, Tyrese Francois, enrolled in the Fulham Academy. He departed from Fulham in February 2019 to join Bristol City.
Bristol City
In March 2021, François secured a professional deal with Bristol City. During July 2021, he notably scored for Portsmouth in a friendly against Bristol City after being permitted to feature for the opposing team due to a shortage of players, an occurrence dubbed the "Shortest loan in history." The subsequent month, he embarked on a brief loan spell at Bath City.
François committed to a two-year contract extension with Bristol City in August 2022, including an option for an additional year. Following a 14-month period sidelined by injury, he made his first-team debut as a substitute during an FA Cup fixture against West Brom on 28 January 2023. His tenure with Bristol City concluded when he was released at the close of the 2023–24 season.
Auckland FC
On 9 January 2025, François signed with Auckland FC, adopting the number 11 jersey after his release from Bristol City in July 2024. This signing occurred just before the official transfer window opened on January 16.
International career
Eligible to play internationally for England, Australia, or Mauritius, François made his debut for the Australian under-23 squad as a substitute on 2 June 2021 against Ireland U-21s. He scored his sole goal for the team in June 2023 during the Maurice Revello Tournament against Mexico U-23s.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bristol City | 2021–22 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Bath City (loan) | 2021–22 | National League South | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
Honours
Auckland FC