San Jose Earthquakes drop Stahre as head coach

The San Jose Earthquakes began the 2018 season with a victory, but things didn't get much better after that and the result is a coach sent packing less than a year after taking charge.

The Earthquakes have parted ways with head coach Mikael Stahre, and have named assistant Steve Ralston as the team's interim coach for the remainder of the season.

The Earthquakes currently possess the worst record in MLS, and a new rock bottom came on Saturday after an embarrassing 5-1 home loss to Sporting Kansas City. The loss dropped the Earthquakes' record to 4-16-8.

Stahre was hired as head coach last winter, following a 2017 season that saw the Earthquakes squeek into the playoffs on the final match day. They were led then by interim head coach Chris Leitch, who stayed with the club as technical director, with general manager Jesse Fioranelli choosing to hire Stahre, who came to MLS after a successful managerial run in the Swedish first division.

Stahre's departure should lead to more scrutiny aimed at Fioranelli, who is in his second season in charge. The Earthquakes are on their fourth head coach during Fioranelli's short tenure, and have posted two losing seasons, though they did back into the playoffs in 2017.

With the Earthquakes out of the playoff picture, the remainder of the regular season will likely focus on forward Chris Wondolowski's quest to become the MLS all-time leading goal scorer. He currently has 142 career MLS goals, just three behind record holder Landon Donovan.