LUCHI GONZALEZ - HEAD COACH
The San Jose Earthquakes announced the hiring of Luchi Gonzalez as head coach on Aug. 17, 2022.
Gonzalez most recently served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team from 2021-2022 and was with the USMNT in Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With Gonzalez on staff, the USMNT played their final six qualification matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and secured their place in the competition for the first time since 2014.
Following his playing career, the Miami, Fla. native took over as Director of the FC Dallas Academy in 2012 and helped guide the most successful youth program in the United States. In his six years with the FC Dallas Academy, the club won four U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championships and the 2016 Dallas Cup Super Group (U19). Gonzalez helped develop many youth players who have gone onto successful professional careers, including Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Reggie Cannon (Boavista), Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Ricardo Pepi (FC Augsberg), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas), Bryan Reynolds (Roma), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), and Tanner Tessmann (Venezia FC), all of which have represented the senior U.S. National Team.
Gonzalez was named FC Dallas’ head coach ahead of the 2019 season and led the club to back-to-back MLS Cup Playoff appearances in 2019 and 2020. Over those two seasons, FC Dallas lost just one of 27 home matches (17-1-9) and ranked top-seven defensively both years. He departed the club in September 2021.
Gonzalez was a U.S. U17 National Team player that competed for four seasons at Southern Methodist University (SMU). After winning the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s best collegiate player in 2001, Gonzalez was selected sixth overall by the Earthquakes in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft. He made eight appearances during his rookie season with San Jose before later playing in Sweden and Peru. He then returned to MLS in 2005, finishing with 22 appearances across two seasons with the Colorado Rapids.
Gonzalez received his Elite Formation Coaching License as part of Major League Soccer’s partnership with the French Football Federation. He then earned his U.S. Soccer Pro License, which represents the highest soccer license recognized in North America.
