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Former FCC Defender Keinan Heads to Republic FC

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 12/22/18, 2:09PM EST

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Veteran center back made 23 appearances for Cincinnati in 2018 USL Championship campaign

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC announced on Saturday it had signed veteran Israeli 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 captaining FC Cincinnati to the 2018 USL Championship Regular Season title as he made 23 appearances in the heart of the club’s defense. Keinan recorded two goals and ranked second on the team with 139 clearances, 26 blocked shots and 78 aerial duels won over the course of the season.

Prior to his arrival in Cincinnati, 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 Premier League with newly promoted Blackpool FC. The Israeli spent a single season with the club 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 UEFA 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.

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