San Jose Earthquakes facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Quakes, The Goonies | ||
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| Founded | 1994 | ||
| Stadium | PayPal Park San Jose, California |
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| Stadium capacity |
18,000 | ||
| Majority owner | John Fisher | ||
| President | Jared Shawlee | ||
| General manager and Head coach |
Bruce Arena | ||
| League | Major League Soccer | ||
| 2024 | Western Conference: 14th Overall: 29th Playoffs: Did not qualify |
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The San Jose Earthquakes are a professional soccer team from San Jose, California. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. The team started in 1996 as the San Jose Clash. They even played in the very first MLS game, winning 1–0 against D.C. United.
The Earthquakes have won two major championships called the MLS Cup (in 2001 and 2003). They also won the Supporters' Shield twice (in 2005 and 2012), which is given to the team with the best regular season record. In 2002, they played in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, reaching the quarterfinals. The team has a big rivalry with the LA Galaxy, known as the California Clásico.
In 2005, the team's owner decided to move the club to Houston because they couldn't get a new soccer stadium in San Jose. This new team became the Houston Dynamo. After two years, the Earthquakes returned to San Jose in 2008. Since 2015, they have played their home games at PayPal Park. Before that, they played at Buck Shaw Stadium from 2008 to 2014.
Team History
Early Days (1974)
The San Jose Earthquakes actually started way back in 1974. They were part of the North American Soccer League (NASL). During this time, famous players like George Best and even the legendary Pelé played in games against them in San Jose.
How the Team Started (1994–1999)
In 1994, a group from San Jose helped create one of the first teams for Major League Soccer. The team was first called the San Jose Clash. This name was chosen by Nike, a big investor in the league.
The Clash played their first MLS game on April 6, 1996, at Spartan Stadium. More than 31,000 fans watched as San Jose won 1–0. The first goal in MLS history was scored by Eric Wynalda for the Clash! Later that year, they set a record for the most fans at a sporting event in San Jose. Even though the team made the playoffs in 1996, they struggled in the following years.
The Earthquakes Return (1999–2005)
On October 27, 1999, the team changed its name back to the Earthquakes. This was because the old name was more popular with fans. In 2001, the Earthquakes got a new coach, Frank Yallop, and a talented young player, Landon Donovan. These changes quickly made the team much better.
The Earthquakes won the MLS Cup 2001 by beating their rivals, the Los Angeles Galaxy, 2–1 in overtime. They continued their success, winning another MLS Cup in 2003 against the Chicago Fire. Before that 2003 final, they had an amazing comeback against the Galaxy in the playoffs, winning 5–4 after being down by four goals! After these wins, coach Yallop left to coach Canada's national team. Dominic Kinnear, his assistant, became the new head coach.
In 2004, there was a plan to change the team's name to "San Jose America," which made fans very upset. This plan was stopped. The team continued to play well, winning the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2005.
A Break and a Comeback (2006–2008)
After the 2005 season, the Earthquakes' owner decided to move the team to Houston. MLS announced that the Earthquakes' name, colors, and history would stay in San Jose for a future team. The players and coaches moved to Houston, and the new team was called the Houston Dynamo.
But San Jose fans didn't give up! In 2006, new owners, Lewis Wolff and John Fisher, made a deal to bring an MLS team back to the Bay Area. On July 18, 2007, an expansion team was officially given to them, and it was named the San Jose Earthquakes. This new team kept all the records and history of the original 1996-2005 team. In 2007, former coach Frank Yallop also returned to lead the team again.
Back in MLS (2008–2011)
When the Earthquakes returned in 2008, players like Darren Huckerby and Ronnie O'Brien helped the team. They had a nine-game unbeaten streak, but still missed the playoffs. In 2009, the team signed Chris Wondolowski, who would become a club legend.
In 2010, the Earthquakes made it to the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They surprised everyone by beating the top-seeded New York Red Bulls in the first round. However, they lost in the semi-finals to the Colorado Rapids. In 2011, they missed the playoffs again.
The "Goonies" Era (2012–2014)
The 2012 season was one of the best in Earthquakes history! The team became famous for scoring late goals to win or tie games. After one such comeback win, player Steven Lenhart famously said, "Goonies never say die!" (a line from the movie The Goonies). This became the team's rallying cry.
The Quakes finished the 2012 season with a team record 66 points and 72 goals. They won the MLS Supporters' Shield, their first major trophy since returning to San Jose. They also qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. In the playoffs, they won their first game against the LA Galaxy with a late goal, but were knocked out after losing the second game at home.
In 2013, the team faced challenges with injuries. Coach Frank Yallop left, and Mark Watson took over. On June 29, 2013, the Quakes had another amazing comeback against the LA Galaxy, winning 3–2 after being down 2–0 and having a player sent off. They also played in the CONCACAF Champions League, winning their group and moving to the knockout stage. Despite a strong second half of the season, they narrowly missed the playoffs.
In 2014, the Earthquakes played in the Champions League quarterfinals but lost in a penalty shootout. They had their worst MLS season ever, winning only 6 matches and having a 15-game winless streak.
Dominic Kinnear's Return (2015–2017)
In 2015, Dominic Kinnear returned as coach. The team also opened their new stadium, Avaya Stadium (now PayPal Park), which was the first soccer-specific stadium in the Bay Area. The 2015 season was better, but the team still missed the playoffs. Chris Wondolowski scored his 100th MLS goal that year.
In 2017, Jesse Fioranelli became the new general manager. He focused on developing young players and bringing in new international talent. Coach Kinnear was replaced by Chris Leitch in June 2017. Under Leitch, the team reached the U.S. Open Cup semifinals for the first time since 2004. They also made the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, their first playoff appearance since 2012, but lost in the first round.
Recent Years (2017–Present)
In November 2017, Mikael Stahre became the new head coach. He was replaced by Matías Almeyda in October 2018. On May 18, 2019, Chris Wondolowski scored four goals against Chicago Fire, breaking the league's all-time scoring record! The team missed the playoffs that year.
In 2020, the season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When it resumed with the MLS is Back tournament, the Earthquakes won their group and reached the quarterfinals. In April 2022, Matías Almeyda left the club, and Alex Covelo became the interim coach. In 2023, Luchi Gonzalez took over as head coach, followed by Bruce Arena in 2024.
Team Colors and Jerseys
Since the beginning, the Earthquakes have mostly worn blue and black, often with white.
When they became the Earthquakes in 2000, their badge was a shield with a soccer ball and the name "Earthquakes." The three points of the shield represented the three biggest cities in the Bay Area: San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.
In 2014, the team got a new badge and uniforms. The new design still used blue and black, and added a chevron shape that looks like a crack in the earth, linking to the team's name. It also included the year 1974 in red, honoring the original Earthquakes team.
The team often releases new jerseys with special designs. For example, in 2018, they released a "Navy SEAL Foundation Jersey" and donated part of the sales to the Foundation. Their 2020-2021 away jersey used the colors of the San Jose city flag.
Uniform History
- Home
         1996
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   1997–98
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     1999
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 2000–02
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   2003–04
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    2005
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     2008
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  2009
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    2010–11
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    2012–13
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    2014–16
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     2017–18
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     2019–20
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     2021–22
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     2023–
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- Away
     2000–01
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   2002–03
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    2004
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     2005
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     2008–09
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   2010–11
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  2012–13
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  2014
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     2015
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    2016
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 2017
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   2018–19
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    2020–21
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   2022–
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Home Stadiums
The Earthquakes have played in several stadiums over the years. Their main home since 2015 is PayPal Park in San Jose.
| Name | Location | Years |
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| PayPal Park | San Jose, California | 2015–present |
| Levi's Stadium | Santa Clara, California | 2014–2015, 2023–2024 (marquee venue) |
| Buck Shaw Stadium | Santa Clara, California | 2008–2014 |
| Spartan Stadium | San Jose, California | 1996–2005 |
| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Oakland, California | 2008–2009 (big game venue) |
| Stanford Stadium | Stanford, California | 2011–present (big game venue, scheduled in July) |
For a long time, the Earthquakes wanted their own special soccer stadium. In 2007, there were plans to build one near Spartan Stadium, but that didn't work out.
PayPal Park
Later, a new plan focused on a site near the San Jose International Airport. The city of San Jose and the Earthquakes worked together on this. On September 19, 2009, the first designs for the new stadium were shown. It would be a three-sided stadium with 18,000 seats.
On March 16, 2010, the San Jose city council approved the plans. The Earthquakes even set a Guinness World Record for the largest groundbreaking ceremony, with 6,256 people helping! The stadium was finished in early 2015. Its first official game was on March 22, 2015, when the Earthquakes played Chicago Fire. Fatai Alashe scored the first goal in the new stadium.
Team Culture
Rivalries
The California Clásico is a big rivalry between the Earthquakes and the LA Galaxy. It's one of the oldest rivalries in American soccer. This rivalry comes from the long-standing sports and cultural competition between Northern and Southern California. It became even more intense when both teams won MLS Cups around the same time in the early 2000s.
The Earthquakes also have the Heritage Cup rivalry with Seattle Sounders FC. This cup is for MLS teams that carry on the names of older teams from the North American Soccer League (NASL).
Fan Support
The Earthquakes have several fan groups, including the San Jose Ultras, Club Quake, and The Faultline. These groups cheer loudly for the team.
A famous punk musician named Lars Frederiksen is a big Earthquakes fan. He even wrote a new anthem for the team called "Never Say Die," which includes backing vocals from some of the players!
Team Mascots
The Earthquakes have had a few mascots over the years:
- José Clash (1996–1999)
- Rikter the CyberDog (2000–2002)
- Q (2004–2005, 2008–present)
Q is the current mascot and is often seen at games and events.
Team Business
Sponsorship
The Earthquakes have had different sponsors for their jerseys over the years. Early sponsors included Honda and Yahoo! Sports. More recently, they have been sponsored by Sutter Health, Intermedia, and PayPal.
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Sleeve sponsor |
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| 1996–1999 | Nike | Honda | — |
| 2000–2002 | Yahoo! Sports | ||
| 2003–2004 | Yahoo! en Español | ||
| 2005 | — | ||
| 2008 | Adidas | ||
| 2009–2011 | Amway Global | ||
| 2012–2015 | — | ||
| 2016–2018 | Sutter Health | ||
| 2019 | — | ||
| 2020 | Intermedia | Clover Wells Fargo |
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| 2021–present | PayPal |
How to Watch and Listen
Since 2023, you can watch every Earthquakes game on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app. Some national games are also shown on Fox or Fox Sports 1.
You can listen to all Earthquakes games on the radio. In English, they are on 810 KGO. In Spanish, they are on 1370 KZSF. The English broadcast features Ted Ramey and former goalkeeper Joe Cannon. The Spanish broadcast has Carlos César Rivera and former player Ramiro Corrales.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Team Management
| Coaching staff | |
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| President | Jared Shawlee |
| General manager | Chris Leitch |
| Interim coach | Ian Russell |
| Assistant coach | Steve Ralston |
| Assistant coach | Luciano Fusco |
| Goalkeeping coach | Adin Brown |
| Strength and conditioning coach | Max Lankheit |
| Head Athletic Trainer | Manny De Alba |
| Assistant Athletic Trainer | Brendon Taguinod |
| Assistant Athletic Trainer | Beatriz Olmedo |
| Equipment Manager | Andy Dunbar |
| Assistant Manager Equipment | Hector Perez |
| Team Administrator | Sean Mearns |
Team Achievements
Club Trophies
- MLS Cup
- Winners (2): 2001, 2003
- Supporters' Shield
- Winners (2): 2005, 2012
- Western Conference
- Playoff Winners (2): 2001, 2003
- Regular Season Winners (3): 2003, 2005, 2012
- Fair Play Award: 2001, 2010
Player Awards
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Team Records
Career Records
These are the top players in Earthquakes history for goals, assists, shutouts, and games played in regular season matches. Bold means the player is still active with the team.
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Single-Season Records
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Team Leaders
Hall of Fame
The Earthquakes Hall of Fame honors important players and people who helped build the club.
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Players
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Builders
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Staff
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Team Captains
The team captain is a player chosen to lead the team on the field.
| Name | Years |
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 John Doyle |
1996–2000 |
| Jeff Agoos |
2001–2004 |
| Wade Barrett |
2005 |
| Nick Garcia |
2008 |
| Ramiro Corrales |
2009–2013 |
| Chris Wondolowski |
2014–2021 |
| Jackson Yueill |
2022–present |
Head Coaches
The head coach is in charge of training the team and making game-time decisions.
| Name | Nationality | Years Coached |
|---|---|---|
| Laurie Calloway |  England |
December 7, 1995 – June 25, 1997 |
| Brian Quinn |  Republic of Ireland |
June 25, 1997– September 16, 1999 |
| Jorge Espinoza |  Chile |
September 16, 1999 – September 22, 1999 |
| Lothar Osiander |  Germany |
September 22, 1999 – January 12, 2001 |
| Frank Yallop |  Canada |
February 3, 2001 – December 12, 2003 |
| Dominic Kinnear | United States |
January 6, 2004 – December 15, 2005 |
| Frank Yallop | Canada |
November 9, 2007 – June 7, 2013 |
| Mark Watson | Canada |
June 7, 2013 – October 30, 2013 (interim) October 30, 2013 – October 15, 2014 |
| Ian Russell | United States |
October 15, 2014 – October 26, 2014 (interim) |
| Dominic Kinnear | United States |
October 16, 2014 – June 25, 2017 |
| Chris Leitch | United States |
June 25, 2017 – November 24, 2017 |
| Mikael Stahre |  Sweden |
November 24, 2017 – September 17, 2018 |
| Steve Ralston (interim) | United States |
September 17, 2018 – October 28, 2018 |
| Matías Almeyda |  Argentina |
October 29, 2018 – April 18, 2022 |
| Alex Covelo (interim) |  Spain |
April 19, 2022 – January 2, 2023 |
| Luchi Gonzalez | United States |
January 3, 2023 – June 23, 2024 |
| Ian Russell | United States |
June 24, 2024 – November 6, 2014 (interim) |
| Bruce Arena | United States |
November 7, 2024 – present |
General Managers
The general manager helps run the team and makes decisions about players and staff.
| Nationality | Name | Years |
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| England |
Peter Bridgwater | 1995–1998 |
| United States |
Lynne Meterparel | 1999–2000 |
| United States |
Tom Neale | 2001 |
 Scotland |
Johnny Moore | 2002–2003 |
| United States |
Alexi Lalas | 2004–2005 |
| United States |
Kate McAllister and Ken Freccero (interim) | 2005 |
| United States |
John Doyle | 2008–2016 |
 Switzerland |
Jesse Fioranelli | 2017–2021 |
| United States |
Chris Leitch | 2021–2024 |
| United States |
Bruce Arena | 2024 – present |
Team Owners
- Major League Soccer (1996–1998)
- Kraft Sports Group (1999–2000)
- Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (2001)
- Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (Operations) / Anschutz Entertainment Group (Investment) (2002)
- Anschutz Entertainment Group (2003–2005)
- Earthquakes Soccer, LLC (2007–present)
Images for kids
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San Jose Earthquakes players, 2005
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Earthquakes captain Ramiro Corrales during the team's first season back in MLS
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The San Jose Earthquakes on the field at the O.co Coliseum in 2008
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San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski (front, black kit) attempts a header against Montreal in 2013
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Q at a home game in August 2010
In Spanish: San Jose Earthquakes para niños
- San Jose Earthquakes (1974–88)
- 2007 MLS Expansion Draft
- List of San Jose Earthquakes rosters
