Chris Wondolowski, who came up one goal short of tying the MLS scoring record last season, will be back with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2019.
Wondolowski was one of 12 players to have their 2019 contract options exercised or automatically vested by reaching certain performance thresholds during the 2018 season, or be signed to a new contract. 2018 team MVP Danny Hoesen and team Defender of the Year Nick Lima were among the others.
In all, including the 12 players already under contract, the Earthquakes enter the 2019 campaign with 24 players on the roster.
The only major exclusion from a squad that finished 2018 at the bottom of the MLS standings and with the worst record in franchise history is Jahmir Hyka. The Albanian international was one of five players to have their contract options denied. The midfielder struggled to stay in the lineup throughout 2018.
The nearly intact squad will be led into next year under the guidance of new head coach Matias Almeyda, who will have a say in how the remainder of the roster is shaped. The current crew of 24 players may yet undergo some changes prior to the start of the MLS season in March.
MLS will conduct a half-day trade window on Dec. 9. The Expansion Draft for new franchise FC Cincinnati will be conducted on Dec. 11, but the Earthquakes will be exempt from having players selected since they lost Marco Urena to LAFC in last year’s expansion draft.
San Jose Earthquakes 2019 roster
Goalkeepers (3): Matt Bersano, JT Marcinkowski, Andrew Tarbell
Defenders (10): Francois Affolter, Jacob Akanyirige, Harold Cummings, Guram Kashia, Nick Lima, Paul Marie, Jimmy Ockford, Kevin Partida, Joel Qwiberg, Shea Salinas
Midfielders (9): Eric Calvillo, Magnus Eriksson, Luis Felipe, Gilbert Fuentes, Anibal Godoy, Florian Jungwirth, Tommy Thompson, Valeri “Vako” Qazaishvili, Jackson Yueill
Forwards (2): Danny Hoesen, Chris Wondolowski