Bruce Arena has returned to management after being appointed as the new head coach and sporting director of MLS side San Jose Earthquakes ahead of the 2025 season.
73-year-old Arena has been out of coaching since being placed on administrative leave by New England Revolution in August 2023 amid allegations of “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.” Arena resigned as head coach and sporting director of the Revolution the following month.
In June this year, Arena said he took responsibility for his actions that led to his exit from the Revolution but also said he “had to be reserved” in what he could say about the specific nature of his resignation, adding that the entire experience had been “hurtful.”
Arena football. Coming soon to San Jose.
NEWS: #Quakes74 name five-time @MLS Cup champion Bruce Arena Sporting Director and Head Coach.
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) November 7, 2024
The Earthquakes had been without a head coach since firing head coach Luchi Gonzalez in June with Ian Russell as interim coach for the remainder of the season, which saw the club finish bottom of the Western Conference.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to come to San Jose,” said Arena.
“I coached my first ever professional game at Spartan Stadium in 1996 — the first game in MLS history — and my first international game with the U.S. in 1998 was in San Jose as well.
“The Earthquakes and Northern California have a proud soccer tradition. There’s a lot of potential with the club, and I am looking forward to working with everyone here to unlock that potential and get back to winning ways.”
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Earthquakes managing partner John Fisher said of Arena’s appointment: “Bruce is the most accomplished coach in American soccer history, and we are thrilled to bring him to San Jose.”
Arena’s coaching career has spanned five decades and he is best known for his two stints coaching the USMNT, whom he coached at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
He has managed over 800 matches in professional football and has previously been head coach of D.C. United, New York Red Bulls, LA Galaxy and the Revolution.
(Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
