Manuel “Manny” Meza, the 2025 recipient of the Alexander Arellano Memorial Award, currently serves as Real San Jose’s General Manager and Assistant Coach. The 2025 season marked his first year in that role.

Manny’s connection to the club spans nearly two decades. He first played for Real San Jose in 2007 and 2008 as part of the U20 team. After the COVID shutdown, he returned to the club as a player during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, continuing to contribute on the field before transitioning into leadership.

His influence has been felt most strongly in the way he shows up every day. Star midfielder Victor Salguero described Manny’s presence simply and clearly:

“Manny shows up with a positive attitude every day. He gives us good advice about soccer and life, and I really appreciate that.”

For Manny, the award carries deep personal meaning.

“I’ve been part of Real San Jose since I was in high school. I was just a kid from the east side not knowing what to do, not really feeling a lot of hope. RSJ was a great eye opener,” he said.

“I remember Alex. It was brief, but impactful to see him cheer on RSJ players. Later on learning he was Nick’s son, it made a lot of sense. RSJ was a beacon of hope—the heart of hope and soccer in the Bay. A way to make it up the mountain.”

“It’s an honor to be elected by the team. A surprise. Never did I imagine I’d be where I am today, but receiving this award is a great honor to the club’s values—giving opportunities, hope, and heart to the people. This club is meant for those who feel like a mistake to feel like they belong.”

That sentiment was echoed by club owner and manager Nick Arellano, Alexander’s father:

“Manny has grown to be a key component of the organization, but I was surprised to see every player who voted send in his name. The award is designed for players, but his selection made complete sense—and that just goes to show what he means to the players.”

In every role he has held—player, teammate, coach, and administrator—Manny Meza has embodied the spirit of the Alexander Arellano Memorial Award. His selection by the team reflects not only his leadership, but the trust, respect, and joy he brings to Real San Jose every day.

Real San Jose is thrilled to introduce RSJ News, an exciting new online news team delivering fresh, engaging updates across social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Whether you’re catching up on the latest highlights or staying informed on daily news, RSJ News has you covered. It’s the perfect way to stay connected, celebrate the community, and keep up with everything happening in and around Real San Jose.

The news team is led by anchor Sir Byron Moore, joined by co-anchor Isabella Ringing, while John Cashman provides in-depth coverage of business news across RSJ.

Adding even more creativity to our social media presence are the music videos produced by HashTag RSJ. Featuring original tracks from Real San Jose and other unique music, these videos bring a vibrant energy to our platform. Check them out on the RSJ YouTube Channel and join in on the celebration!

#realsanjose #realsanjosesoccerclub #rsj #npsl #sanjose #sanjosesoccer

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the first and only men's league designated by USASA as a Tier 1 national league, is proud to announce that Real San Jose has returned to the league.

The club is led by owner and manager Nick Arellano.

Arellano has extensive league-building experience at the national level of the lower divisions, having founded Real San Jose in 2007. He was a key figure in building the NPSL’s West Region, especially in the early years from 2008-2013. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Jose State University and a Master’s in Education from National University. He has been actively involved in San Jose soccer since graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1976.

Arellano is a retired educator who spent 18 years as head boys’ soccer coach at Mount Pleasant High School and 20 years as a business/social science instructor at Yerba Buena High School. His soccer promotion experience began in 1988 when he founded Soccer Magic Magazine, a publication dedicated to promoting the northern California soccer community. With the emergence of the internet, he later founded several online soccer news sites.

“The Golden Gate Conference of the NPSL has been eagerly anticipating the return of Real San Jose to our group,” NPSL Corporate Secretary and Sacramento Gold FC owner John Nunan said. “Nick Arellano, one of our league's pioneers, has always operated his club to the high standards we are known for. It's great to have him back.”

Real San Jose played in the NPSL from 2007-2016.

“It is exciting to have Real San Jose in the NPSL,” Arellano said. “It feels like a homecoming as the club returns to where we started. RSJ has ridden the wave of the amateur soccer explosion of the last decade, and the NPSL has been the standard to follow. It is great to be part of this new era of NPSL on the West Coast.”

Real San Jose also spent time in the UPSL (2017-2019) and NSL (2021-2024).

More information about expansion opportunities in the NPSL can be found at npsl.com/expansion.

#realsanjose #rsj #npsl #sanjosesoccer

Major Announcement about the Future of Real San Jose Exciting news is coming your way, Real San Jose fans and local soccer fans!

Mark your calendars for January 13 as we prepare to share a major announcement about the future of Real San Jose. The announcement will be released at approximately 1:00 PM Pacific Time through our official channels. We can’t wait to bring you in on what’s next for our beloved team. Stay connected and keep an eye on our social media platforms and website for updates—you won’t want to miss this!

Together, we move forward. ????⚽

#RealSanJose #rsj #SanJoseSoccer #npsl