Former local prep soccer star, now a pro, joins Lexington Sporting Club for the 2024 season
Issac Cano is coming home.
The former Paul Laurence Dunbar boys soccer standout — who in January signed a professional contract with Louisville City of the USL Championship, the second tier of American men’s professional soccer — will be spending his first full season as a pro back in Lexington.
On Friday afternoon, it was announced that Lexington Sporting Club — which plays in USL League One, the third tier of American men’s professional soccer — acquired Cano on a season-long loan from LouCity for the 2024 season.
The loan deal for Cano, a forward, is pending league and federation approval.
Cano, 19, made his pro debut with LouCity last July in a friendly match against Atlante FC of Mexico.
A state-title winner with Dunbar in 2021, Cano was previously on a USL Academy contract with LouCity before signing his professional contract with the club earlier this year.
By going on loan to Lexington Sporting Club, Cano will get more frequent chances for playing time and the opportunity to learn from in-game experiences as his professional career begins.
And he will get to do this close to family and friends.
“I’ve never been far from my family. So, when I was first leaving for Louisville it was kind of tough. I got a little homesick, even with it being an hour away,” Cano told the Herald-Leader last month. “I’m just super fortunate with it all and super thankful.”
Obviously, Cano holds plenty of good memories from his prep soccer career in Lexington.
This includes scoring 34 goals as a senior in 2021 and being named most valuable player of that year’s state tournament.
“Dunbar was one of the highlights of my career so far,” Cano said. “... Obviously, playing in the state final and stuff like that, obviously it was an intense game, but it was nowhere near the level of the professional side of the game. After my Dunbar season, going to LouCity was an entirely different game, so I had to learn quickly.”
Even while he was still on a USL Academy contract last season, Cano flashed plenty of potential.
He played in several of Louisville City’s 2023 preseason games and recorded an assist during a preseason draw with MLS club Sporting Kansas City.
Cano arrives at Lexington Sporting Club ahead of LSC’s second-ever season and right before LSC begins its five-match preseason schedule.
Cano will be the second-youngest player on the LSC roster, only older than defender Kimball Jackson, who graduated from Lafayette High School.
Lexington Sporting Club 2024 preseason schedule
▪ Feb. 10: Columbus Crew II (away)
▪ Feb. 18: Louisville City (away)
▪ Feb. 24: Indy Eleven (home)
▪ Feb. 24: Georgetown College (home)
▪ March 2: University of Kentucky (home)
All of LSC’s preseason matches are closed to the public.
Issac Cano is one of several offseason moves made by LSC
The addition of Cano is far from the only headline-making acquisition LSC has made ahead of its second season.
The new name that jumps off the page is Cameron Lancaster, a 31-year-old forward who is the all-time leading scorer in Louisville City’s history.
A native of England who previously appeared in an English Premier League match for Tottenham Hotspur, Lancaster scored 75 goals during several stints with LouCity.
Lancaster, who was part of the first-ever LouCity roster in 2015, led the USL Championship in goals scored (26) in the 2018 season and ranks third all time in goals scored in USL Championship regular season history.
He twice won USL Cup with LouCity in 2017 and 2018 and will be the most accomplished player to ever suit up for LSC.
Other offseason changes for Lexington Sporting Club include a new head coach (Darren Powell), a new chief executive officer (Kim Shelton) and plans to move into a new, soccer-specific stadium this summer.
