Tony Franken

NSL Career: Canberra City, Sydney Croatia, APIA, Parramatta Eagles, Sydney Olympic, Perth Glory 278 (0) / 1984 - 1999/00

Socceroos Career: 2 (0) A Internationals / 12 (0) B Internationals

One of the league's sharpest keepers and penalty specialists during the 1980s and early 1990s - Franken was the second keeper to graduate from the AIS Soccer Program and play in the NSL after Chris Hummell, and the first (and only) keeper to be named NSL U-21 Player of the Year.

Born in Fremantle to a Dutch immigrant who represented the Socceroos in a B international in the late 1950s, Franken began his junior career at Melville City before following in his father's footsteps by joining East Fremantle Tricolore. Franken impressed in goals for Tricolore through their junior ranks before earning a scholarship to the AIS Soccer Program in 1982 and giving up the possibility of a first-class cricket career. After graduating from the AIS, Franken joined NSL side Canberra City for the 1984 season.

Despite keeping just four clean sheets in his debut season, the young keeper's exceptional performances during the season earned him the league's U-21 Player of the Year award in an otherwise disappointing season for the club. During the 1984 season, Franken continued to follow in his father's footsteps by making his Socceroos debut in a B international and competed with Tony Pezzano, Terry Greedy and Jeff Olver to play in seven of Australia's 27 B internationals in 1984. 

Over the next two seasons, Franken missed just three league games for Canberra, missing out on finals football but helped the side reach the NSL Cup Semi-Finals in 1986 before the club were relegated. With Canberra out of the league, Sydney Croatia signed the Socceroos keeper for a $12,000 transfer fee and Franken started the season ahead of former Socceroos keeper Greg Woodhouse. 

Franken remained Croatia's number one until September, helping Croatia win a penalty shoot-out against Heidelberg to reach the NSL Cup Final before Woodhouse stepped in for the remainder of the 1987 season as Croatia won the NSL Cup and qualified for the Play-Off Series.

The Western Australian keeper took his spot back from Woodhouse in the 1988 season and became arguably the league's best keeper with 10 clean sheets in 24 league games. During Croatia's finals run, Franken helped the side progress to the grand final after wining a penalty shoot-out against Wollongong in the major semi-final. 

The grand final resulted in another penalty shoot-out after a two-all draw with Marconi where Franken saved Robbie Wheatley's penalty to make it two-two in the shoot-out before Tony Henderson, in his last game, converted his penalty to win the shoot-out five-four for Marconi. 

After a strong start to the 1989 season, Franken aggravated a recurring knee injury in Croatia's round 15 win over South Melbourne. Requiring a knee reconstruction, Franken spent nine months out of the game and returned in round 12 of the 1989/90 season, taking his spot back from promising young keeper Zeljko Kalac. Franken maintained his position in the side throughout the 1990/91 season before moving to APIA. Despite a strong season at APIA where he kept 11 clean sheets in 24 league games, the 27 year old keeper was unable to help the side avoid relegation.

Following APIA's relegation, Franken returned to Croatia and made his full international debut against Indonesia before competing with Kalac for the starting keeper role. Franken managed 15 appearances in the last 18 games of the season before having stints in the NSW Super League with Sutherland and Rockdale Ilinden as Kalac became the league's best keeper.

After making just one league appearance and two cup appearances during the 1993/94 season, where he helped Croatia win a penalty shoot-out in the NSL Cup Semi-Finals, Franken moved to Parramatta Eagles. Franken played in every game of the 1994/95 season for Parramatta, keeping six clean sheets, but was unable to help them survive relegation. Franken remained with Parramatta in the NSW Super League before joining Sydney Olympic for the 1996/97 NSL season. 

The experienced gloveman competed for Olympic's keeper role with George Bouhoutsos throughout the season and made 16 league appearances before returning home to Western Australia to join Perth Glory. Franken found himself again in competition for the number one role at his new club with local keeper Tom Maras during his first season and AIS graduate Danny Milosevic during his second season where he cemented his spot during the finals series to help Perth reach the 1998/99 Preliminary Final. 

Franken was sent off late in the preliminary final for an unintentional handball outside the box as Perth missed out on their first grand final. The experienced gloveman kept in front of Milosevic at the start of the 1999/00 season before the latter joined English club Leeds and the club signed Adelaide City keeper Jason Petkovic as his replacement. 

Petkovic was pushed straight in to the starting line-up, leaving Franken on the sidelines for the rest of the season as Perth reached their first grand final, losing an epic against Wollongong. Franken remained with Perth for another two seasons but was unable to make a league appearance as Petkovic missed just one game during that period before hanging up his boots at the age of 37.

Following his playing career, Franken became the national team's goalkeeping coach, a position he held for more than a decade. Franken's son Jordan followed in the family tradition by becoming a keeper but failed to achieve a professional career before becoming a goalkeeping coach at state league, national league and Matildas youth level.