Having agreed to a new contract with Louisville City FC, George Davis IV will continue in his capacity next season as a veteran midfielder on a USL Championship-winning club, it was announced Wednesday.
At age 33, Davis IV will lend time in other ways toward LouCity’s next quest for a trophy, also serving as a team administrator assisting in day-to-day operations while his playing days wind down.
“It’s an opportunity to see the game from another perspective,” Davis IV said. “Hopefully it leads to more opportunities when I’m done playing. My aspirations are high, but I don’t know what the future looks like. I just want to prepare by learning as much as I can about what I love — this game of soccer.”
A native of Lima, Ohio, Davis IV will extend a professional career that has stretched beyond a decade with the Los Angeles Blues, Richmond Kickers and, since 2016, LouCity.
The longevity— he’s often credited for maintaining peak physical shape — has pushed Davis IV to the top of the USL Championship’s all-time lists with a record 233 appearances. He also ranks fifth in regular-season minutes with 15,578 and sixth with 56 regular-season goals.
Davis IV will look to pad those numbers in 2021 while working in his dual role, coordinating away game travel for the squad and team meal plans, among other key administrative tasks.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for both George and our club,” said LouCity head coach and sporting director John Hackworth. “While we still expect George to compete and lead both on the field and in the locker room, he will now be charged with handling a wide variety of administrative responsibilities as well. This will be challenging, but I am absolutely sure that George is more than up to the task.”
Davis IV, who played collegiately at the University of Kentucky, was the third-leading scorer on LouCity’s 2017 team that raised the club’s first USL Cup. He poured in eight goals in 2018 as the boys in purple won back-to-back titles.
An All-League First Team talent dating back to his days with Richmond, Davis IV made only a pair of appearances during 2020’s condensed season. Time missed due to a tweaked hamstring coincided with the start of a 13-game unbeaten run into the playoffs, making it difficult to break into such a successful squad.
“That’s just part of the game,” Davis IV said. “My role was different this year, and it’s going to look different next year. I’ll prepare to be the best in any role that I have. It’s a great thing to see the club grow, and to be a part of that is important to me. I’m excited to be back.”
Davis IV is the 17th member of LouCity’s 2021 roster to be announced as the coaching staff continues to negotiate terms with returning players and potential new signings.
CURRENT LOUISVILLE CITY FC 2021 ROSTER
Goalkeeper – Chris Hubbard
Defender – Wes Charpie, Jonathan Gomez, Oscar Jimenez, Pat McMahon, Alexis Souahy, Sean Totsch, Akil Watts
Midfielder – Corben Bone, George Davis IV, Paolo DelPiccolo, Napo Matsoso, Niall McCabe
Forward – Antoine Hoppenot, Cameron Lancaster, Brian Ownby, Abdou Thiam
