Dominic Kinnear looks like he is heading back to the San Jose Earthquakes. After weeks of rumors and speculation, the Houston Chronicle is reporting that Kinnear has agreed to a deal with the Earthquakes and told his Houston Dynamo assistant coaches that he will become the San Jose manager after the season.
Dominic Kinnear reportedly leaving Dynamo to become Earthquakes manager
Dominic Kinnear is heading home.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Kinnear was the manager of the Earthquakes in 2004 and 2005 before the club moved to Houston and became the Dynamo. He led the Dynamo to two MLS Cups and two other finals appearances, establishing himself as one of the league’s best managers, but the team has struggled the last two years. Meanwhile, San Jose got an expansion team in 2007, also named the Earthquakes, and offered Kinnear not just a chance to return to the club where he started, but also his home.
Kinnear was born in Scotland, but moved to Fremont, Calif., as a toddler and grew up in the Bay Area. Most of his family, as well as his wife’s family, still live in Northern California and a return to San Jose makes sense.
The Earthquakes have a manager in Mark Watson, but he has the club at the bottom of the Western Conference and most expected him to lose his job by the end of the season. Now that appears to be set with Kinnear taking over.
Kinnear looks to be re-joining the Earthquakes at the right time. They have spent more money in recent years, brought in some talented foreign players and have an academy that is beginning to produce quality talent like Tommy Thompson. The Quakes will also be moving into a new soccer-specific stadium next season, giving the club a home, a stronger identity, a better culture and, theoretically, more money.
There is no word yet whom the Dynamo will look to replace Kinnear with, but they could look to his staff. Kinnear has assembled a staff primarily of his former players who are pretty highly regarded.
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