Crusaders Soccer announced the appointment of Victor Melendez as the new director of coaching, following the retirement of Rene Miramontes. 

Coach Victor has served as Crusaders Soccer director of goalkeeping since he joined Crusaders in 2012 and as the assistant director of coaching since 2015. 

He is a very well-known individual in the soccer community, with extensive experience in the professional ranks and all levels of youth soccer. One of Victor’s many accomplishments is he coached and developed the CalSouth Soccer Player of the Year in 2018.

Victor brings more than 30 years of successful coaching experience for both youth and professional soccer; coaching boys’ and girls’ teams to championships.

In addition, Victor is the assistant coach for the Men’s Mexican National Mini Football Team which won the world championship in 2018 and he is the goalkeeper coach for the multi-champion San Diego Sockers.

Victor holds an “A” license with the US Soccer Federation and a Brazilian “A” goalkeeping license.

All of us at Crusaders Soccer Club are very fortunate to have Victor take on this new responsibility and leadership role.

The Crusaders Soccer Recreational All-Star teams competed in the 2024 New Years Kickoff tournament on January, 6-7 at Ryan Park in Escondido (Girls 2012/13 pictured above). 

The competition included recreational All-Star teams from throughout Southern California. The Crusaders Soccer Club did very well; four of our eight teams placed second in their respective division. 

The teams are:

Girls 2012/13 coached by Mike Gooding Boys 2014/15 coached by Jason Lithopoulos Boys 2014/15 coached by Chris Jacobsen and assistant coaches Stephen Gulley and Walter Solomon Boys 2016/17 co-coached by Kimberly Parkinson and Donnie Bryant

A big thank you to all our 2023 All-Star coaches and players. This is a tremendous commitment on behalf of the coaches and the players to extend a season by nearly two months.

Recreational level players are already registering for the 2024 spring season.

Many of our 2023 recreational players are trying out for one of the competitive teams. Tryouts for boys and girls born in 2018 through 2015 were held in December, but our coaches are still evaluating players for the 2024 Competitive season. For players born in 2014 through 2010, tryouts are being held February 12-14. Competitive tryouts for players born in 2009 and older will be held in April following the high school soccer season. 

For more information and to register for the 2024 Crusaders Recreational spring season or for the 2024 Competitive team tryouts, go to the Crusaders homepage – crusaderssoccer.org.