2016 Sacramento Republic FC season


The 2016 Sacramento Republic FC season is the club's third season of existence. The club is playing in the United Soccer League, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid. After off season expansion of the USL from 24 to 31 teams, Sacramento Republic FC is competing in the new Western Conference of the USL.
The season is to begin in March 2016 and concluded in September 2016.

Background

2015 saw much growth in attendance with the expansion of Bonney Field, but this was not a sign of things to come for the club. In 2015, the Republic failed to produce on the field as they did the year before, dropping out of the playoffs in the first round. Their performance in the 2014 U.S. Open Cup was mirrored in 2015, once again losing to San Jose earthquakes in the 4th round. The 2015 season was riddled with emotional setbacks, MLS decided on Minnesota as its newest expansion over Sacramento. The Republic lost the head coach, Coach Preki, whom they felt would be the one to propel the team to the MLS. At the end of the season, the player with the most MLS experience, whom some considered the star player, Rodrigo López announced he will not be returning to Sacramento Republic, ultimately returning to Mexico and playing for Celaya FC in the Ascenso MX.
The 2016 preseason, the club looked to turn things around. The club picked up Nike as their kit manufacturers, redesigned the team jersey and, on December 2, Sacramento city council approved the Republic's MLS stadium plan with a unanimous vote. Their hopes were once again revitalized three days later, when the MLS board announced its decision to once again expand the league from 24 to 28 teams.
Sacramento Republic F.C. continued their off season productivity by extending several players contracts, including fan-favorite, Octavio Guzmán and hometown hero, Cameron Iwasa. The club's Academy contributed to the off season's ambition with its U-16 and U-18 team both going undefeated in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

Club

As of September 17, 2016.
No.PositionPlayerNation

Technical Staff

As of June 25, 2015.
PositionName
Technical Director Graham Smith
Head Coach Paul Buckle
Assistant Head Coach Adam Charles Smith
Assistant Coach Chris Malenab
Assistant Coach Antonio Sutton
Goalkeeping Coach Simon Sheppard
Strength & Conditioning Coach Luke Rayfield

Competitions

Preseason

USL

Results summary

Standings

U.S. Open Cup

Friendlies

Transfers

In

No.Pos.PlayerTransferred FromFee/NotesDateSource
12 Oklahoma City Energy FC
3 New York Red Bulls II
8 Colorado Springs Switchbacks
16 Cal Poly
15 Cesifut
19 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
9 Cheltenham Town FC
22 Ventura County Fusion
24 San Jose Earthquakes
18 Liverpool FC U-21s
11 Blyth Spartans
13 Fresno Fuego
26 Fresno Fuego

Out

No.Pos.PlayerTransferred ToFee/NotesDateSource
17 Indy Eleven
12 Indy Eleven
24 Chicago Fire
18 Orange County Blues FCLoan
42 San Francisco City FC
10 Ottawa Fury
10 Persib Bandung
18 St. Louis FC
22 Real Monarchs
17 St. Louis FC
16 Reno 1868 FC
19 Reno 1868 FC
24Retirement
11 St. Louis FCOption Waived
7 Tulsa Roughnecks
2 Bray Wanderers FC
14 Sporting Kansas City

Loan in

No.Pos.PlayerLoaned FromFee/NotesDateSource
21 San Jose Earthquakes
13 San Jose Earthquakes
26 San Jose Earthquakes
27 San Jose Earthquakes
28 Tampa Bay Rowdies