In recent years, the San Jose Earthquakes vowed to make their youth academy a more integral part of the club’s future. This promise was brought to light when the club signed more Homegrown Players during the 2017-18 offseason than every year before combined.
U.S. U-20 goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and then 15-year-olds Gilbert Fuentes and Jacob Akanyirige were all added to the roster between December 2017 and January 2018, signaling the team’s intent to place high value on up-and-coming talent from within.
The team’s two eldest Homegrowns both contributed for San Jose throughout 2018. Lima, a finalist for the 2017 MLS Rookie of the Year Award, and Thompson, a fifth-year pro with nearly 100 games under his belt, led the way for the Quakes Academy products.
Lima was the only Earthquakes player to start all 34 MLS games, playing all but 11 minutes during the season. He not only contributed to the attack with two goals and two assists but also received the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Thompson made 14 total appearances, with San Jose earning at least a point in three of his six starts.
But the contributions didn’t stop there. Marcinkowski forced his way into the XI after impressing all season with Reno 1868 FC, eventually starting five of San Jose’s final six matches. Despite having to face some of the league’s toughest competition, including Atlanta United FC, LAFC, Seattle Sounders FC and the New York Red Bulls, Marcinkowski was able to earn his first point and shutout and gain some much-needed first team experience.
Fuentes and Akanyirige both regularly trained with the first team and were able to get game experience when an appropriate opportunity presented itself. The duo both appeared in a summer friendly against Manchester United, with Fuentes also making four appearances for Reno and later his MLS debut on Oct. 21 against Colorado. He became the youngest player to ever play in an MLS match for San Jose.
With Matias Almeyda now at the helm, expect the Earthquakes to continue funneling their top youth talent to the first team.
