Matias Almeyda will always be linked with other jobs

Maybe at some point I’ll start talking about the regular rumors that Matias Almeyda is about to be tempted to get away from the San Jose earthquakes by a Liga MX team, or a club. Argentinian Primera, or hell, even in MLS, but on the back of the last report I’ll explain why I haven’t pursued all these rumors so far: I didn’t really think he was about to leave.

Yes, one day he will leave, he breaks his contract and the Quakes get a reward from his next club, he is fired or he leaves at the end of his contract. It all ends at some point, we all know that.

But after the last round, with Cruz Azul said to be on the hunt for Almeyda, there were a few days of dismay from some in San Jose and a lot of excitement in Mexico City, followed by firm confirmation of the tremors in San Jose. land that Almeyda is staying put, means the cycle is fully predictable at this point.

1. A “big club” (the definition is certainly flexible) needs a manager
2. Sports journalists are looking for candidates and cannot understand why Almeyda would want to stay with earthquakes, so it is linked to work in the press
3. (Maybe) a team reaches out to see if they can tempt Almeyda to walk away
4. We are publicly going through days of uncertainty
5. Earthquakes tell US press Almeyda will stay in San Jose

I’ve only been on this pace for a year and feel like it has happened at least three times already. I think it happened at least three times last year too.

But there’s a good reason Almeyda is tied to all jobs in multiple countries – the guy is a successful coach. I can’t overstate how good he was with Chivas, a club that has been largely a basket otherwise this century. He also picked up the coins with River Plate when they were at their low point.

And while the Quakes have yet to reach the heights of these clubs, they have made progress. Remember, San Jose made a major signing for 2020, one! Throughout the season they have improved even further, even with a composition almost exactly the same as the year before. In MLS terms, let’s just say it never happens, if a team that doesn’t defend the champion holds up, they almost always back down.

So it’s good when other teams covet your team manager because that means he’s good at his job and he’s in demand. The Quakes haven’t had this since their relaunch and while they’re not perfect, it’s a good sign for a club that haven’t had the same ability to attract the biggest stars over the years. .

Now, the flip side: what will happen when Almeyda leaves? Obviously that will depend on whether he leaves on his terms or if he’s forced to go out, but let’s say he leaves because he wants to. The cachet of San Jose right now is fully enveloped in him, so every time he leaves there will be a culture change. Unless one of his assistants wants to remain a head coach, employs the exact same style, and is as good as a man manager as Almeyda, however, there won’t be a seamless transition. There will absolutely be a transition and who knows how the team is going to handle that as the style of play will likely change and roster building likely will too.

Still, the main reason I didn’t really care about Almeyda leaving is because I don’t see him leaving until his contract ends. I’m not sure he would sign an expansion, which is certainly a reason for Quakes fans to be concerned, but he seems like a man of his word and I think if the Earthquakes organization makes him feel supported, I think he will stay at least until the end of his contract.

We can come back to that when it’s all over to see if I was right or not, but while I think Almeyda will be linked to open jobs all over the world every month or two, I don’t spend a lot of time in worry me. if he’s about to go out. Hoping his time continues and he and the earthquakes continue to prove that all the skeptics – in MLS and around the world – are wrong about the fit of the coach and the club.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.