The San Jose Earthquakes have parted ways with general manager Jesse Fioranelli, effective immediately, the club announced Tuesday. Technical director Chris Leitch, head coach Matias Almeyda and the rest of the coaching staff will continue in their respective roles. The club said they would begin the search for a permanent successor immediately.
“I would like to thank Jesse for his commitment and dedication to our club,” Earthquakes managing partner John Fisher said in a team release. “We sincerely appreciate his efforts over the past four and a half years. We wish him and his family the best of luck moving forward. With the majority of the season remaining, our focus is on earning a playoff spot, and we have confidence that Matias, our coaching staff and our players, who led us to the playoffs last year, can turn this around and make that happen.”
Fioranelli was appointed the club’s general manager in January 2017 and helped guide the team to a 41-67-28 regular season record, reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2017 and 2020. San Jose currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference, with a 3-7-1 record in 2021. The club have lost six of their last seven games.
“Leaving isn’t easy because I have been very fortunate to work with an incredible group of people whose priority has always been to put the club first,” said Fioranelli. “I will always be thankful to John Fisher and the board for the opportunity to serve the club. I want to thank every player, coach, staff member and colleague, from the first team to the academy, and the front office with whom I have shared four and a half memorable years. Being able to witness the growth of our players, while working with Matias on a unique pathway and a brand of football that goes far beyond the tactics of the game, makes me hopeful that I am leaving our club with a bright future ahead. I take with me invaluable learning moments from the experiences we made together on the field, with our fans and inside the community. It has been an honor to embrace a bigger cause together with you.”
