Earlier this week, Republic FC’s youth pipeline earned another accolade. The Indomitable Club continues its stellar track record of preparing the region’s best players for a shot on the professional stage. Since its inception in 2015, nineteen Republic FC academy players have signed pro contracts, including Tiago Suarez who was announced on Monday.
On Monday, the seventeen-year-old defender signed his first pro contract with MLS side New England Revolution. During the 2022 campaign, Suarez made his debut for the Indomitable Club as a starter on July 24th against Phoenix Rising. He would go on to log 5 more appearances, with thirteen selections on the season – the most for an academy player this season.
New England has announced that he will join its third-division MLS NEXT Pro side for the 2023 season.
The Rocklin native joined Republic FC’s academy in 2016 from local club Blues FC. He rose through the ranks and was a key contributor to Sacramento’s youth teams, eventually helping the U-19 side to consecutive MLS NEXT Cup appearances in 2021 – reaching the semifinals – and again in 2022.
Suarez is one of five Republic FC youth development players to be called into a national team camp in 2022. The club’s track record of supporting the growth of youth players includes 6 standouts joining MLS clubs or their affiliates, with three being selected in the annual college player selection, MLS SuperDraft.
Since its inception in 2015, Republic FC’s Youth Development Academy has played at the highest level of youth soccer in North America, providing talented area players with the only youth-to-pro pathway in the Sacramento region. Thirty academy players have earned first-team opportunities on Academy Contracts, which allow players to maintain their amateur status while competing in USL Championship matches. The club’s academy squads have been among the best in the nation, with each team finishing in first place in their respective regional divisions in 2021, and starting the 2022 season with a combined 29-8-5 record.
