November 7th 2024.
After a disappointing season, the San Jose Earthquakes are looking to turn things around. They have brought on board Bruce Arena, a well-known and successful coach who previously managed the U.S. National team and holds the record for most wins in the MLS. In an interview with ESPN's Jeff Carlisle, Arena revealed that he has been named as the Quakes' new sporting director and manager. At 73 years old, he will have full control over the team, with general manager Chris Leitch reporting directly to him. This move was confirmed by a team source to Carlisle. Additionally, Arena mentioned that team owner John Fisher, who has received criticism for having one of the lowest payrolls in both the MLS and Major League Baseball, has committed to investing more in the Quakes.
The official announcement of Arena's hiring is expected to be made on Thursday morning. This will be his first coaching job since his resignation from the Revolution in 2023, following allegations of making inappropriate remarks. He was cleared to work in the MLS again last winter after meeting with commissioner Don Garber.
In his interview with ESPN, Arena expressed his excitement for this new challenge. He acknowledged that it will not be an easy job, but he believes that the potential is there to develop the club into a stronger team than they have been in recent years. He also praised Fisher and his staff for their commitment to improving the club.
The Quakes had a dismal season, finishing last in the MLS by a significant margin. With only 21 points, they were the only team in the 29-team league to not reach at least 30 points. Their last winning season was in 2013. The season started with Luchi Gonzalez as the coach, but he was fired in June after a rough start. Ian Russell took over as interim coach for the rest of the season, during which the Quakes showed some improvement but still struggled.
The hope is that Arena, with his impressive track record of 262 regular-season wins and five league championships, can turn things around for the Quakes, much like he did with previous MLS teams such as the L.A. Galaxy and the New England Revolution. He led the Galaxy to three MLS Cup titles between 2011 and 2014, and also won two with D.C. United in the late 1990s. In 2021, he helped the Revolution win the MLS Supporters' Shield for having the best regular season record, just two years after joining the team.
In his interview, Arena mentioned that he plans to bring in 3-5 new players and that Fisher has committed to increasing player salaries and upgrading facilities for the team at PayPal Park. He also stressed the importance of patience and not making too many changes too quickly. He believes that the current roster is capable of more than their performance in the previous season, and with some strategic additions, they can be a much stronger team.
The Quakes' fans and the MLS community have high hopes for Arena's impact on the team. With his experience and determination, he could be just the person to lead the Quakes to future success.
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