Russell
Cicerone

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2023 USL Championship – Republic FC: 35 starts in 37 appearances (team best), 2,989 minutes, 17 goals (team best), 4 assists (team best), 70 shots (47 SOT) (team best), 41 chances created

Career Bio

The Michigan native joined Republic FC following two seasons with USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, where he led the team in scoring both years – adding 16 goals in 2021 and 15 more in 2022. In 67 league appearances, he also created plenty of scoring opportunities for his teammates, recording 14 assists and creating 76 chances. His eight assists in 2021 made him the only player in the league to rank in the top 10 for both goals and assists. His standout play with Pittsburgh has also been recognized throughout the league, with three Team of the Week nods in 2022 and a Player of the Month nomination in August 2021 after scoring the first hat trick in club history.

Prior to joining the Hounds, Cicerone spent two seasons with Saint Louis FC, where he scored 10 goals and three assists in 51 appearances. He helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2020, the furthest St. Louis had ever advanced in postseason play. He also featured for FC Cincinnati in 2018, adding one goal in 10 appearances.

His professional career began in 2017 when he was selected 76^th in the MLS SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers. He later joined the club’s USL side, Portland Timbers 2, for the season and scored one goal in 29 appearances. He was also called up to make an appearance for Portland’s MLS side in the Fourth Round of the 2017 U.S. Open Cup.

Cicerone also had an exceptional college career at the University of Buffalo, adding 42 goals and 22 assists in 71 matches across four years. He was selected to the Mid-American Conference’s First Team each season and was named the 2015 MAC Player of the Year. At the same time, he competed for NPSL side FC Buffalo and USL PDL side Michigan Bucks while in college.

Milestones & Honors

• Ranked 3rd in all-time SRFC scoring
• 2024: 1 Team of the Week selection (USL Championship)
• August 24, 2024: scored his 60th USL Championship regular season goal
• April 20, 2024: Made his 200th USL Championship appearance
• 2023 USL Championship All-League Second Team
• 2023 USL Championship Player of the Year Finalist
• May 2023 Player of the Month, April 2023 Player of the Month Finalist
• 2023: 5 Team of the Week selections (USL Championship)
• 2023: Republic FC Team MVP
• 2023: Scored 50th career goal
• 2023: Surpassed 15,000 professional minutes
• 2022: 3 Team of the Week selections (USL Championship)
• 2021: 1 Player of the Week nomination (USL Championship)
• 2021: Scored the first hat trick in Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC history