Stefano Bonomo announces retirement as Sacramento Republic player

One name absent from Sacramento Republic FC’s 2020 preseason roster this week was forward Stefano Bonomo, and now we know why, as the player announced on Thursday he has retired as a player.

The 26-year-old Bay Area native hangs up his cleats after a five-year pro career. Drafted by the New York Red Bulls in 2015, he began at their USL team, winning a league title with NYRBII in 2016. He had a cup of coffee at MLS level with the Red Bulls, and also featured for the Tampa Bay Rowdies for part of the 2018 season.

Bonomo, a Cal product, played for Sac Republic last season, scoring five goals in regular-season action and named to the USL Championship Team of the Week twice.

“I’ve been fortunate to play the game I love for a living. The experiences and friendships created over the course of my professional career are ones that will resonate with me forever,” Bonomo said in a team statement. “It was a true honor to play my last season close to home in front Sacramento’s amazing fans. Sacramento will always have a special place in my heart. I would like to thank the club from the top to bottom and everyone else that has played a part in my time with the Republic.”

Best of luck on the next step in your life, Stefano.

More news for your Friday:

• Kevin Kerr retires: It’s over in the other conference, but one of the stalwarts of the USLPRO/USL/USL Championship, midfielder Kevin Kerr, announced he was also retiring after seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Even with all the professional upgrades to the league in that span, it’s pretty nearly unheard of for a guy to play seven seasons in one spot. Pittsburgh Soccer Now spoke to Kerr following the news.
• International signings: San Antonio FC grabbed a player on loan from the Argentine first tier, the Charlotte Independence picked up a player from Ligue 2, and Phoenix Rising added a Scottish player from the Scottish Championship. Seems like teams are largely stepping up their international signing game, but we’ll see which guys pan out and which ones will have a short stay in the USL Championship.
• Interesting tryouts: On Thursday, local Charlotte fan/podcaster Ben Goshorn tried out for the Charlotte Independence, and left a lunchtime dispatch that he had survived to that point (survived as in he was physically alive). Ben’s leap of faith came alongside USL broadcaster Tyler Terens, a former college player who tried out for Phoenix Rising FC on Thursday.

Today’s question: What was your favorite Stefano Bonomo goal? Let’s chat about that and anything else you like on this Friday!