San Jose Earthquakes Explained: Traditions, Logo & History

Did the Earthquakes ever leave San Jose?

Yes.

After the 2005 season the ownership group moved the operation to Houston, where it became the Dynamo, because San Jose had no soccer-specific stadium and no clear path to one. MLS kept the Earthquakes name, colors and history in San Jose, and the club returned as an expansion side in 2008. The two MLS Cups from 2001 and 2003 stayed with San Jose rather than travelling to Texas.

Who is Chris Wondolowski?

The all-time leading regular-season goalscorer in MLS history and the defining Earthquakes player of the modern era.

He was a late-round draft pick who developed into a league MVP, spent the bulk of a long career in San Jose, and retired in 2021 as the club's most decorated forward. He grew up in the Bay Area, which is a large part of why the connection with the support is what it is.

Where do the Earthquakes play?

PayPal Park in San Jose, which opened in 2021 as Avaya Stadium in 2015 and is a soccer-specific ground seating around 18,000.

It has the largest outdoor bar in North America behind one goal and a steep supporters' section at the other end. The lack of exactly this kind of stadium is why the club was moved to Houston in 2006, so the building is central to the club's modern identity.

What is the California Clasico?

The Earthquakes' rivalry with the LA Galaxy, the oldest in MLS — the two clubs were founding members in 1996 and met in the 2001 MLS Cup final and in the 2003 playoff series San Jose famously overturned.

The fixture is usually the club's biggest draw of the season and has been played at Stanford Stadium to accommodate the crowd.

What was the 2003 comeback against the Galaxy?

In the 2003 Western Conference semi-final, San Jose lost the first leg 2-0 and fell 2-0 down early in the second, a four-goal aggregate hole.

They scored five without reply across the rest of the tie, winning it in extra time, and went on to beat Chicago for the MLS Cup. It is still the largest aggregate deficit overturned in an MLS playoff series.

Why are they called the Earthquakes?

The name dates to 1974 and the club's NASL origins, and it refers directly to the seismic activity of the Bay Area — the San Andreas Fault runs close to San Jose.

The modern MLS club began in 1996 under a different name, the San Jose Clash, and reverted to Earthquakes in 2000 to reconnect with the older identity.

San Jose Earthquakes Records, Titles & Milestones

How many major trophies have the San Jose Earthquakes won?

The San Jose Earthquakes have won 2 major trophies (2001, 2003).

Do the San Jose Earthquakes retire jersey numbers?

The Earthquakes honor club legends through their Ring of Honor at PayPal Park rather than a formal slate of retired numbers.

Ring of Honor (4 members)

The Greatest San Jose Earthquakes Players of All Time

Who is the greatest San Jose Earthquakes player of all time?

By the measure of championships, individual honors, and lasting impact, Chris Wondolowski tops most all-time San Jose Earthquakes rankings. The full top 5 follows.

1. Chris Wondolowski F \u00b7 2009-2021

   MLS's all-time leading regular-season goalscorer and the face of the Earthquakes for over a decade. A fourth-round draft pick who was nearly out of the league before a move to San Jose, he won the 2012 MLS MVP award while scoring 27 goals to tie the single-season record. A Bay Area native, and the club's most enduring connection to its support.

2. Landon Donovan F \u00b7 2001-2004

   Arrived on loan as a teenager and won both of the club's MLS Cups within three seasons, taking the 2003 final's MVP award. He went on to become the defining American player of his generation, most of it with the Galaxy — but the trophies he won in San Jose are the ones the Earthquakes still count.

3. Dwayne De Rosario M \u00b7 2001-2005

   Scored the golden-goal winner in the 2001 MLS Cup final as a rookie and was named the game's MVP, then spent four more seasons as the creative centre of the 2003 championship side. One of the most decorated players in league history across his full career.

4. Jon Busch GK \u00b7 2009-2013

   The goalkeeper behind the 2012 Supporters' Shield team, which set an MLS record for goals in a season and specialised in late winners. Busch was named to the MLS Best XI in 2012 and gave that side the platform its attacking approach demanded.

5. Frank Yallop Head coach \u00b7 2001-2003, 2008-2013

   Coached both MLS Cup winners and returned to rebuild the club after its return from Houston, taking the 2012 side to the Supporters' Shield. No individual is more closely associated with the trophies in the Earthquakes' cabinet.