Here are 11 San Jose Earthquakes players that made the jump from US youth soccer to the MLS.
1. Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan is a retired forward who played for several clubs in MLS, including the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy. He won six MLS Cups, two MLS Supporters’ Shields, and was named to the MLS Best XI team seven times. Donovan also played for the US Men’s National Team, making 157 appearances and scoring 57 goals.
Donovan began his youth soccer career playing for the Redlands Arsenal youth club in California. He then moved on to play for the IMG Soccer Academy before being drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft.
2. Nick Lima
Nick Lima is a current defender who has played for the San Jose Earthquakes since 2017. He has also played for the US Men’s National Team, making 10 appearances.
Lima began his youth soccer career playing for Ballistic United Soccer Club in Pleasanton, California. He then moved on to play college soccer for the California Golden Bears before joining the San Jose Earthquakes.
3. Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson is a current midfielder who has played for the San Jose Earthquakes since 2014. He has also played for the US Men’s National Team at the U-20 and U-23 levels.
Thompson began his youth soccer career playing for the San Jose Earthquakes Academy. He then moved on to play college soccer for Indiana University before joining the San Jose Earthquakes.
4. Jackson Yueill
Jackson Yueill is a current midfielder who has played for the San Jose Earthquakes since 2017. He has also played for the US Men’s National Team, making 22 appearances.
Yueill began his youth soccer career playing for Minnesota Thunder Academy. He then moved on to play college soccer for UCLA before joining the San Jose Earthquakes.
5. Justin Morrow
Justin Morrow is a retired defender who played for several clubs in MLS, including the San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC. He won one MLS Cup and was named to the MLS Best XI team once.
Morrow began his youth soccer career playing for the San Jose Earthquakes Academy. He then moved on to play college soccer for the University of Notre Dame before being drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
6. Chris Wondolowski
Chris Wondolowski is a retired forward who played for the San Jose Earthquakes for over a decade. He is the all-time leading scorer in MLS history, with 166 regular season goals. Wondolowski also played for the US Men’s National Team, making 35 appearances and scoring 11 goals.
Wondolowski began his youth soccer career playing for the De Anza Force youth club in California. He then moved on to play college soccer for Chico State before being drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft.
7. Shea Salinas
Shea Salinas is a current midfielder who has played for the San Jose Earthquakes since 2014. He has also played for several other clubs in MLS, including the Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Salinas began his youth soccer career playing for the Casa Grande Soccer Club in Arizona. He then moved on to play college soccer for Furman University before being drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
8. Danny Hoesen
Danny Hoesen is a retired forward who played for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2017 to 2020. He also played for several clubs in Europe, including FC Groningen and Ajax Amsterdam.
Hoesen began his youth soccer career playing for Fortuna Wormerveer in the Netherlands. He then moved on to play for several other clubs in Europe before joining the San Jose Earthquakes.
9. JT Marcinkowski
JT Marcinkowski is a current goalkeeper who has played for the San Jose Earthquakes since 2018. He has also played for the US Men’s National Team at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels.
Marcinkowski began his youth soccer career playing for the San Jose Earthquakes Academy. He then moved on to play college soccer for Georgetown University before joining the San Jose Earthquakes.
10. Cade Cowell
Cade Cowell is a current forward who has played for the San Jose Earthquakes since 2020. He has also played for the US Men’s National Team at the U-17 and U-20 levels.
Cowell began his youth soccer career playing for the San Juan Soccer Club in California. He then moved on to play for the Barca Academy before joining the San Jose Earthquakes.
11. Marc Pelosi
Marc Pelosi is a retired midfielder who played for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2018 to 2020. He also played for several clubs in Europe, including Liverpool FC and Eintracht Braunschweig.
Pelosi began his youth soccer career playing for the De Anza Force youth club in California. He then moved on to play for the San Jose Earthquakes Academy before joining Liverpool FC’s youth academy.
