Keaton Parks
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Keaton Alexander Parks | ||
Date of birth | August 6, 1997 | ||
Place of birth | Plano, Texas, United States | ||
Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Benfica | ||
Number | 55 | ||
Youth career | |||
2014–2015 | Liverpool Warriors | ||
2015–2016 | Varzim | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2016 | Varzim B | 4 | (0) |
2016–2017 | Varzim | 10 | (2) |
2017– | Benfica B | 34 | (7) |
2017– | Benfica | 4 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2018– | United States | 1 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 22, 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of May 28, 2018 |
Keaton Alexander Parks (born August 6, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Portuguese club Benfica and the United States national team as a midfielder.
Club career
Born in Plano, Texas, Parks played soccer three years with Liberty High School in Frisco before joining NPSL side Liverpool Warriors.[1] With the help of his coach, Parks managed to trial at several Portuguese clubs such as Benfica, Braga and Sporting Lisbon.[1] While playing with the Warriors during a tournament in Póvoa de Varzim, Parks was scouted and signed with Varzim.[1] In signing for Varzim, Parks rejected an offer to attend Southern Methodist University and play for their soccer team.[1]
After playing for Varzim's reserve side for a season, Parks made his professional debut for the club in a LigaPro match on September 4, 2016 against Aves. He came on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Diego Barcelos as Varzim lost 2–0.[2] Parks then established himself as a regular starter for the side and then scored his first two professional goals during two matches. The first goal came on December 17, 2016 against Famalicão. His 52nd-minute strike was the first of two as Varzim won 2–0.[3] His second goal came in the next match on December 21 against Fafe. His 69th-minute goal was the equalizer for Varzim as they eventually won the match 2–1.[4]
On July 25, 2017, Parks signed with Portuguese champions Benfica, joining its reserve team in LigaPro.[5][6] His first appearance for the senior team came in the 71st minute of the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal, against Vitória in November that year.[7] Later, on December 6, Parks signed a new contract with Benfica, keeping him at the club until 2022.[8]
International career
Parks has been involved with the United States under-20 national team, attending a training camp in London in April 2017.[9] He received his first senior call-up for a friendly against Bolivia on May 28, 2018, making his debut in that match as a 61st-minute substitute for Joe Corona.
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | Domestic Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Varzim B | 2015–16 | Campeonato de Portugal | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
Varzim | 2016–17 | LigaPro | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 2 |
Benfica B | 2017–18 | 29 | 7 | — | — | — | 29 | 7 | ||||
S.L. Benfica | Primeira Liga | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
Career total | 47 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 9 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Kafai, Arman (September 30, 2016). "Plano teen takes different route to make professional debut in Portugal". Dallas News Sports Day. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Varzim 0-2 Aves". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Famalicão 0-2 Varzim". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Varzim 2-1 Fafe". Soccerway.
- ↑ Keaton Parks officially signs with Benfica SportsDay
- ↑ "Keaton Parks reforça Benfica B" [Keaton Parks joins Benfica B]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 25 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ↑ Ramsey, Allen (18 November 2017). "U.S. Youngster Keaton Parks Makes First Team Debut for Benfica". goal.com.
- ↑ Keaton Parks renova até 2022: "Entusiasmado por começar uma nova etapa" A Bola (in Portuguese) (archived)
- ↑ "Ramos calls 25 players to England for pre-World Cup training camp". U.S. Soccer.
- ↑ Keaton Parks at Soccerway
- ↑ Keaton Parks at ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 1 August 2017.