HOME STATE
CALIFORNIA

Biography current as of January 2024

Johnny Moore is a legend in Northern California.

Moore’s career in professional soccer in the Bay Area stretches back to 1969 when he made two appearances for the Oakland Clippers. Five years later, he became the first player signed by the expansion San Jose Earthquakes in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He was also appointed assistant general manager in that first season. From 1974-76, he served as a player/assistant general manager, scoring eight goals and notching 14 assists in those three seasons. After three years as the assistant general manager, he became the vice president and general manager in 1977 for the Quakes. As general manager, he helped the team set a league record for the most sellouts in a season, while still contributing on the field. He became the only person in professional sports to serve as general manager and play for the team at the same time.

At the conclusion of the 1977 season, Moore followed San Jose Earthquakes owner Milan Mandaric to the Oakland Stompers, for whom he played his final season in the NASL in 1978. He then went on to play three seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for the Detroit Lightning, San Francisco Fog, Kansas City Comets and Phoenix Inferno, while twice being named an MISL all-star.

In the MLS era of the Earthquakes, Moore spent two successful seasons as the general manager. Under Moore, the Quakes earned playoff berths in two consecutive seasons, capped off by the 2003 MLS Cup Championship.

Moore also enjoyed a successful international career, as he was a member of the United States Men’s National Team from 1971–1976.  He earned 12 caps and made 18 total appearances for the U.S., including four appearances in World Cup Qualifying for the 1974 World Cup.

The resident of San Jose has been involved with soccer in Northern California since the 1960s and he began a 30-year career in coaching in 1969. He was one of the original coaches for youth soccer in Pleasanton, Calif.  For his contributions to soccer in the United States and Northern California, Moore was inducted into the California Youth Soccer Hall of Fame in 1995, along with the United States Soccer Hall of Fame and the California Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.

Moore was also the eighth person inducted into the Earthquakes Hall of Fame in 2014.

 RETURN TO HALL OF FAMERS