George Davis IV, the senior-most member of last year’s Louisville City FC roster, will return for another season, the club announced Wednesday.
The University of Kentucky product finished as LouCity’s second-leading scorer while serving as a leader and clutch performer. Davis IV tallied five goals during the regular season before tacking on a game-winner in the first round of the USL Cup Playoffs.
Terms of his new deal were not disclosed.
“We’re really pleased to get George back,” said LouCity coach James O’Connor. “We feel he’s someone who can make a big contribution next year. Great experience, great mentor for some of the younger players, great character — we want him to take on a leadership role.
“All of the players look up to him, which is really important, and he’s someone who epitomizes what we want with our values, culture and environment. He’s really bought into it.”
A Lima, Ohio, native, the 29-year-old Davis IV arrived to Louisville as a former all-USL performer with each of the Dayton Dutch Lions, Orange County Blues and Richmond Kickers. While under contract with the Blues, he was for a time loaned to Orlando City’s USL side, where he got to know his future coach in the limelight of O’Connor’s own playing career.
Including the 2016 campaign, Davis IV has totaled 38 regular-season goals at the USL level having played there since 2011. He’s still looking, however, for one major addition to his resume.
“A championship is always the goal,” Davis IV said. “James has given me the platform and put me in the position to where I can be a leader for the team. I’m happy to be able to accept that role and do whatever I can on and off the field for the club.”
Davis IV, who played mostly on the left wing last season, joins a returning core of attacking midfielders along with Niall McCabe and Mark-Anthony Kaye. The trio helped LouCity to a second-place finish in the USL’s Eastern Conference and an appearance in the Eastern Conference Final.
In all, O’Connor has 13 players under contract for the 2017 season. In addition to Davis, there’s University of Louisville product Paolo DelPiccolo, standout goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh and players who started at all four defensive positions. Keep up with roster moves via LouCity’s Player Tracker.
