Chris Leitch

For the New Zealand politician, seeChris Leitch (politician).

Chris Leitch

Leitch in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1979-04-01)April 1, 1979
Place of birth	Pickerington, Ohio,United States
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Defender
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2001	North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002	Columbus Crew	13	(0)
2002–2005	MetroStars	72	(0)
2006	Columbus Crew	24	(0)
2007–2008	New York Red Bulls	29	(0)
2009–2011	San Jose Earthquakes	58	(0)
Total		196	(0)
Managerial career
2017	San Jose Earthquakes
2021–	San Jose Earthquakes(general manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 12, 2011

Chris Leitch(born April 1, 1979, inPickerington, Ohio) is an American formersoccerplayer who is currently the general manager and a former head coachfor theSan Jose Earthquakes.

Career

College

Leitch playedcollege soccerat theUniversity of North Carolina,leading them to theNCAA Championshipin 2001, setting a school record for games played (88) and starts (87).

Professional

Leitch was drafted byColumbus Crewin the fourth round of the2002 MLS SuperDraft,but only played 13 games for his hometown team in his first professional season.

Leitch was traded to theMetroStarswith Jeff Matteo forRoss Pauleprior to the 2003 season.He became a regular in the Metro lineup late in the year, playing in 15 games. He then became an automatic starter in 2004, playing every minute of all but a single game. Originally a right back, Leitch acquitted himself well on the left flank when the Metros needed help at that position. He switched back to the right flank in 2005. Despite being named the team's Defender of the Year, he was waived by the club in the offseason and then came back to Columbus. He appeared in 24 matches in the 2006 season for his hometown club.

Leitch matching up withStuart Holden

In the 2007 pre-season, Leitch was waived again, this time by the Crew as they sought to clear roster spots. He would return to the New York franchise, nowNew York Red Bulls,in July. The versatile defender appeared in 12 league matches for the club, starting 11. In 2008 Leitch appeared in 17 regular season matches. He helped the club reach the 2008 Western Conference Final, starting in both matches of the Red Bulls historic upset over defending championHouston Dynamo(4–1 on aggregate). The following week he helped shut outReal Salt Lake1–0 to help the Red Bulls reach the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history.

Just prior to the start of the 2009 season on March 2,San Jose Earthquakesacquired Leitch in a trade with New York for an undisclosed sum of allocation money and one of the Earthquakes' eightinternational roster spots.Leitch had a career year withSan Josein 2009 appearing in 29 matches during the MLS regular season and contributing with 7 assists from his full back position.

Leitch remained with San Jose through the 2011 season. At season's end, the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft.Leitch was selected byLos Angeles Galaxyin stage two of the draft on December 12, 2011.However, Leitch decided to retire rather than return for the 2012 season.

Coaching

On January 31, 2012, Leitch was named Technical Director for the San Jose Earthquakes Youth Development Academy.

On August 10, 2015, he was promoted to Technical Director for the San Jose Earthquakes proper, including the first team as well as the academy.

On June 25, 2017, he was named the head coach of the Earthquakes, replacingDominic Kinnear.His coaching debut was San Jose's 2–1 victory overSeattle Sounders FCin the knockout round of theU.S. Open Cupon June 28, advancing the Earthquakes to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2012 while also achieving the team's first-ever victory over another MLS team during the Open Cup.Leitch's first MLS match as head coach saw San Jose beat theLA Galaxy2–1 atStanford Stadiumon July 1 off of a stoppage time winner fromShea Salinas.

He was replaced as San Jose's head coach byMikael Stahreon November 24, 2017, and thereafter returned to his former role as technical director.

On November 8, 2021, he was promoted from technical director to general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Titles

Season	Team	Title
2002	Columbus Crew	U.S. Open Cup
2008	New York Red Bulls	MLS Western Conference (Playoffs)

Career statistics

Player

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
United States			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
2002	Columbus Crew	Major League Soccer	13	0	2	0	-	-	-	-	15	0
2003	MetroStars	Major League Soccer	15	0	3	0	2	0	-	-	20	0
2004			29	0	1	0	2	0	-	-	32	0
2005			28	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	29	0
2006	Columbus Crew	Major League Soccer	24	0	2	0	-	-	-	-	26	0
2007	New York Red Bulls	Major League Soccer	12	0	-	-	1	0	-	-	13	0
2008			17	0	1	0	4	0	-	-	22	0
2009	San Jose Earthquakes	Major League Soccer	29	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	30	0
2010			15	0	1	1	1	0	-	-	17	1
2011			14	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	0
Total	United States		196	0	12	1	10	0	-	-	218	1
Career total			196	0	12	1	10	0	-	-	218	1

Manager

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
San Jose Earthquakes		2017	2017	17	7	2	8	41.18
Total				17	7	2	8	41.18

As of November 26, 2017

External links

• Chris LeitchatMajor League Soccer