Just over one year after leaving his post with the Revolution, Bruce Arena is back in MLS, signing on with the San Jose Earthquakes.
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Earthquakes hire Bruce Arena73-year-old also named sporting directorClub finished bottom of MLS in 2024Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
The winningest coach in the history of Major League Soccer, Bruce Arena has been hired by the San Jose Earthquakes heading into 2025 according to a report. The 73-year-old was last in MLS in 2023, when he resigned from his post with the New England Revolution after being placed on leave during a league investigation into "inappropriate and insensitive" remarks.
Arena, who has also coached D.C. United and LA Galaxy, has been a serial winner in MLS across his storied career. He's won MLS Cup five times, four MLS Supporters' Shields and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He also held two-different stints with the U.S. men's national team, winning two CONCACAF Gold Cups. He is still the only U.S. manager to guide the men's national team to a World Cup semifinal.
ESPN was the first to report the news.
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"I think it's an interesting job. It's certainly going to be challenging," Arena told ESPN. The 73-year-old was particularly impressed with the club's front office staff and the dedication from team owner John Fisher, adding "They were very impressive and they're committed to making this club better. I think there's potential there to develop the club into a team that can certainly be better than they've demonstrated over the last couple of years."
The Earthquakes finished bottom of MLS in 2024, setting an unwanted record of conceding a league-record 78 goals during the campaign. Previous manager Lucho Gonzalez was dismissed from his role in June, with assistant Ian Russell filling in as interim head coach through the remainder of the season.
The club will undergo a complete rebuild under Arena, with hopes that they will find success by doing so – similar to that of when he took over the Galaxy in 2008, when he led them to three MLS Cups, and the Revolution in 2019, where he led them to the 2021 Supporters' Shield.
"I already know that we want to bring in anywhere from, three to five new players, at a minimum," Arena added. "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."
After the league's investigation into the comments he made in 2023 leading to his resignation from New England, MLS had announced that "certain" allegations were confirmed and that if the 73-year-old would want to work in MLS again, he would have to petition commissioner Don Garber to do so. Arena successfully made his claims in Dec. 2023 and was declared eligible to resume working in the league then.
Asked about details surrounding his comments by ESPN, Arena shared that "It was just staff joking around with each other in private. I accept any of the criticism and I'm moving forward."
DID YOU KNOW?
Per the same report from ESPN, Fisher and the Earthquakes are dedicated to revamping PayPal Park in San Jose, furthering additional investment into the club's stadium. Improvements and amenities will include improved locker rooms, a player meeting room, a team dining room, an additional practice field and additional items that will improve "the everyday environment for the players," Arena said.
In addition, further investment will be made into the club's roster, with the Earthquakes prepared to spend in order to compete in MLS come 2025.
"The commitment [Fisher] has made to help improve the roster is the one that I think is very positive," Arena added.
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The 73-year-old will take over duties with the Earthquakes immediately, looking ahead to 2025. First on their calendar will be important offseason dates, such as the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Dec. 20.
