Sports stats

MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Hire Former Canadian International And MLS Defender Mark Watson As Assistant Coach

January 7, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that they have added Mark Watson to their technical staff as an assistant coach. Watson was most recently an assistant with the Canadian national team and also filled in as an interim assistant coach for the New England Revolution during the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs.

"Mark Watson has played and coached both internationally and at the club level," said Earthquakes general manager of soccer operations John Doyle. "We believe that his knowledge of the game and his background will be a big asset to our technical staff. Ownership understands that we need to add resources and personnel to the soccer side of the business as this franchise continues to grow. This hiring is an example of that commitment."

Watson has been an assistant in the Canadian national team system since 2004, coaching with the U-20, U-23 and senior national teams. He was on the staff of the U-23 team in for Olympic Qualifying in 2004 and 2008 and also worked with the U-20 team in qualifying for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

He spent time as a player and assistant coach with the Charleston Battery of USL-1 from 2002-2009. He played for the team from 2002-04, helping them win the league championship in 2003. He served as player/assistant coach in 2006, before moving into strictly a coaching role in 2007. The team made the playoffs in three out of his four years as an assistant coach and reached the 2008 U.S. Open Cup final. He finished the 2009 season with Charleston before spending the playoffs with the Revolution, following the departure of Revs assistant coach Paul Mariner. He is one of six players in team history to play over 100 games in a Battery jersey.

"I have known Mark for a long time and have a great deal of respect for him," said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop. "He has a great soccer mind and he brings a lot of different coaching and playing experiences, both in the United States and internationally, to this position."

The former defender and captain appeared in 78 matches for the Canadian national team, scoring three goals. He helped Canada win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Other international career highlights include being a part of Canada's World Cup qualifying campaigns for the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

"I am excited to join the coaching staff for the Earthquakes," said Watson. "I am looking forward to working with Frank, Ian (Russell), Jason (Batty) and Ronnie (Ekelund) and helping this team get to the level that it wants to be at."

During his playing career, he played in England with Watford from 1993-95 and came to MLS in its inaugural season in 1996, splitting time with the Columbus Crew and New England Revolution. Watson played with the Seattle Sounders briefly in 1997 and then went abroad to Sweden from 1997-98 to play with Osters IF, where current Quakes forward Ryan Johnson played in 2007. He played in the second division in England with Oxford and Oldham before returning to the United States in 2001. He spent the 2001 season in MLS with D.C. United.

Check out the San Jose Earthquakes Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from January 7, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central