Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 154 lbs
Born: May 10, 1987
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California (birthplace: Guadalajara, Mexico)
Nationality: Mexico
College: n/a
Previous Club: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
Joined Republic FC: January 18, 2022 (acquired rights from Rio Grande Valley FC) – had previous stints with club in 2020, 2014-15
Career Bio
2023 USL Championship – Republic FC: Team Captain, 11 starts in 18 appearances, 935 minutes, 5 assists, 37 chances created
Lopez returned to Republic FC in 2022, helping the club become the first lower-division team to reach the U.S. Open Cup Final 14 years. He finished the tournament tied for the golden boot with 4 goals and led the tournament with 4 assists, making him the only player to ever be named the U.S. Open Cup Player of the Tournament and the Lower Division Player of the Tournament (TheCup.us). Across all competitions in 2022, he led Republic FC in goals, assists, shots, shots on target and chances created; and was named to the USL Championship All-League First Team.
He re-joined Sacramento after spending the 2021 season with USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros and helping the South Texas club reach the Western Conference Semifinals. With the Toros, he made 28 starts in 33 appearances, while adding six goals and six assists – top three among RGV players. The veteran earned league accolades with four Team of the Week selections and two Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week nominations in 2021.
The Guadalajara, Mexico native was Republic FC’s first-ever signing in 2013 and played with the Indomitable Club during its first two seasons in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, he was named the MVP of the 2014 USL Championship Final as Republic FC earned the league title in its inaugural season. After leaving Sacramento following the 2015 season, Lopez rejoined Republic FC in 2020. In 70 appearances across three seasons with Sacramento, RoRo has scored 28 goals and added 19 assists, both in the top three in all-time club history. Other accolades include being named as a finalist for the league’s 2014 Most Valuable Player, a 2014 First Team All-Championship selection, two Player of the Week honors, and multiple Team of the Week selections.
His professional career began in 2005 with MLS-side Chivas USA. After three seasons with the southern California club, he would move on to compete in NASL, USL PDL, MLS Reserve League, USL Championship and Mexico’s top leagues – Ascenso MX and Liga MX.
Milestones & Honors
- 1st all-time in Republic FC assists
- 2nd all-time in Republic FC appearances
- 3rd all-time in Republic FC minutes
- 2024: 2 Team of the Week selections (USL Championship)
- 2023: 1 Team of the Week selection (USL Championship)
- 2022: USL Championship All-League 1st Team
- August 2022 Player of the Month (USL Championship)
- 2022: 1 Player of the Week selection (USL Championship)
- 2022: 6 Team of the Week selections (USL Championship)
- 2022 U.S. Open Cup Player of the Tournament (TheCup.us)
- 2022 U.S. Open Cup Lower Division Player of the Tournament (TheCup.us)
- 2022 U.S. Open Cup Golden Boot (4) and tournament leader in assists (4)
- 2021: 4 Team of the Week selections (RGVFC)
- 2015 All-League Second Team
- 2014 USL Pro Champion (Republic FC)
- 2014 USL Pro Championship MVP
- 2014 USL Pro All-League First Team
- 2014 USL Pro League MVP Finalist
- 2014: 2 Player of the Week selections (USL Pro)