Bruce Arena, the most successful manager in MLS history, is set to attempt turning around the league’s worst team.
Arena told ESPN on Wednesday that he is joining the San Jose Earthquakes as sporting director and manager. Per the report, Arena’s arrival likely will be announced on Thursday.
Arena has led teams to five MLS Cup championships — the only head coach/manager to capture the title more than twice. He guided D.C. United to the crown in 1996 and 1997, then was in charge when the Los Angeles Galaxy prevailed in 2011, 2012 and 2014.
He also is the league’s winningest coach in terms of regular-season victories (262) and postseason victories (35).
Most recently, Arena was the sporting director and manager of the New England Revolution, but he resigned from the team in September 2023 amid an MLS investigation into “inappropriate and insensitive remarks.”
ESPN reported that Arena was cleared by MLS commissioner Don Garber last December to return to work in the league. Arena told ESPN regarding the circumstances surrounding his departure from New England, “It was just staff joking around with each other in private. I accept any of the criticism and I’m moving forward.”
The Earthquakes went 6-25-3 (21 points) this year, allowing an MLS-record 78 goals. Manager Luchi Gonzalez was fired in June, and Ian Russell served as interim head coach the rest of the way.
“I already know that we want to bring in anywhere from, three to five new players, at a minimum,” Arena told ESPN. “We’re going to target some guys and try to attract them to San Jose.
“You can’t change a dozen players in one year, so I think we need to have some patience. I think the roster’s a heck of a lot better than they demonstrated this past year. It’s not a 21-point roster. Is it a 30-point roster? Is it 40 points? Is it 50 points? I don’t know, but the roster is certainly more capable than they showed in 2024.”
–Field Level Media
