SACRAMENTO, Calif. (December 22, 2018) — Sacramento Republic FC announced today the club has signed defender Dekel Keinan to a USL Championship contract for the 2019 season with a club option for 2020, pending league and federation approval.

“Dekel’s resume speaks for itself,” said Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant. “He has played at the highest level and will bring invaluable leadership to our team both on the field and off. His gritty mentality is a welcome addition that prioritizes defending and keeping the ball out of the net.”

Keinan joins Republic FC after spending a season with FC Cincinnati where he captained the midwestern side to their first regular-season title. The 34-year-old center back made 23 appearances and scored two goals during a historic season that saw Cincinnati set USL regular-season records for most points (77), wins (23) and consecutive games without a loss (23).

Prior to his time in Ohio, Keinan enjoyed a professional career that spanned from his native Israel to the English Premier League. He spent the first eight years of his career in the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Haifa, where he won two league championships and competed in the UEFA Cup and Champions League.

In 2010, Keinan moved to England to play in the English Premier League with newly promoted Blackpool FC. The Israeli spent a single season in Lancashire before joining then-EFL Championship side Cardiff City. The following year, he played for both Crystal Palace and Bristol City on loan.

Keinan returned to Macabbi Haifa ahead of the 2012-13 campaign where he spent the following six seasons and won the Israel State Cup in 2015, while also competing in the Europa League.

Born in Rosh HaNikra, Israel, Keinan has 27 international caps with his native country, including 10 World Cup Qualifiers and eight UEFA Euro Qualifiers.

TRANSACTION: Republic FC sign defender Dekel Keinan on December 22, 2018.

Dekel Keinan

Pronunciation: dek-uhl kay-NAHN

Position: Defender

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 179 lb

Born: September 15, 1984

Birthplace: Rosh HaNikra, Israel