UPDATE (Oct. 9): A report from TUDN late on Wednesday night stated that Almeyda had informed his San Jose Earthquakes squad that he would be staying at the club for 2020, rejecting the advances of Liga MX side Monterrey.
Oct. 8: Will he stay or will he go?
That's the question still surrounding San Jose Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda, who is coming off a successful first season in MLS that saw him turn the Quakes around from a Western Conference cellar dweller into a side that narrowly missed the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Rumors have been flying in recent days about Almeyda's potential return to Liga MX, where he used to coach Chivas de Guadalajara and where media have linked him to Monterrey. New reports surfaced on Tuesday, but they differ as to whether he will be staying in San Jose or heading to Monterrey.
AM.com reported on Tuesday that Almeyda had met with Quakes players to assure them that he had no such exit in mind, and that he planned to remain with the club. The report cited sources that included people close to Almeyda, as well as two players who attended the meeting.
On the other side, Mexican outlet Record reported negotiations that include the transfer of Monterrey players in exchange for the right to contract Almeyda.
For their part, the Quakes last week denied any contact with Monterrey, specifying that "there is no clause in Matias Almeyda’s contract that can be paid that will allow C.F. Monterrey to sign him." Last Wednesday, Almeyda was asked about the rumors surrounding him and he only indicated he would meet with Quakes brass at season's end.
“I always try to finish the season,” Almeyda said.“ Once I finish it, I’ll sit down with [the Quakes’ directors] and we’ll talk and look over different topics. But with peace of mind, it will be done after our participation in this season ends.”
The Quakes lost 3-1 to the Portland Timbers on Decision Day, presented by AT&T, officially eliminating them from the 2019 postseason.
Almeyda, 45, signed a contract with San Jose prior the start of the 2019 campaign that runs through the 2022 season
