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Luchi Gonzalez named new Earthquakes head coach, will begin role after World Cup

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The San Jose Earthquakes search for a new head coach has come to an end.

Luchi Gonzalez has been named the new head coach of the Western Conference club, the Earthquakes announced Wednesday. Gonzalez, a current assistant coach with the U.S. men’s national team, will officially take over in San Jose following the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“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.”

San Jose has been without a permanent head coach since Matias Almeyda’s firing in April after the Western Conference club started the season with a 0-4-3 record. Quakes II head coach Alex Covelo has served as interim head coach of the first team since Almeyda’s firing and will remain in that role for the rest of the current season.

Gonzalez led FC Dallas to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2019 and 2020, posting a record of 28-31-26. A former first round draft pick by the Quakes in the 2022 MLS Draft, Gonzalez worked with several current USMNT players at Dallas, including Augsburg’s Ricardo Pepi, Boavista’s Reggie Cannon, and Venezia’s Tanner Tessmann.

The Earthquakes sit in 13th place in the Western Conference, with 24 points earned from 25 matches so far. San Jose welcomes West leaders LAFC to PayPal Park on Saturday.

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