Sacramento Republic FC announces addition of attacker Russell Cicerone among signings
Sacramento Republic FC, after a promising season that included a trip to the U.S. Open Cup Final and USL Championship playoffs, has added some much-needed scoring for the 2023 campaign.
The team announced Friday it agreed to terms with former Pittsburgh Riverhound Russell Cicerone to add to its group of forwards. Cicerone, 28, last season tied for eighth in the league with 15 goals while no member of Republic FC had more than eight.
“Russell is a versatile attacker and proven goal scorer who is coming to Sacramento at the height of his career,” team president and GM Todd Dunivant said. “We feel he fits our system perfectly and has the mentality to drive our attack.”
Cicerone joins Sacramento as a free agent after two seasons in Pittsburgh, where he led his team in scoring in both season. He was the only player in the USL to rank in the top 10 in assists and goals in 2021. He previously played for Saint Louis FC after being taken with the 76th pick in the MLS SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers in 2017.
Additionally, Sacramento announced eight players are coming back on the second year of their contracts. The headliner is captain Rodrigo Lopez, along with Lee Desmond, Matt LaGrassa, Nick Ross, Jack Gurr, Damia Viader, Zeiko Lewis, and Douglas Martinez. Rafael Jauregui and Mario Penagos will be back after going through the team’s developmental system after signing in 2020.
Six players had their contract options for 2023 get picked up by the club: starting goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, Carlos Saldaña, Conor Donovan, Ferrety Sousa, Keko Gontan and Luther Archimede.
Republic FC is hoping to reload after finishing fourth in the Western Conference in 2022 and making the playoffs for the eighth time in the club’s nine-year existence. Sacramento was the No. 4 seed in the postseason and reached the semifinal round.
The team sold out Heart Health Park at Sacramento’s Cal Expo six times throughout last year, and because of its deep run through the U.S. Open Cup, played in more games than any American club team aside from New York City FC. Sacramento’s 22 wins tied the club record for victories in a calendar year.
The 2023 regular season is tentatively scheduled to start in March.
