Godoy stays, more moves pending
SANJOSE » The Earthquakes aren’t waiting for Major League Soccer’s postseason to end Dec. 9 to rebuild the roster for 2018.
San Jose took a big step Thursday when announcing it has re-signed Panamanian international Anibal Godoy to a multiyear contract with the MLS Cup final still more than a week away. The Quakes didn’t provide details of the new contract per league policy, but few deals are for more than two years.
“Anibal has been a leader for our club on and off the field,” Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said in a statement. “He has a strong influence on every match he plays in, and we made it a priority to sign him.”
Godoy, 27, joined San Jose in August 2015 to help bolster the central midfield with steady play. He had two goals and an assist last season while appearing in 26 games. Godoy is expected tomiss part of the Quakes’ season next year while competing in the World Cup in Russia.
• Fioranelli and technical director Chris Leitch said after the season they wanted to add pieces to a strong core of returning players. But while more changes should be announced in the coming weeks, the team also bid adieu to some of its popular players.
Defender Victor Bernardez ended a six-year run in San Jose as the Quakes didn’t exercise his option. Bernardez, who played in two World Cups for Honduras, wanted to continue for another season. But at 35, the center back was expendable as Fioranelli remakes the roster with younger talent.
The team also parted ways with Brazilian holding midfielder Matheus Silva, who spent the past two years on loan with United Soccer League teams. Silva, 20, recovered from a near drowning July 4 at Lake Tahoe but had only two appearances with USL affiliate Reno 1868 last season.
As previously reported, All- Star goalkeeper David Bingham and midfielder Cordell Cato are not returning. The status of Marc Pelosi of Sunnyvale, however, is not clear after the midfielder missed much of the past two years with injuries. He conceivably could re-work a contract but the possibility of staying in San Jose hinges on his health.
The team also didn’t exercise options for Kip Colvey, Lindo Mfeka and Dutch forward Danny Hoesen, whom Fioranelli wants to re-sign.
Defenders Andres Imperiale and Kofi Sarkodie are out of contract, leaving a void on the backline. The Quakes currently have three center backs with Francois Affolter, Harold Cummings and Florian Jungwirth, whose natural spot is in the central midfield. Winger Shea Salinas, 31, ended the season as a left fullback and could take over that role full time. Homegrown Nick Lima will return as a right-side back, and Andrew Tarabel appears to be the top goalkeeper.
Still, Fioranelli’s biggest offseason moves could involve restocking the defense for new coach Mikael Stahre.
• Quakes management seems satisfied with the central midfield with Godoy’s new contract and the return of Darwin Ceren, Fatai Alashe and Jackson Yueill.
The team also has attacking midfielders Jahmir Hyka, Valeri Qazaishvili, Tommy Thompson and designated player Simon Dawkins returning. While all are talented they might be too similar in style of play to help the offense improve beyond what transpired last season. Although the oft- injured Dawkins was overlooked by season’s end, he appears to have one more chance to prove himself in 2018 — unless the Quakes buy out his final year or trade him.
• If the team fails to resign Hoesen, San Jose will be hunting for another forward to join Quincy Amarikwa, Marco Ureña, and Chris Wondolowski.
Rumors already are swirling around a Swedish striker with a report from Expressen in Sweden connecting Magnus Eriksson to a $1.8 million transfer to MLS.
Eriksson, 27, is an intriguing possibility after getting 14 goals in 29 appearances for Djurgården IF of Stockholm to lead Sweden’s top division in scoring. Djurgarden officials told Expressen no bids on players had been made yet.
A year ago, the Quakes were linked with Club America forward Darwin Quintero and Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou. Neither player signed with MLS.