SAN JOSE — It took Chris Leitch 55 seconds Wednesday night to leave his seat for the corner of the coaches’ box.
Thus began a new chapter in Bay Area soccer as Leitch took the reigns of the Earthquakes in a 2-1 victory against Seattle Sounders FC in a U.S. Open Cup game at Avaya Stadium.
Leitch wore gray slacks, white shirt, black pullover sweater and black leather dress shoes for his professional coaching debut after the midseason firing of Dominic Kinnear. The former San Jose defender squeezed a notebook in his back pocket and held a pen while occasionally shouting instructions.