The Mercury News Weekend

Quakes’ Almeyda could be a highly sought- after coach

- By Ted Ward tward@ bayareanew­sgroup. com

As the San Jose Earthquake­s face a win or go home game Sunday, their coach may have a choice to make regarding his future.

According to reports in the Mexican media and mlssoccer. com, Matias Almeyda is a target to be the head coach of a top Liga MX team. According to the reports, Monterrey, which sacked its coach Diego Alonso with seven games left in the season, has made Almeyda its main target of its coaching search.

Almeyda has led the Quakes on an amazing turnaround in his first season with the club.

San Jose ( 44 points, 1315- 5) needs a win on Decision Day against Portland to make the playoffs. The Quakes have more than doubled their points total this season under Almeyda.

Still, Almeyda wouldn’t rule out a return to Mexico. He came to the Quakes after a stint with Chivas.

“I have friends, I have players that I have led and I have a lot of people obviously that when issues come up like this the first one to find out is me,” Almeyda told MLSsoccer. com midweek. “I am very grateful to Mexican football — a football that I love, respect. But I have nothing more to say.”

Almeyda, 45, managed Chivas from 2015- 18. He won a Liga MX title, two Copa MX titles and the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League, by far the most success that club has experience­d in decades. The Argentine has also led River Plate and Banfield to Argentine second- division league titles in his managerial career.

Monterrey — the current CONCACAF Champions League champion — is currently in 12th place in Liga MX, out of the playoffs.

Almeyda told mlssoccer. com that talks with San Jose will begin when its season comes to a close.

 ?? NHAT V. MEYER – STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER ?? Matias Almeyda has guided the Earthquake­s to MLS playoff contention in his first season as head coach.
NHAT V. MEYER – STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER Matias Almeyda has guided the Earthquake­s to MLS playoff contention in his first season as head coach.

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