Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | April 1, 1979 | ||
Place of birth | Pickerington, Ohio, United States | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1997–2001 | North Carolina Tar Heels | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2002 | Columbus Crew | 13 | (0) |
2002–2005 | MetroStars | 72 | (0) |
2006 | Columbus Crew | 24 | (0) |
2007–2008 | New York Red Bulls | 29 | (0) |
2009–2011 | San Jose Earthquakes | 58 | (0) |
Total | 196 | (0) | |
Managerial career | |||
2017 | San Jose Earthquakes | ||
2021– | San Jose Earthquakes (general manager) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 12, 2011 |
Chris Leitch (born April 1, 1979, in Pickerington, Ohio) is an American former soccer player who is currently the general manager and a former head coach [1] for the San Jose Earthquakes.
Leitch played college soccer at the University of North Carolina, leading them to the NCAA Championship in 2001, setting a school record for games played (88) and starts (87).
Leitch was drafted by Columbus Crew in the fourth round of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, but only played 13 games for his hometown team in his first professional season.
Leitch was traded to the MetroStars with Jeff Matteo for Ross Paule prior to the 2003 season. [2] He became a regular in the Metro lineup late in the year, playing in 15 games. He then became an automatic starter in 2004, playing every minute of all but a single game. Originally a right back, Leitch acquitted himself well on the left flank when the Metros needed help at that position. He switched back to the right flank in 2005. Despite being named the team's Defender of the Year, he was waived by the club in the offseason and then came back to Columbus. He appeared in 24 matches in the 2006 season for his hometown club.
In the 2007 pre-season, Leitch was waived again, this time by the Crew as they sought to clear roster spots. He would return to the New York franchise, now New York Red Bulls, in July. The versatile defender appeared in 12 league matches for the club, starting 11. In 2008 Leitch appeared in 17 regular season matches. He helped the club reach the 2008 Western Conference Final, starting in both matches of the Red Bulls historic upset over defending champion Houston Dynamo (4–1 on aggregate). The following week he helped shut out Real Salt Lake 1–0 to help the Red Bulls reach the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history.
Just prior to the start of the 2009 season on March 2, San Jose Earthquakes acquired Leitch in a trade with New York for an undisclosed sum of allocation money and one of the Earthquakes' eight international roster spots. [3] [4] Leitch had a career year with San Jose in 2009 appearing in 29 matches during the MLS regular season and contributing with 7 assists from his full back position.
Leitch remained with San Jose through the 2011 season. At season's end, the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Leitch was selected by Los Angeles Galaxy in stage two of the draft on December 12, 2011. [5] However, Leitch decided to retire rather than return for the 2012 season.
On January 31, 2012, Leitch was named Technical Director for the San Jose Earthquakes Youth Development Academy. [6]
On August 10, 2015, he was promoted to Technical Director for the San Jose Earthquakes proper, including the first team as well as the academy. [7]
On June 25, 2017, he was named the head coach of the Earthquakes, replacing Dominic Kinnear. [8] His coaching debut was San Jose's 2–1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC in the knockout round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 28, advancing the Earthquakes to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2012 while also achieving the team's first-ever victory over another MLS team during the Open Cup. [9] Leitch's first MLS match as head coach saw San Jose beat the LA Galaxy 2–1 at Stanford Stadium on July 1 off of a stoppage time winner from Shea Salinas. [10]
He was replaced as San Jose's head coach by Mikael Stahre on November 24, 2017, and thereafter returned to his former role as technical director. [11]
On November 8, 2021, he was promoted from technical director to general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes. [12]
Season | Team | Title |
---|---|---|
2002 | Columbus Crew | U.S. Open Cup |
2008 | New York Red Bulls | MLS Western Conference (Playoffs) |
Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
United States | League | Open Cup | League Cup | North America | Total | |||||||
2002 | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 15 | 0 |
2003 | MetroStars | Major League Soccer | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 20 | 0 |
2004 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 0 | ||
2005 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 29 | 0 | ||
2006 | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 26 | 0 |
2007 | New York Red Bulls | Major League Soccer | 12 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 |
2008 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 22 | 0 | ||
2009 | San Jose Earthquakes | Major League Soccer | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 30 | 0 |
2010 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 1 | ||
2011 | 14 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 0 | ||
Total | United States | 196 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 0 | - | - | 218 | 1 | |
Career total | 196 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 0 | - | - | 218 | 1 |
Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
San Jose Earthquakes | 2017 | 2017 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 41.18 | |
Total | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 41.18 |
The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional soccer club based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete as a member club of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). Originally as the San Jose Clash, the franchise began play in 1996 as one of the charter members of the league. The Earthquakes took part in the first game in MLS history, defeating D.C. United 1–0. The Earthquakes have won two MLS Cup titles and two Supporters' Shields. In 2002, the team played in its first CONCACAF Champions Cup, making it to the quarterfinals. The team holds a fierce rivalry with the LA Galaxy known as the California Clásico.
Dominic Kinnear is an American soccer coach and former player. On January 18, 2022, he was named an assistant coach by FC Cincinnati, his first coaching role since serving as the interim head coach of the LA Galaxy.
Frank Walter Yallop is a British-Canadian professional soccer coach and former player.
Ramiro Corrales is an American former professional soccer player. He spent most of his professional playing career with the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.
Ian Russell is an American soccer coach and former player. He is currently interim head coach of MLS club San Jose Earthquakes.
The California Clásico is the name given to the football rivalry between the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes. This Major League Soccer rivalry reached its zenith from 2001 to 2005, during which time the Earthquakes and the Galaxy combined to win four MLS Cup titles. The term "Clasico" is commonly used to refer to other rivalries in Spanish-speaking countries, most prominently, the Spanish Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, or the Argentine Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate.
The 2010 San Jose Earthquakes season was the club's thirteenth season of existence. The Earthquakes finished 8th overall in MLS and finished in the Eastern Conference finals of the MLS Cup playoffs before losing to the Colorado Rapids. It was the first season the club made the playoffs since 2005.
The 2011 San Jose Earthquakes season was the club's 14th year of existence, as well as its 14th season in Major League Soccer and its fourth consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer. This is the 29th season of a club bearing the "Earthquakes" name.
The 2012 San Jose Earthquakes season was the club's 15th year of existence, as well as its 15th season in Major League Soccer and its fifth consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer. Including all previous franchises, this is the 30th year with a soccer club in the San Jose area sporting the name "Earthquakes".
The 2005 San Jose Earthquakes season was the tenth season of the team's existence and last before their move to Houston to become the Houston Dynamo. The season also marked the franchise's first Supporters' Shield.
The 2013 San Jose Earthquakes season was the club's 16th year of existence, as well as its 16th season in Major League Soccer and its sixth consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer. Including all previous franchises, this is the 31st year with a soccer club in the San Jose area sporting the name "Earthquakes".
The 2014 Major League Soccer season was the 19th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 102nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 36th with a national first-division league.
The 2014 San Jose Earthquakes season was the club's 17th year of existence, as well as its 17th season in Major League Soccer and its 7th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer. Including all previous franchises, it was the 32nd year with a soccer club in the San Jose area sporting the name "Earthquakes".
Kip Warren Colvey II is a New Zealand former professional footballer. He last played for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.
The 2017 San Jose Earthquakes season was the club's 35th year of existence, their 20th season in Major League Soccer and their 10th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer.
The 2018 San Jose Earthquakes season was the club's 36th year of existence, their 21st season in Major League Soccer and their 11th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer.
Ousseni Bouda is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes and the Burkina Faso national team.
The 2022 season was the San Jose Earthquakes' 40th year of existence, their 25th season in Major League Soccer and their 15th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer.
The 2023 season was the San Jose Earthquakes' 41st year of existence, their 26th season in Major League Soccer and their 16th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer.
The 2024 season will be the San Jose Earthquakes' 42nd year of existence, their 27th season in Major League Soccer and their 17th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer. It will be the 50th anniversary of the original San Jose Earthquakes' first season in the NASL. The club's jerseys unveiled for their season campaign, had commemorated the Earthquakes legacy, and donned the NASL Earthquakes' logo.