Republic FC Exercise Contract Options for 2024 Roster

Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC begins its preparation for the 2024 USL Championship season with roster moves at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Seventeen players from the 2023 roster are under contract to return for the 2024 season.

Ten players have active contracts with Republic FC that include the 2024 season: Rafael Jauregui, Cristian Parano, Luis Felipe, Conor Donovan, Sebastian Herrera, Arnold Lopez, Jared Timmer, Russell Cicerone, Danny Vitiello and Da’vian Kimbrough. Earlier this month, Republic FC announced contract extensions for 2023 Golden Glove Winner Vitiello and Defensive Player of the Year nominee Donovan.

The club is preparing to exercise contract options with seven players for the 2024 season: Aldair Sanchez, Damià Viader, Shane Wiedt, Jack Gurr, Lee Desmond, Rodrigo Lopez and Nick Ross.

Republic FC has already begun adding to its roster for 2024. Earlier this month, the club announced the signing of USL League One Player of the Year Trevor Amann, and the addition of academy standouts Chibuike “Chibi” Ukaegbu and Blake Willey to the first team roster on professional contracts.

After an eight-year career with 209 appearances across USL and MLS, Sacramento-native Matt LaGrassa has retired from professional soccer. LaGrassa made his professional debut with his hometown club in 2016 and scored his first professional goal at home later that season. He featured for the Indomitable Club 80 times across 3 seasons, including one of Sacramento’s biggest sporting events in city history – the U.S. Open Cup semifinal win over Sporting Kansas City.

The club will not exercise its contract option with Mario Penagos, Johnny Fenwick, and Zeiko Lewis. Contracts with Panzani Ferrety Sousa, Carlos Saldaña, Keko Gontán and Luther Archimède will expire at the end of the 2023 season.

In the team’s 10^th USL Championship season, Republic FC finished at the top of the Western Conference table with 64 points, the second-best point total in club history, with a record of 18-6-10. During the season, the Indomitable Club held a share of first place or led the Western Conference for 31 weeks out of the 32 matchweeks. The season featured the most home victories in a single season (11), in addition to one of the league’s best road records with seven away wins. Republic FC’s defense led the league, only conceding 26 goals in regular season play, while recording 14 shutouts – a new club high. Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello claimed the Golden Glove award with a 0.83 goals against average.

On offense, Republic FC scored 51 goals – a new club season high – finishing tied for 6^th in the league. First year forward Russell Cicerone led the team with 15 goals, tied for 6^th in the Golden Boot race. The club’s four all-league selections – a new club record, (Donovan, Gurr, Vitiello, Cicerone) were the most for any club in USL Championship this season, as well as all four players and Head Coach Mark Briggs selection as finalists for the league’s end of season awards.

In January, the club will host its annual Open Tryout, when the region’s best players get the opportunity to impress the team’s technical staff and earn an invitation to training camp. Registration will open early December.

Season ticket memberships for Republic FC’s 2024 season are now on sale. To learn more about membership benefits – including how to secure the best seats at the lowest price per match – visit SacRepbulicFC.com/memberships.