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Blake Smith often smiled with excitement during his tour of Toyota Field last week alongside his wife Ross, and SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. Who can blame him? There is plenty for the 28-year-old experienced pro to smile about these days. Smith was touring the stadium after he signed a contract to join San Antonio FC for the 2020 USL Championship season, but the kicker was that the Boerne, Texas native was finally returning home to play for his hometown club.

Smith joins the Alamo City club as it enters a relatively new era under newly appointed head coach Alen Marcina. After getting the job earlier this month, Marcina immediately began the search process for the 2020 SAFC roster, and after the formality of exercising a couple of options, Marcina made sure to bring in Smith – a top target to play on the left side of defense next season.

“Blake is a first-class professional,” said Marcina. “He holds championship experience and fits the player profile of our defined game model. We are excited to have him at San Antonio FC."

Blake Smith often smiled with excitement during his tour of Toyota Field last week alongside his wife Ross, and SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. Who can blame him? There is plenty for the 28-year-old experienced pro to smile about these days. Smith was touring the stadium after he signed a contract to join San Antonio FC for the 2020 USL Championship season, but the kicker was that the Boerne, Texas native was finally returning home to play for his hometown club.

Smith joins the Alamo City club as it enters a relatively new era under newly appointed head coach Alen Marcina. After getting the job earlier this month, Marcina immediately began the search process for the 2020 SAFC roster, and after the formality of exercising a couple of options, Marcina made sure to bring in Smith – a top target to play on the left side of defense next season.

“Blake is a first-class professional,” said Marcina. “He holds championship experience and fits the player profile of our defined game model. We are excited to have him at San Antonio FC.”

On the field, its clear what Smith will bring to the team. A hard worker who constantly gives his all for his club, Smith is a stout left-sided defender with attacking skills that can get him involved in creating chances on the forward side of the ball. He has consistently created scoring opportunities and recorded assists in all of his stops throughout the USL, NASL and MLS.

“I’m a passionate player that will always give 150 percent and do the best he can to help out his teammates,” Smith added. “I bring experience and I’m an attack minded player on the left side. I get up and down the left flank and create opportunities whether that be through crosses or cutting inside. I bring an engine and a work rate.”

Off the field, Smith has a reputation as a great teammate, an exceptionally hard worker and someone who is community driven. Each trait fits what San Antonio FC identifies as key in the player and staff recruitment process.

On the field, its clear what Smith will bring to the team. A hard worker who constantly gives his all for his club, Smith is a stout left-sided defender with attacking skills that can get him involved in creating chances on the forward side of the ball. He has consistently created scoring opportunities and recorded assists in all of his stops throughout the USL, NASL and MLS.

“I’m a passionate player that will always give 150 percent and do the best he can to help out his teammates,” Smith added. “I bring experience and I’m an attack minded player on the left side. I get up and down the left flank and create opportunities whether that be through crosses or cutting inside. I bring an engine and a work rate.”

Off the field, Smith has a reputation as a great teammate, an exceptionally hard worker and someone who is community driven. Each trait fits what San Antonio FC identifies as key in the player and staff recruitment process.

The South Texas native brings his skills to the Alamo City after an impressive professional career to date. Following his time at the University of New Mexico, Smith was drafted by the Montreal Impact (MLS) with the eighth pick in the 2013 SuperDraft and went on to make 30-plus appearances for the first-team and reserves. He then made stops with Indy Eleven, Miami FC, Yverdon-Sport in Switzerland and FC Cincinnati before joining Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League in 2019.

He finished runners up with the Impact in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League, he won a regular season title in 2018 with FC Cincinnati and he was named to the NASL Team of the Week four times in 2017 with Miami FC. Combine these with his high school and college accolades, and you’ll see that Smith has already racked up plenty of accomplishments at 28 years old.

But 2020 with San Antonio FC also offers something new and unique for Smith. He has the chance to play in front of his family and friends on a regular basis. After seeing him play live as a professional maybe once or twice a year, Smith’s family will now plan to be at every SAFC home match in 2020. That is huge for him.

“It’s something that everyone dreams of happening when they are professionals and it’s not always possible,” said Smith. “For me to be able to be close to family and also have them at every home match is very special. I’m over the moon and happy to play at home, and my family is going to be delighted to be at home matches this year.”

The South Texas native brings his skills to the Alamo City after an impressive professional career to date. Following his time at the University of New Mexico, Smith was drafted by the Montreal Impact (MLS) with the eighth pick in the 2013 SuperDraft and went on to make 30-plus appearances for the first-team and reserves. He then made stops with Indy Eleven, Miami FC, Yverdon-Sport in Switzerland and FC Cincinnati before joining Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League in 2019.

He finished runners up with the Impact in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League, he won a regular season title in 2018 with FC Cincinnati and he was named to the NASL Team of the Week four times in 2017 with Miami FC. Combine these with his high school and college accolades, and you’ll see that Smith has already racked up plenty of accomplishments at 28 years old.

But 2020 with San Antonio FC also offers something new and unique for Smith. He has the chance to play in front of his family and friends on a regular basis. After seeing him play live as a professional maybe once or twice a year, Smith’s family will now plan to be at every SAFC home match in 2020. That is huge for him.

“It’s something that everyone dreams of happening when they are professionals and it’s not always possible,” said Smith. “For me to be able to be close to family and also have them at every home match is very special. I’m over the moon and happy to play at home, and my family is going to be delighted to be at home matches this year.”

Smith is clearly well traveled in his professional days, living in new cities and countries that some would hope to accomplish in a lifetime. Coming back to San Antonio, he notices the strides the soccer landscape in the city has taken since he originally left in 2009. While on his way to being named the San Antonio Express-News Player of the Year in 2009, Smith played for Boerne Champion High School and played his club soccer with Classics Elite. Back then, there was no club attached to a professional team, and the now fully funded SAFC Pro Academy was a pipe dream at best.

Smith recognizes with the new infrastructure that SAFC has helped expand in San Antonio, there are more opportunities for young players to get noticed and be successful. Between the youth component, the professional facilities in San Antonio, and the passion of the fans, Smith sees a whole new soccer world in the Alamo City.

“The facilities here are some of the best I’ve seen, definitely at the USL level, but even at the MLS level some of the facilities aren’t as nice as this,” Smith remarked. “Nowadays, these kids have some advantage to play in this environment and learn under these circumstances and coaches. I am definitely jealous we didn’t have this when I was growing up here and playing club soccer.”

Smith is clearly well traveled in his professional days, living in new cities and countries that some would hope to accomplish in a lifetime. Coming back to San Antonio, he notices the strides the soccer landscape in the city has taken since he originally left in 2009. While on his way to being named the San Antonio Express-News Player of the Year in 2009, Smith played for Boerne Champion High School and played his club soccer with Classics Elite. Back then, there was no club attached to a professional team, and the now fully funded SAFC Pro Academy was a pipe dream at best.

Smith recognizes with the new infrastructure that SAFC has helped expand in San Antonio, there are more opportunities for young players to get noticed and be successful. Between the youth component, the professional facilities in San Antonio, and the passion of the fans, Smith sees a whole new soccer world in the Alamo City.

“The facilities here are some of the best I’ve seen, definitely at the USL level, but even at the MLS level some of the facilities aren’t as nice as this,” Smith remarked. “Nowadays, these kids have some advantage to play in this environment and learn under these circumstances and coaches. I am definitely jealous we didn’t have this when I was growing up here and playing club soccer.”

Following his contract signing, stadium tour and photoshoot last week, Smith and his wife took a an SAFC scarf home to add to the collection. The day was filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. If anything, it made it harder to wait until training camp arrives. For now, Smith is going to enjoy time with his family, and watch with excited eyes as Marcina continues to build his roster for 2020.

“I’m super excited for training camp to start,” said Smith. “I wish it was all starting a bit sooner. I’ll enjoy the holidays right now with my family and then get ready to go. I can’t wait to see who else we sign and get this going.”

Following his contract signing, stadium tour and photoshoot last week, Smith and his wife took a an SAFC scarf home to add to the collection. The day was filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. If anything, it made it harder to wait until training camp arrives. For now, Smith is going to enjoy time with his family, and watch with excited eyes as Marcina continues to build his roster for 2020.

“I’m super excited for training camp to start,” said Smith. “I wish it was all starting a bit sooner. I’ll enjoy the holidays right now with my family and then get ready to go. I can’t wait to see who else we sign and get this going.”

San Antonio FC will host Major League Soccer side FC Dallas in a preseason exhibition match at Toyota Field on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The match marks the second time an MLS opponent visits SAFC as the Alamo City club prepares for the upcoming USL Championship season.

The preseason exhibition match is included in the San Antonio FC Season Ticket Membership package. Fans can also currently purchase a two-game bundle that includes FC Dallas and the SAFC USL Championship home opener by visiting www.sanantoniofc.com or calling or texting 210-444-5657. Individual game tickets for the rest of the 2020 season will go on sale at a later date.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to host FC Dallas as the kickoff to another exciting season of San Antonio FC action at Toyota Field,” SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt said. “To be able to test ourselves against a perennial power in MLS will provide what is sure to be a memorable evening for the entire San Antonio soccer community.”

Founded as the Dallas Burn in 1995 before changing their club name in 2005, FC Dallas has won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice, most recently in 2016 while also winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield that year — an award given to the team with the best regular season record. FC Dallas were also runners-up in the 2010 MLS Cup as well as the 2005 and 2007 editions of the Open Cup.

The match marks the second time the two clubs face each other at Toyota Field after SAFC hosted FC Dallas in the fourth round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup, where the Alamo City club narrowly fell 0-1 on a goal from Tesho Akindele.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the 2020 USL season. Fans interested in season tickets can call or text 210-444-5657 or visit www.sanantoniofc.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook, as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC), and Instagram (@sanantoniofc).

San Antonio FC will host Major League Soccer side FC Dallas in a preseason exhibition match at Toyota Field on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The match marks the second time an MLS opponent visits SAFC as the Alamo City club prepares for the upcoming USL Championship season.

The preseason exhibition match is included in the San Antonio FC Season Ticket Membership package. Fans can also currently purchase a two-game bundle that includes FC Dallas and the SAFC USL Championship home opener by visiting www.sanantoniofc.com or calling or texting 210-444-5657. Individual game tickets for the rest of the 2020 season will go on sale at a later date.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to host FC Dallas as the kickoff to another exciting season of San Antonio FC action at Toyota Field,” SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt said. “To be able to test ourselves against a perennial power in MLS will provide what is sure to be a memorable evening for the entire San Antonio soccer community.”

Founded as the Dallas Burn in 1995 before changing their club name in 2005, FC Dallas has won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice, most recently in 2016 while also winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield that year — an award given to the team with the best regular season record. FC Dallas were also runners-up in the 2010 MLS Cup as well as the 2005 and 2007 editions of the Open Cup.

The match marks the second time the two clubs face each other at Toyota Field after SAFC hosted FC Dallas in the fourth round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup, where the Alamo City club narrowly fell 0-1 on a goal from Tesho Akindele.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the 2020 USL season. Fans interested in season tickets can call or text 210-444-5657 or visit www.sanantoniofc.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook, as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC), and Instagram (@sanantoniofc).

San Antonio FC defender Ebenezer Ackon will return in 2020 after the club exercised his contract option, the team announced today. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"As a staff, we are delighted to welcome back Ebenezer,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “He is committed to our club, culture, and community and meets the on-field performance expectation being among league leaders in various statistical categories. We look forward to developing his game further as he has the potential to progress to the next level."

Ackon appeared in 33 games for San Antonio FC in his rookie season, compiling 2,970 minutes played which ranked second on the team. His 2,970 minutes played are second all-time in SAFC single-season history behind Kai Greene who recorded 3,060 in 2019. In addition, Ackon led SAFC in duels (431) and duels won (278), while finishing second on the team in blocks (21), interceptions (47), tackles won (54) and aerial duels won (82). Ackon’s 278 duels won ranked second in the league and first in the Western Conference despite attempting just the 14th most duels in the USL Championship.  

The defender also added an assist and was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week (May 14) once over the course of his first professional season.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of this family for the 2020 season,” Ackon said. “I’m very thankful to SAFC and everyone who has contributed to my professional journey. I can’t wait to get back to business and achieve great things with the team this season.”

Ackon originally joined SAFC after playing collegiate soccer at Bowling Green State University from 2017-18. Following his college career, Ackon was drafted by the Chicago Fire in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft but went on to sign for SAFC. Following his 2018 season with the Falcons, the 22-year-old was named to the All-MAC First Team while also being named to the All-Ohio Team.

Born in Ghana, the 23-year-old began playing for Bowling Green State in 2017 after receiving eligibility from the NCAA. The rookie also attended the University of Cape Coast in his home country before moving to the United States.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the upcoming USL Championship season, and fans can purchase 2020 season tickets by calling or texting the SAFC sales office at 210-444-5657 or by visiting www.sanantoniofc.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook (@SAFCUSL), as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC) and Instagram (@sanantoniofc).

 

San Antonio FC defender Ebenezer Ackon will return in 2020 after the club exercised his contract option, the team announced today. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“As a staff, we are delighted to welcome back Ebenezer,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “He is committed to our club, culture, and community and meets the on-field performance expectation being among league leaders in various statistical categories. We look forward to developing his game further as he has the potential to progress to the next level.”

Ackon appeared in 33 games for San Antonio FC in his rookie season, compiling 2,970 minutes played which ranked second on the team. His 2,970 minutes played are second all-time in SAFC single-season history behind Kai Greene who recorded 3,060 in 2019. In addition, Ackon led SAFC in duels (431) and duels won (278), while finishing second on the team in blocks (21), interceptions (47), tackles won (54) and aerial duels won (82). Ackon’s 278 duels won ranked second in the league and first in the Western Conference despite attempting just the 14th most duels in the USL Championship.  

The defender also added an assist and was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week (May 14) once over the course of his first professional season.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of this family for the 2020 season,” Ackon said. “I’m very thankful to SAFC and everyone who has contributed to my professional journey. I can’t wait to get back to business and achieve great things with the team this season.”

Ackon originally joined SAFC after playing collegiate soccer at Bowling Green State University from 2017-18. Following his college career, Ackon was drafted by the Chicago Fire in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft but went on to sign for SAFC. Following his 2018 season with the Falcons, the 22-year-old was named to the All-MAC First Team while also being named to the All-Ohio Team.

Born in Ghana, the 23-year-old began playing for Bowling Green State in 2017 after receiving eligibility from the NCAA. The rookie also attended the University of Cape Coast in his home country before moving to the United States.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the upcoming USL Championship season, and fans can purchase 2020 season tickets by calling or texting the SAFC sales office at 210-444-5657 or by visiting www.sanantoniofc.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook (@SAFCUSL), as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC) and Instagram (@sanantoniofc).

 

San Antonio FC midfielder and reigning USL Championship Young Player of the Year Cristian Parano will return in 2020 after the club exercised his contract option, the team announced today. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"We are excited to bring back USL Young Player of the Year Cristian Parano,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “He embodies the high-character and high-performing individuals we seek, and he is fully committed to our culture, club and community. Cristian is one of the most exciting players in the league, and we look forward to seeing him progress in year two."

Parano scored seven goals and recorded six assists, adding 53 chances created while playing 2,166 minutes across 32 appearances for the club last season. The Argentinian led the USL Championship with 109 successful dribbles and ranked fifth among SAFC players who made at least 700 passes in 2019 with an 84.1 percent passing accuracy. Parano was named the league’s Young Player of the Year following the season after receiving 29 percent of the vote, while joining Diego Restrepo and Sebastien Ibeagha as the only SAFC players to receive USL Awards.

“I’m thrilled to come back to San Antonio,” said Parano. “We have high expectations for ourselves to accomplish big things as a club, and I’m excited to keep improving and working hard day to day while enjoying the beautiful game. I’m thankful to God for this new opportunity.”

In 2019, Parano also became the first SAFC player in franchise history to be featured on the USL 20 Under 20 list, ranking No. 2 in the 2019 edition of the list while finishing as the highest-ranked player from the USL Championship. Parano’s performances earned him USL Championship Player of the Week honors on Aug. 13 and Aug. 27, adding to his USL Team of the Week honors on Sept. 17. The Argentina native also scored two braces on the season, once on Aug. 10 at Reno 1868 FC before adding his second on Aug. 24 vs. New Mexico United en route to the team’s biggest win in club history.

The 20-year-old originally joined SAFC after a successful trial prior to the start of the 2019 USL Championship season following stints in the River Plate youth setup from 2014-17 and San Martin de San Juan during the 2017-18 campaign.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the upcoming USL Championship season, and fans can purchase 2020 season tickets by calling or texting the SAFC sales office at 210-444-5657 or by visiting www.sanantoniofc.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook (@SAFCUSL), as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC) and Instagram (@sanantoniofc).

San Antonio FC midfielder and reigning USL Championship Young Player of the Year Cristian Parano will return in 2020 after the club exercised his contract option, the team announced today. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“We are excited to bring back USL Young Player of the Year Cristian Parano,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “He embodies the high-character and high-performing individuals we seek, and he is fully committed to our culture, club and community. Cristian is one of the most exciting players in the league, and we look forward to seeing him progress in year two.”

Parano scored seven goals and recorded six assists, adding 53 chances created while playing 2,166 minutes across 32 appearances for the club last season. The Argentinian led the USL Championship with 109 successful dribbles and ranked fifth among SAFC players who made at least 700 passes in 2019 with an 84.1 percent passing accuracy. Parano was named the league’s Young Player of the Year following the season after receiving 29 percent of the vote, while joining Diego Restrepo and Sebastien Ibeagha as the only SAFC players to receive USL Awards.

“I’m thrilled to come back to San Antonio,” said Parano. “We have high expectations for ourselves to accomplish big things as a club, and I’m excited to keep improving and working hard day to day while enjoying the beautiful game. I’m thankful to God for this new opportunity.”

In 2019, Parano also became the first SAFC player in franchise history to be featured on the USL 20 Under 20 list, ranking No. 2 in the 2019 edition of the list while finishing as the highest-ranked player from the USL Championship. Parano’s performances earned him USL Championship Player of the Week honors on Aug. 13 and Aug. 27, adding to his USL Team of the Week honors on Sept. 17. The Argentina native also scored two braces on the season, once on Aug. 10 at Reno 1868 FC before adding his second on Aug. 24 vs. New Mexico United en route to the team’s biggest win in club history.

The 20-year-old originally joined SAFC after a successful trial prior to the start of the 2019 USL Championship season following stints in the River Plate youth setup from 2014-17 and San Martin de San Juan during the 2017-18 campaign.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the upcoming USL Championship season, and fans can purchase 2020 season tickets by calling or texting the SAFC sales office at 210-444-5657 or by visiting www.sanantoniofc.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook (@SAFCUSL), as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC) and Instagram (@sanantoniofc).

La semana empezó con una era nueva para San Antonio FC, quien nombro su segundo director técnico en Alen Marcina el lunes. Marcina recibió promoción después de pasar la temporada 2019 como asistente al primer equipo, y el canadiense toma el liderato con casi una década de experiencia. Después del cambio que se llevo a cabo al final de la temporada, SAFC embarco en una búsqueda global con mas de 50 candidatos que compitieron por la posición. Al final, Marcina sobresalió y fue entregado las riendas al club de la ciudad del Alamo.

“Nuestros candidatos fueron domésticos, internacionales, de clubes profesionales y selecciones internacionales,” dijo el Director General del club Tim Holt. “Estuvimos muy sorprendidos. Hubieron candidatos excelentes y tuvimos la oportunidad de pasar tiempo con varios de ellos. Cuando pasas por un proceso asi es cosa de encontrar a la persona indicada. Para nosotros, al principio del proceso cuando sabíamos que estábamos buscando a nuestro líder, tuvimos que definir internamente que era lo que estábamos buscando para determinar quien era la persona que mejor podría hacer el trabajo. Así fuimos progresando y pasamos tiempo con todos y también con Alen en formas que no habíamos interactuado en el pasado, y así se nos hizo claro que el representaba lo que estábamos buscando.”

La semana empezó con una era nueva para San Antonio FC, quien nombro su segundo director técnico en Alen Marcina el lunes. Marcina recibió promoción después de pasar la temporada 2019 como asistente al primer equipo, y el canadiense toma el liderato con casi una década de experiencia. Después del cambio que se llevo a cabo al final de la temporada, SAFC embarco en una búsqueda global con mas de 50 candidatos que compitieron por la posición. Al final, Marcina sobresalió y fue entregado las riendas al club de la ciudad del Alamo.

“Nuestros candidatos fueron domésticos, internacionales, de clubes profesionales y selecciones internacionales,” dijo el Director General del club Tim Holt. “Estuvimos muy sorprendidos. Hubieron candidatos excelentes y tuvimos la oportunidad de pasar tiempo con varios de ellos. Cuando pasas por un proceso asi es cosa de encontrar a la persona indicada. Para nosotros, al principio del proceso cuando sabíamos que estábamos buscando a nuestro líder, tuvimos que definir internamente que era lo que estábamos buscando para determinar quien era la persona que mejor podría hacer el trabajo. Así fuimos progresando y pasamos tiempo con todos y también con Alen en formas que no habíamos interactuado en el pasado, y así se nos hizo claro que el representaba lo que estábamos buscando.”

En su conferencia de prensa el lunes, Marcina expreso su emoción por SAFC y la oportunidad que le queda por enfrente.

“Es un sentimiento emocionante y estoy muy agradecido hacia San Antonio FC y Spurs Sports & Entertainment por darme esta oportunidad de dirigir al club en esta nueva etapa,” dijo Marcina. “Espero trabajar con la gente aquí. Somos una familia y tenemos a mucha gente de alto carácter y alto rendimiento. Queremos crear una cultura de alto rendimiento en el futuro y estamos emocionados de poder adquirir a mas gente que cabe en esa cultura y esta comprometida a nuestro club y comunidad, lo cual es muy importante para nosotros.”

Marcina no es extraño a los desafíos. Ha pasado cinco años como director técnico en la North American Soccer League y USL League Two, prominentemente con los San Antonio Scorpions en la NASL. Marcina estuvo con los Scorpions durante cada una de sus cuatro temporadas en existencia, empezando como entrenador antes de ser promovido a director técnico durante la temporada 2013. En el 2014, Marcina llevo a los Scorpions al campeonato de la NASL con una victoria sobre Fort Lauderdale Strikers en el Toyota Field.

San Antonio es su hogar adoptivo, y su amor por la comunidad local — en especial a nivel futbolistico — es evidente.

“Soy una persona apasionada,” dijo Marcina. “He estado en San Antonio desde el 2009 y me importa mucho la comunidad. Creo que tenemos una oportunidad de hacer cosas increíbles en el futuro y eso es algo que como grupo y comunidad queremos estar orgullosos de lo que ponemos en la cancha.”

En su conferencia de prensa el lunes, Marcina expreso su emoción por SAFC y la oportunidad que le queda por enfrente.

“Es un sentimiento emocionante y estoy muy agradecido hacia San Antonio FC y Spurs Sports & Entertainment por darme esta oportunidad de dirigir al club en esta nueva etapa,” dijo Marcina. “Espero trabajar con la gente aquí. Somos una familia y tenemos a mucha gente de alto carácter y alto rendimiento. Queremos crear una cultura de alto rendimiento en el futuro y estamos emocionados de poder adquirir a mas gente que cabe en esa cultura y esta comprometida a nuestro club y comunidad, lo cual es muy importante para nosotros.”

Marcina no es extraño a los desafíos. Ha pasado cinco años como director técnico en la North American Soccer League y USL League Two, prominentemente con los San Antonio Scorpions en la NASL. Marcina estuvo con los Scorpions durante cada una de sus cuatro temporadas en existencia, empezando como entrenador antes de ser promovido a director técnico durante la temporada 2013. En el 2014, Marcina llevo a los Scorpions al campeonato de la NASL con una victoria sobre Fort Lauderdale Strikers en el Toyota Field.

San Antonio es su hogar adoptivo, y su amor por la comunidad local — en especial a nivel futbolistico — es evidente.

“Soy una persona apasionada,” dijo Marcina. “He estado en San Antonio desde el 2009 y me importa mucho la comunidad. Creo que tenemos una oportunidad de hacer cosas increíbles en el futuro y eso es algo que como grupo y comunidad queremos estar orgullosos de lo que ponemos en la cancha.”

Marcina reconoce el trabajo que se ha hecho en la fundación del San Antonio FC. Su meta ahora es evolucionar el club y ponerlo en una posición que consistentemente compita dentro y fuera del campo. Cae en el, su cuerpo técnico, y la oficina de SAFC el llevar al club al siguiente nivel.

Parte de su misión es construir un equipo. Marcina empezara de inmediato a buscar jugadores para el equipo, quien entrara a su quinta temporada. El usa el termino “gente de alto rendimiento y alto carácter” frecuentemente cuando habla sobre jugadores y empleados, y mantendrá esos términos en mente durante los meses antes de la temporada.

“Inicialmente empieza con la indentificacion, adquisición, y retenimiento de estas personas de alto carácter y rendimiento, y continua con la integración de nuestra academia hacia el primer equipo,” dijo Marcina. “El punto es evolucionar lo que esta en pie y llevarlo al siguiente nivel.”

Marcina reconoce el trabajo que se ha hecho en la fundación del San Antonio FC. Su meta ahora es evolucionar el club y ponerlo en una posición que consistentemente compita dentro y fuera del campo. Cae en el, su cuerpo técnico, y la oficina de SAFC el llevar al club al siguiente nivel.

Parte de su misión es construir un equipo. Marcina empezara de inmediato a buscar jugadores para el equipo, quien entrara a su quinta temporada. El usa el termino “gente de alto rendimiento y alto carácter” frecuentemente cuando habla sobre jugadores y empleados, y mantendrá esos términos en mente durante los meses antes de la temporada.

“Inicialmente empieza con la indentificacion, adquisición, y retenimiento de estas personas de alto carácter y rendimiento, y continua con la integración de nuestra academia hacia el primer equipo,” dijo Marcina. “El punto es evolucionar lo que esta en pie y llevarlo al siguiente nivel.”

Holt fue claro en expresar su expectativa para San Antonio FC para el 2020. Desde la SAFC Pro Academy hasta el rendimiento del primer equipo, la visión de Holt para SAFC es emocionante y Marcina siente lo mismo.

“En los términos mas sencillos, la visión y ambición del club es competir por campeonatos en la USL cada año y ser un equipo a nivel de playoffs y de calibre para ganar títulos en la cancha,” dijo Holt. “Desde el punto de vista de desarrollo de jugadores jóvenes, somos un club unico en la USL porque tenemos nuestra propia academia completamente financiada donde desarrollamos a nuestros propios jugadores. Todos esos jugadores tienen que ganar su oportunidad, pero asegurando que nuestro club este integrado desde las fuerzas básicas hasta el primer equipo es muy importante para nosotros, y eso es parte de nuestra visión también. Nosotros no creemos que esas cosas son mutuamente exclusivas, sin embargo creemos que podemos competir por campeonatos y a la misma vez desarrollar a nuestros propios jugadores aquí en San Antonio, y ya estamos viendo frutos de ello.”

Marcina termino su cesión con los medios con sus predicciones sobre el futuro. Reconoce la importancia de la afición y la comunidad, la importancia de construir un equipo de calidad, y la importancia de poner un producto en la cancha que los aficionados admiraran.

“Primero que nada, queremos agradecer a nuestra afición y dejarles saber cuanto los apreciamos y cuanto depende de ellos nuestro éxito,” dijo Marcina. “Ellos tienen un rol importante; somos un club de comunidad y queremos poner un producto exitoso en la cancha. Vamos a trabajar metódicamente para traer a gente que cree en nuestro club, nuestra cultura y comunidad, y quienes quieren venir a competir. Queremos poner un producto en la cancha que todos van a querer apoyar.”

Holt fue claro en expresar su expectativa para San Antonio FC para el 2020. Desde la SAFC Pro Academy hasta el rendimiento del primer equipo, la visión de Holt para SAFC es emocionante y Marcina siente lo mismo.

“En los términos mas sencillos, la visión y ambición del club es competir por campeonatos en la USL cada año y ser un equipo a nivel de playoffs y de calibre para ganar títulos en la cancha,” dijo Holt. “Desde el punto de vista de desarrollo de jugadores jóvenes, somos un club unico en la USL porque tenemos nuestra propia academia completamente financiada donde desarrollamos a nuestros propios jugadores. Todos esos jugadores tienen que ganar su oportunidad, pero asegurando que nuestro club este integrado desde las fuerzas básicas hasta el primer equipo es muy importante para nosotros, y eso es parte de nuestra visión también. Nosotros no creemos que esas cosas son mutuamente exclusivas, sin embargo creemos que podemos competir por campeonatos y a la misma vez desarrollar a nuestros propios jugadores aquí en San Antonio, y ya estamos viendo frutos de ello.”

Marcina termino su cesión con los medios con sus predicciones sobre el futuro. Reconoce la importancia de la afición y la comunidad, la importancia de construir un equipo de calidad, y la importancia de poner un producto en la cancha que los aficionados admiraran.

“Primero que nada, queremos agradecer a nuestra afición y dejarles saber cuanto los apreciamos y cuanto depende de ellos nuestro éxito,” dijo Marcina. “Ellos tienen un rol importante; somos un club de comunidad y queremos poner un producto exitoso en la cancha. Vamos a trabajar metódicamente para traer a gente que cree en nuestro club, nuestra cultura y comunidad, y quienes quieren venir a competir. Queremos poner un producto en la cancha que todos van a querer apoyar.”

The week started with a new era for San Antonio FC as the club officially appointed its second-ever head coach in Alen Marcina on Monday. Marcina was promoted after spending the 2019 season as a first-team assistant, and the Canadian takes over with nearly a decade of coaching experience. Following the change made at the end of the campaign, SAFC embarked on a global search with over 50 different qualified candidates throwing their name in the hat. In the end, Marcina stood out above the rest and was given the reigns to the Alamo City club.

“Our candidates were domestic, international, from professional clubs and national teams,” said SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt. “We were blown away. There were terrific candidates and coaches and we were able to spend some time with a lot of them. When you go through a process like that it’s about finding the right fit. For us, at the beginning of the process when we knew we were in the middle of a leadership change, we had to define for ourselves internally what we were looking for in order to figure out who would best fulfill that. As we got through that and spent time with everyone and spent a lot of time with Alen in different ways than we had interacted in the past, it became clear to us that he represented that best fit.”

The week started with a new era for San Antonio FC as the club officially appointed its second-ever head coach in Alen Marcina on Monday. Marcina was promoted after spending the 2019 season as a first-team assistant, and the Canadian takes over with nearly a decade of coaching experience. Following the change made at the end of the campaign, SAFC embarked on a global search with over 50 different qualified candidates throwing their name in the hat. In the end, Marcina stood out above the rest and was given the reigns to the Alamo City club.

“Our candidates were domestic, international, from professional clubs and national teams,” said SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt. “We were blown away. There were terrific candidates and coaches and we were able to spend some time with a lot of them. When you go through a process like that it’s about finding the right fit. For us, at the beginning of the process when we knew we were in the middle of a leadership change, we had to define for ourselves internally what we were looking for in order to figure out who would best fulfill that. As we got through that and spent time with everyone and spent a lot of time with Alen in different ways than we had interacted in the past, it became clear to us that he represented that best fit.”

At his afternoon press conference on Monday, Marcina expressed excitement from SAFC and its leadership for the opportunity that lies ahead.

“It’s an exciting feeling and I’m very thankful towards the leadership of San Antonio FC and Spurs Sports & Entertainment for providing me this opportunity to lead the team into the next phase of the club,” he said. “I look forward to working with the people here. We truly are a family here and we have a number of high-character, high-performing people. We want to create a high-performance culture moving forward and we’re excited to acquire the right type of people that fit that culture and are committed to our club and our community, which is very important to us.”

The 40-year-old is no stranger to challenges, having previously spent over five years as a head coach in the North American Soccer League and USL League Two, most prominently with the San Antonio Scorpions in the NASL. Marcina was with the Scorpions organization for each of the four seasons in its existence, starting as an assistant coach prior to being promoted to head coach during the 2013 NASL Season. In 2014, Marcina led the Scorpions to an NASL Championship after defeating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the Soccer Bowl at Toyota Field.

San Antonio has become his adoptive home, and his affinity to the local community — specifically those revolving around soccer – is evident.

“I’m someone who’s very passionate,” said Marcina. “I’ve been in San Antonio since 2009 and I’m very much community based. I believe that collectively we have an opportunity to do some great things moving forward and it’s going to be something that, not only as a staff but as a community, we want to be proud of what we put on the field.”

At his afternoon press conference on Monday, Marcina expressed excitement from SAFC and its leadership for the opportunity that lies ahead.

“It’s an exciting feeling and I’m very thankful towards the leadership of San Antonio FC and Spurs Sports & Entertainment for providing me this opportunity to lead the team into the next phase of the club,” he said. “I look forward to working with the people here. We truly are a family here and we have a number of high-character, high-performing people. We want to create a high-performance culture moving forward and we’re excited to acquire the right type of people that fit that culture and are committed to our club and our community, which is very important to us.”

The 40-year-old is no stranger to challenges, having previously spent over five years as a head coach in the North American Soccer League and USL League Two, most prominently with the San Antonio Scorpions in the NASL. Marcina was with the Scorpions organization for each of the four seasons in its existence, starting as an assistant coach prior to being promoted to head coach during the 2013 NASL Season. In 2014, Marcina led the Scorpions to an NASL Championship after defeating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the Soccer Bowl at Toyota Field.

San Antonio has become his adoptive home, and his affinity to the local community — specifically those revolving around soccer – is evident.

“I’m someone who’s very passionate,” said Marcina. “I’ve been in San Antonio since 2009 and I’m very much community based. I believe that collectively we have an opportunity to do some great things moving forward and it’s going to be something that, not only as a staff but as a community, we want to be proud of what we put on the field.”

Marcina acknowledges the strong work that has already been put in to lay the foundation for San Antonio FC as a club. His goal now is to continue to try and evolve the club to put it in a position to consistently compete on and off the field. Its up to him, his staff, and the SAFC front office to help take SAFC to the next level.

Part of that equation is building a roster. Marcina will get to work immediately on retaining and adding to the club’s roster as it enters the fifth season in team history. He uses the terms “high-performance and high-character often as he talks about both players and staff, and he will keep these specific terms in mind as he continues to add players prior to training camp.

“Initially it starts with identifying, acquiring and retaining these high-character, high-performing people, and it continues with our integration from the Pro Academy into the first team,” Marcina said of building out the first team. “So again, it’s about evolving what’s already been put into place and taking it to another level.”

Marcina acknowledges the strong work that has already been put in to lay the foundation for San Antonio FC as a club. His goal now is to continue to try and evolve the club to put it in a position to consistently compete on and off the field. Its up to him, his staff, and the SAFC front office to help take SAFC to the next level.

Part of that equation is building a roster. Marcina will get to work immediately on retaining and adding to the club’s roster as it enters the fifth season in team history. He uses the terms “high-performance and high-character often as he talks about both players and staff, and he will keep these specific terms in mind as he continues to add players prior to training camp.

“Initially it starts with identifying, acquiring and retaining these high-character, high-performing people, and it continues with our integration from the Pro Academy into the first team,” Marcina said of building out the first team. “So again, it’s about evolving what’s already been put into place and taking it to another level.”

Holt was clear when expressing his expectations for San Antonio FC as a club continuing in 2020. From the SAFC Pro Academy to the performance of the first team, Holt’s vision for SAFC is exciting and Marcina echoes his sentiments.

“In the simplest terms, the vision and ambition of the club is to compete for USL championships year in and year out and be a playoff level team and a championship caliber team on the field,” Holt said. “From a young player development standpoint, we’re somewhat unique in the USL space in that we have our own fully-funded academy where we’re developing our own homegrown players. All those players need to earn their opportunity but making sure that our club is integrated from the youngest ages to the professional ages is important to us, so that’s part of our vision as well. We don’t believe those things are mutually exclusive and we believe you can compete for championships while developing your own players here in San Antonio, and we’re beginning to see the front end of that.”

Marcina finished his session with the media with some closing thoughts on what lies ahead. He recognizes the importance of the fans and community, the importance of getting the roster right, and the importance of delivering an on-field product that the fans will love.

“First and foremost, we want to thank our fans and we want them to know how much they’re appreciated and how much they play into our success,” he said. “They play an important part; we’re about our community and also about putting a successful product on the field. We’re going to work methodically to assemble the right people who believe in our club, culture and community, and who want to be competitive. We want to put a product on the field that everybody is going to want to embrace and support.”

Holt was clear when expressing his expectations for San Antonio FC as a club continuing in 2020. From the SAFC Pro Academy to the performance of the first team, Holt’s vision for SAFC is exciting and Marcina echoes his sentiments.

“In the simplest terms, the vision and ambition of the club is to compete for USL championships year in and year out and be a playoff level team and a championship caliber team on the field,” Holt said. “From a young player development standpoint, we’re somewhat unique in the USL space in that we have our own fully-funded academy where we’re developing our own homegrown players. All those players need to earn their opportunity but making sure that our club is integrated from the youngest ages to the professional ages is important to us, so that’s part of our vision as well. We don’t believe those things are mutually exclusive and we believe you can compete for championships while developing your own players here in San Antonio, and we’re beginning to see the front end of that.”

Marcina finished his session with the media with some closing thoughts on what lies ahead. He recognizes the importance of the fans and community, the importance of getting the roster right, and the importance of delivering an on-field product that the fans will love.

“First and foremost, we want to thank our fans and we want them to know how much they’re appreciated and how much they play into our success,” he said. “They play an important part; we’re about our community and also about putting a successful product on the field. We’re going to work methodically to assemble the right people who believe in our club, culture and community, and who want to be competitive. We want to put a product on the field that everybody is going to want to embrace and support.”

San Antonio FC today announced the club has appointed Alen Marcina as the team’s head coach. Marcina will transition from his previous role as a first team assistant coach as he leads SAFC into the 2020 USL Championship season, which kicks off this spring.

“As result of a thorough search process, we are very pleased to introduce Alen Marcina as the head coach of San Antonio FC,” said Holt.  “Alen’s strong leadership, driving ambition, tactical intelligence, and wealth of experience as a high-performing professional coach and player make him the right fit for our club. We are confident that Alen’s appointment will enhance our ability to perform amongst the elite teams in the USL Championship, while continuing our club’s important commitment to identifying, developing and integrating homegrown talent.”

Marcina becomes the second head coach in club history after originally joining the organization as part of the SAFC Pro Academy staff in 2018. While Marcina was with the first team as an assistant coach last season, the players scored a club-record 62 goals and compiled a 9-2-6 home record.

The Canada native previously spent over five years as a head coach in the North American Soccer League and USL League Two, most prominently with the San Antonio Scorpions in the NASL. The 40-year-old was with the Scorpions organization for each of the four seasons in its existence, starting as an assistant coach prior to being promoted to head coach during the 2013 NASL Season. In 2014, Marcina led the Scorpions to an NASL Championship after defeating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the Soccer Bowl at Toyota Field.

“I’m grateful to the leadership of San Antonio FC and Spurs Sports & Entertainment for entrusting me to lead this fantastic community club,” said Marcina. “Everyone at the club is committed to developing and evolving our identity by retaining and adding people of high character who will help us improve through their passion and performance. With our core values, we will improve our commitment to create a gold standard environment with a defined vision, playing style and integration philosophy. I’m excited to get underway.”

Following his time with the Scorpions, Marcina spent part of the 2016 season as the head coach of Rayo OKC (NASL), compiling a 6-5-5 record in 16 league matches. Marcina then spent the 2018 season with the Des Moines Menace (USL League 2), during which he led the club to a regular season title with an unbeaten 13-0-1 record. Overall, Marcina has compiled a 48-35-21 record as a head coach in all competitions.

Prior to his time as a coach, Marcina enjoyed a successful playing career in which he featured for 13 clubs across seven countries in the span of seven years, scoring 73 goals in 185 professional appearances. Playing as a striker, Marcina began his career with the Ottawa Wizards (CPSL) in 2002 before making a move to Europe, where he played for Greek powerhouse PAOK Thessaloniki as well as clubs in Iceland, Germany, Denmark, and New Zealand before returning to play in the United States and Canada. Marcina officially retired from playing professionally in 2010.

San Antonio FC today announced the club has appointed Alen Marcina as the team’s head coach. Marcina will transition from his previous role as a first team assistant coach as he leads SAFC into the 2020 USL Championship season, which kicks off this spring.

“As result of a thorough search process, we are very pleased to introduce Alen Marcina as the head coach of San Antonio FC,” said Holt.  “Alen’s strong leadership, driving ambition, tactical intelligence, and wealth of experience as a high-performing professional coach and player make him the right fit for our club. We are confident that Alen’s appointment will enhance our ability to perform amongst the elite teams in the USL Championship, while continuing our club’s important commitment to identifying, developing and integrating homegrown talent.”

Marcina becomes the second head coach in club history after originally joining the organization as part of the SAFC Pro Academy staff in 2018. While Marcina was with the first team as an assistant coach last season, the players scored a club-record 62 goals and compiled a 9-2-6 home record.

The Canada native previously spent over five years as a head coach in the North American Soccer League and USL League Two, most prominently with the San Antonio Scorpions in the NASL. The 40-year-old was with the Scorpions organization for each of the four seasons in its existence, starting as an assistant coach prior to being promoted to head coach during the 2013 NASL Season. In 2014, Marcina led the Scorpions to an NASL Championship after defeating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the Soccer Bowl at Toyota Field.

“I’m grateful to the leadership of San Antonio FC and Spurs Sports & Entertainment for entrusting me to lead this fantastic community club,” said Marcina. “Everyone at the club is committed to developing and evolving our identity by retaining and adding people of high character who will help us improve through their passion and performance. With our core values, we will improve our commitment to create a gold standard environment with a defined vision, playing style and integration philosophy. I’m excited to get underway.”

Following his time with the Scorpions, Marcina spent part of the 2016 season as the head coach of Rayo OKC (NASL), compiling a 6-5-5 record in 16 league matches. Marcina then spent the 2018 season with the Des Moines Menace (USL League 2), during which he led the club to a regular season title with an unbeaten 13-0-1 record. Overall, Marcina has compiled a 48-35-21 record as a head coach in all competitions.

Prior to his time as a coach, Marcina enjoyed a successful playing career in which he featured for 13 clubs across seven countries in the span of seven years, scoring 73 goals in 185 professional appearances. Playing as a striker, Marcina began his career with the Ottawa Wizards (CPSL) in 2002 before making a move to Europe, where he played for Greek powerhouse PAOK Thessaloniki as well as clubs in Iceland, Germany, Denmark, and New Zealand before returning to play in the United States and Canada. Marcina officially retired from playing professionally in 2010.

San Antonio FC midfielder Cristian Parano has been named the USL Championship Young Player of the Year, the league announced today. After a standout first season with the club, Parano becomes the third SAFC player in team history to receive a USL Championship Award.

Parano was originally named a finalist for the award alongside Douglas Martinez (Real Monarchs SLC) and Felipe Hernandez (Swope Park Rangers) on Nov. 13. Parano claimed 29 percent of the vote to win the award. Martinez finished second on 13 percent, while Hernandez finished third with 11 percent of the ballot. The 2019 USL Championship Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL Championship market. Voting was conducted following the conclusion of the 2019 Championship regular season.

“We are exceptionally proud of Cristian, whose deserved recognition is a function of his hard work and humility,” SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt said. “His unique blend of creativity, passion, and relentlessness has established him as one of the most exciting and entertaining players in the league. We look forward to his continued progression and performance during the coming season in front of our supporters at Toyota Field.”

Parano scored seven goals and recorded six assists, adding 53 chances created while playing 2,166 minutes across 32 appearances for the club. The Argentinian led the USL Championship with 109 successful dribbles and ranked fifth among SAFC players who made at least 700 passes in 2019 with an 84.1 percent passing accuracy. In addition, Parano finished runner-up in the August Player of the Month voting this year after scoring five goals and recording two assists, 15 chances created, 37 duels won and 20 successful dribbles in four August matches.

“I’m thrilled to receive this award,” Parano said. “I’m thankful to God for everything I got to experience this year and I hope that I can continue improving. This wouldn’t have happened without my coaches and teammates who have helped me every step of the way, and I want to thank the SAFC fans for all their support.”

Earlier this season, Parano became the first SAFC player in franchise history to be featured on the USL 20 Under 20 list, ranking No. 2 in the 2019 edition of the list while finishing as the highest-ranked player from the USL Championship.

Parano’s performances earned him USL Championship Player of the Week honors on Aug. 13 and Aug. 27, adding to his USL Team of the Week honors on Sept. 17. The Argentina native also scored two braces on the season, once on Aug. 10 at Reno 1868 FC before adding his second on Aug. 24 vs. New Mexico United en route to the team’s biggest win in club history.

The midfielder originally joined SAFC after a successful trial prior to the start of the 2019 USL Championship season following stints in the River Plate youth setup from 2014-17 and San Martin de San Juan during the 2017-18 campaign. Parano joins Diego Restrepo and Sebastien Ibeagha as the only SAFC players to receive USL Awards after the two were named USL Goalkeeper of the Year and USL Defender of the Year, respectively after a second-place finish in the Western Conference by SAFC in the 2017 season.

San Antonio FC midfielder Cristian Parano has been named the USL Championship Young Player of the Year, the league announced today. After a standout first season with the club, Parano becomes the third SAFC player in team history to receive a USL Championship Award.

Parano was originally named a finalist for the award alongside Douglas Martinez (Real Monarchs SLC) and Felipe Hernandez (Swope Park Rangers) on Nov. 13. Parano claimed 29 percent of the vote to win the award. Martinez finished second on 13 percent, while Hernandez finished third with 11 percent of the ballot. The 2019 USL Championship Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL Championship market. Voting was conducted following the conclusion of the 2019 Championship regular season.

“We are exceptionally proud of Cristian, whose deserved recognition is a function of his hard work and humility,” SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt said. “His unique blend of creativity, passion, and relentlessness has established him as one of the most exciting and entertaining players in the league. We look forward to his continued progression and performance during the coming season in front of our supporters at Toyota Field.”

Parano scored seven goals and recorded six assists, adding 53 chances created while playing 2,166 minutes across 32 appearances for the club. The Argentinian led the USL Championship with 109 successful dribbles and ranked fifth among SAFC players who made at least 700 passes in 2019 with an 84.1 percent passing accuracy. In addition, Parano finished runner-up in the August Player of the Month voting this year after scoring five goals and recording two assists, 15 chances created, 37 duels won and 20 successful dribbles in four August matches.

“I’m thrilled to receive this award,” Parano said. “I’m thankful to God for everything I got to experience this year and I hope that I can continue improving. This wouldn’t have happened without my coaches and teammates who have helped me every step of the way, and I want to thank the SAFC fans for all their support.”

Earlier this season, Parano became the first SAFC player in franchise history to be featured on the USL 20 Under 20 list, ranking No. 2 in the 2019 edition of the list while finishing as the highest-ranked player from the USL Championship.

Parano’s performances earned him USL Championship Player of the Week honors on Aug. 13 and Aug. 27, adding to his USL Team of the Week honors on Sept. 17. The Argentina native also scored two braces on the season, once on Aug. 10 at Reno 1868 FC before adding his second on Aug. 24 vs. New Mexico United en route to the team’s biggest win in club history.

The midfielder originally joined SAFC after a successful trial prior to the start of the 2019 USL Championship season following stints in the River Plate youth setup from 2014-17 and San Martin de San Juan during the 2017-18 campaign. Parano joins Diego Restrepo and Sebastien Ibeagha as the only SAFC players to receive USL Awards after the two were named USL Goalkeeper of the Year and USL Defender of the Year, respectively after a second-place finish in the Western Conference by SAFC in the 2017 season.

San Antonio FC midfielder Cristian Parano was named a finalist for the 2019 USL Championship Young Player of the Year Award, the league announced today. Parano joins Douglas Martinez (Real Monarchs SLC) and Felipe Hernandez (Swope Park Rangers) as finalists. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 20.

Parano appeared in 32 games this season, playing 2,166 minutes while recording seven goals, six assists and 53 chances created. His 109 dribbles completed led the league, while his passing accuracy rate of 84.1 percent ranked fifth among SAFC players who had made at least 700 passes in 2019. In addition, the Argentina native finished runner-up in the August Player of the Month voting this year after scoring five goals and recording two assists, 15 chances created, 37 duels won and 20 successful dribbles in four August matches.

Earlier this season, Parano became the first San Antonio FC player to be featured on the 20 Under 20 list in the club’s first four seasons after he was named No. 2 in the 2019 edition of the list. Parano was the highest ranked player from the USL Championship in the list comprised of players from the Championship and USL League One.

San Antonio FC has had two players win postseason awards – both coming after the 2017 season. Defender Sebastien Ibeagha was named the Defender of the Year while Diego Restrepo earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors after a second-place finish in the Western Conference by SAFC that season.

San Antonio FC midfielder Cristian Parano was named a finalist for the 2019 USL Championship Young Player of the Year Award, the league announced today. Parano joins Douglas Martinez (Real Monarchs SLC) and Felipe Hernandez (Swope Park Rangers) as finalists. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 20.

Parano appeared in 32 games this season, playing 2,166 minutes while recording seven goals, six assists and 53 chances created. His 109 dribbles completed led the league, while his passing accuracy rate of 84.1 percent ranked fifth among SAFC players who had made at least 700 passes in 2019. In addition, the Argentina native finished runner-up in the August Player of the Month voting this year after scoring five goals and recording two assists, 15 chances created, 37 duels won and 20 successful dribbles in four August matches.

Earlier this season, Parano became the first San Antonio FC player to be featured on the 20 Under 20 list in the club’s first four seasons after he was named No. 2 in the 2019 edition of the list. Parano was the highest ranked player from the USL Championship in the list comprised of players from the Championship and USL League One.

San Antonio FC has had two players win postseason awards – both coming after the 2017 season. Defender Sebastien Ibeagha was named the Defender of the Year while Diego Restrepo earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors after a second-place finish in the Western Conference by SAFC that season.