One of Republic FC’s own has risen to a top stage of football – the UEFA Champions League.
Former Republic FC goalkeeper Josh Cohen (2018-2019) – now with Israeli Premier League side Macabi Haifa – advanced into the tournament’s group stage to play against some of the world’s top clubs and players for the first time since 2009. After defeating Serbian club FK Crvena Zvezda 5-4 on aggregate Tuesday, they were drawn into Group H. They’ll face off with French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint Germain, Serie A’s Juventus (Italy), and Premeira Liga club Benfica (Portugal).
The Mountain View native was Sacramento’s main man between the sticks in 2018 and 2019. He earned USL All-League honors in his first season with Sacramento after recording an individual single-season best 12 clean sheets and 117 saves in 34 appearances. In one of the most notable transfers in club history, moving from USL Championship to a top-flight side overseas, Cohen joined Macabi Haifa midway through the 2019 campaign. Over the past two seasons he has led the club to consecutive Israeli Premier League titles, and was voted the league’s Player of the Year for 2020-21. He will now get the chance to play in one of the most prestigious club competitions in the world as Haifa ended a 13-year absence from the UCL group stage.
