Louisville City midfielder Corben Bone (left) laughed while stretching with teammate Antoine Hoppenot at the team’s training camp at IMG Academy in Florida. The pair both played in the Philadelphia Union system and have been re-united at Louisville City.
When Corben Bone got the call from coach John Hackworth about joining Louisville City, he jumped at the chance. Knowing Hackworth, several of the players and assistant coach Danny Cruz helped seal the deal.
“That’s the thing about soccer is that you kind of build relationships and you see those relationships grow and being here is a testament to that,” Bone told www.loucity.com. “I’ve played with a ton of guys and been under the leadership of Hack before, so I’m excited to be here once again and to continue those relationships.”
Bone and forward Antoine Hoppenot go way back, and Bone joins former FC Cincinnati players Luke Spencer, Pat McMahon, and Hoppenot on LouCity’s roster. The 31-year-old Texas native seems to have fit right into the club’s extremely competitive culture.
“I’m very grateful to be a part of this club and this team who has obviously established themselves as one of the best in the league,” Bone said. “To be here is great for me and I’m really excited to contribute in any way I can. … For me, I just want to come in and provide anything I can to help this club continue to be at the top of this league.”
Bone didn’t just know Hackworth, Cruz, Hoppenot and several other players, he also got an up-close look at Louisville City’s club culture while playing for FC Cincinnati from 2016 through 2019. Bone played in several heated rivalry games between the clubs.
“Those games were always fun and an attractive style of soccer,” Bone said. “I enjoyed playing in them and obviously when I was with FC Cincinnati, Louisville was an incredible opponent so it was easy for me to decide where to go and to play for such a great team and successful club.”
The LouCity-FC Cincinnati rivalry was great because both teams were good. Bone noted that competitive players want to be tested against the best.
“I think we created that atmosphere together,” Bone said. “It was a special one and still is to this day. It is something that I’m thankful that I’ll continue to be a part of.”
Bone and Louisville City trained double sessions in Louisville before heading to training camp at IMG Academy in Florida. After a quick stop back in Louisville, they flew to Utah to compete in the Wasatch Cup. LouCity will begin its defense of the Eastern Conference title on March 7 at North Carolina FC.
“The sky’s the limit honestly for us. Every day they come in and put the work in and they’re not satisfied with just two stars,” Bone said. “We’re going after a third. It’s great to see – every day – the work ethic, the attitude and compassion throughout the team. I’m just thankful to be here. “
