August 17, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – San Jose Earthquakes News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has hired Luchi Gonzalez as head coach. Gonzalez, currently an assistant coach with the United States Men’s National Team, will take over at the conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The interim coaching staff, led by Alex Covelo, will remain in their current roles through the end of the 2022 season.
“Luchi has all of the attributes that we sought in our next head coach,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. “He has had success coaching in Major League Soccer with playoff appearances in his first two seasons and has a very strong track record in youth development. His strengths and desires align with our short and long-term goals as a club, and we look forward to him taking the reins after the World Cup.”
Gonzalez, 42, has served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team since December 2021. With Gonzalez on staff, the USMNT played their final six qualification matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and secured their place in the competition for the first time since 2014.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity with one of the league’s founding clubs,” said Gonzalez. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with the club’s leadership team throughout the interview process and was impressed by their vision for the future, both on and off the field. Chris Leitch and his team have put together a solid foundation of players and I’m looking forward to working with them. As excited as I am for this opportunity, I’m going to remain focused on helping the U.S. National Team be as successful as possible through the FIFA World Cup and I will be ready to give everything for San Jose once that journey is over.”
Following his playing career, the Miami, Fla. native took over as Director of the FC Dallas Academy in 2012 and helped guide the most successful youth program in the United States. In his six years with the FC Dallas Academy, the club won four U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championships and the 2016 Dallas Cup Super Group (U19). Gonzalez helped develop many youth players who have gone onto successful professional careers, including Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Reggie Cannon (Boavista), Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Ricardo Pepi (FC Augsberg), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas), Bryan Reynolds (Roma), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), and Tanner Tessmann…
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