The 2026 season has come to an end, and there is no way to describe it other than disappointing.

After twenty seasons, Real San Jose experienced the most difficult year in club history. The results on the field fell well below the standards we have set for ourselves, and as a club we must honestly acknowledge that.

Professional standards require commitment, preparation, accountability, and consistency. This season showed us that we fell short in those areas.

The responsibility for rebuilding begins now.

Over the coming months, the club will evaluate every aspect of its operation as we prepare for the 2027 NPSL season. Our goal is not simply to improve our record, but to rebuild a culture that reflects the values Real San Jose was founded on nearly twenty years ago.

As part of that process, the club will not participate in the 2027 U.S. Open Cup qualifying competition. We believe our resources are better invested in strengthening our roster, improving our organization, and building a team capable of competing at the level our supporters expect.

Open tryouts for the 2027 season will be announced in early 2027. Every roster position will be earned.

To our supporters, sponsors, volunteers, players, and everyone who has stood behind Real San Jose over the past twenty seasons, thank you. Difficult seasons do not define a club. How a club responds to them does.

The work begins today.

It was worth the wait. After two rainouts to start the 2017 Real San Jose finally got their UPSL home schedule started on April 29 with a thrilling 5-4 victory against Oakland’s CD Pamperos. The biggest star of the night was Lorenzo Vasquez who scored four goals, the third of which is a goal to be remembered.

RSJ started fast and was up 2-0 after 15 minutes as Vasquez and Fernando Lares each scored. All thoughts of a one-sided San Jose victory were dashed just two minutes later when CDP answered back through Darlin Flores. At the 39th minute, the match was tied. This time Angel Jimenez scored. Flores scored his second goal of the night in the 65th minute to give CDP the lead that once looked impossible after 15 minutes.

Then it was time for the RSJ attack to kick in gear and score three unanswered goals, all scored by Vasquez. But to say it was all Vasquez would be wrong because he received expert service from his teammates as RSJ were determined to get a home victory. In fact, check out the assist on Vasquez’s Goalazo. Some would argue that it was as good as the finish. Alberto Garcia-Escamilla keenly intercepted the pass and chest-volleyed perfectly for Vasquez to hammer home.

RSJ will host Western Nevada on May 6 at 7:00 pm.

Notes:
1. Vasquez’s third goal of the night was something special. Click on Goalazo below to see it.

Goalazo! is a link to a page on this website.

2. Vasquez post game comments:
About the goals: I believe they were all great goals because they were all team goals.
About the game: It was an amazing game. The fact that both teams came back from a deficit means a lot from both teams. We had a little downfall at the end of the half and early second half but Real San Jose has heart. Coach Nick talked and motivated us at half. We had a goal and that goal was to win and we weren’t going to let anyone come to our home and show us up.

3. Vasquez named UPSL Player of the Week: Honors role in for terrific four-goal performance here is the link UPSL National Player Of The Week: Real San Jose’s Lorenzo Vasquez.

Real San Jose opened their 2017 United Premier Soccer League season with a 2-2 draw at Dayton High School in Dayton Nevada on March 18.

Rene Segovia gave RSJ the lead in the 23rd minute when his long-range shot from 45 yards flew high in the air over the stranded keeper and dropped just under the bar. The score stood at halftime.

Borja Moya

Nevada came out strong to start the second half and scored twice. In the 50th minute, WNFC tied the score as Luico Espitia was in place to knock in from a goal line scramble. Then the home side took the lead just five minutes later when Alex Martinez headed in a corner kick.

RSJ answered back with a goal off a corner kick of their own in the 58th minute. Angel Heredia served up a perfect ball to Borja Moya to head in with power. That was the third goal in eight minutes and there were no more as the match ended 2-2 despite plenty of chances from both teams.

RSJ opens the 2017 Home schedule this Saturday, March 25 vs Magic Valley FC from Twin Falls Idaho. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm at PAL Stadium.

RSJ coach Markus Kothner: “A rough start, that did not reflect our potential. We had some last minute changes due to injuries. Which we felt at the beginning. The team caught itself after the first goal, and got better by the minute. The long break due to the injury of Western Nevada’s goalie, wasn’t helping us. We controlled the game but weren’t really decisive. To start the second half, we faced the same issues we face the first 10 min of the game, and WNFC punished us for our mistakes. At the end of the day, I believe this was a good start, and I feel very positive for the next games.”

Rene Segovia: “It was an unbelievable experience to score on my first game and from that distance. It was just what we needed in the game to settle, as they were pressing intensively. In their intent to counterattack, their keeper threw an air ball and after it bounced one time in front of me I just took a shot expecting the best out of it and as I saw how that ball was going down I knew it was going in,” said Segovia.”

Borja Moya: “It was a bad moment in the game for us, they just came back the score and we were losing. As Angel delivered a great ball from the corner kick, I managed to get away from my defender, placing myself between the penalty spot and the small box line. Alone as I was, I headed the ball towards goal. The goalkeeper got a touch on it; but fortunately, he wasn’t able to stop the ball from going in. I am very glad to score my first goal in the UPSL and I am very happy for this, I hope it’s just the first of more, and to help the team to achieve our goals.”

SAN JOSE – Markus Kothner, a native of Germany who played professionally in Europe and El Salvador, will be Real San Jose’s new head coach Saturday night when the team hosts East Bay FC Stompers. Current assistant coach Frank Quintero will stay on in the same capacity.

Real San Jose, in the midst of a struggling season, hosts the Stompers at 7 p.m. at the PAL Stadium.

“RSJ has been looking for a head coach since December and it is a complicated process, and I believe we found the perfect man for the job in Markus,” said Manager Nick Arellano. “We now have two coaches in place and will add a goalkeeper coach when we can.”

Kothner said he is looking forward to the challenge of turning around the team’s fortunes. The team has lost recently, but Kothner said there are talented players on the team, and he is looking forward to working with them.

“I want to be on a team that is competitive and on a team that takes it seriously,” Kothner said, adding he has helped to run recent team practices.

Kothner has played for the youth clubs of Roda Kerkrade of the Netherlands, Borussia Moenchengladbach of Germany. He later played for CD Municipal Limeno of El Salvador, Alemannia Aachen, and various other lower-tier teams.

Kothner, who now lives in Fremont, realizes he assumes the team’s helm with only four games left in the season. He said he believes in “heavy metal soccer,” which he describes as a possession game, in which his team pressures the opposition when it doesn’t have the ball.

“I don’t like to react,” Kothner said. “I like to be the team that has the ball.”

Kothner added he hopes he can help the team win soon, something he thinks might help build confidence in his system.

“Once you have a success, you can say it really works,” he said. “It’s not just someone who talks.”

Eventually, Kothner said he hopes to coach a team that has a winner’s mentality and doesn’t care who the opposition is – like the famous German club, Bayern Munich.

On a practical level, Kothner said he would like to help RSJ players achieve their soccer goals such as playing in college or beyond. He said the success of the RSJ alumni would help develop pride throughout the club.