At just 20 years old, Saratoga native Niko Tsakiris continues to make his mark with the San Jose Earthquakes, pairing composure and vision well beyond his years with a growing physical presence on the pitch.
His developing strength has added a new dimension to his game, allowing him to possess the ball more effectively, win 1v1 situations and be more confident in the flow of play—further cementing his status as one of the Bay Area’s most promising pro athletes.
Tsakiris and the Quakes started the 2026 season with a bang, rolling to a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 21 at PayPal Park. Tsakiris had the secondary assist on the team’s second goal in first-half stoppage time, putting San Jose in a commanding position.
Two days before the season-opener, Tsakiris talked with the assembled media on a variety of topics, including the Quakes recently signing him to a new contract through the 2028-2029 season, with an option for 2029-2030.
“I felt it was the best next step for me in my career,” he said. “This club has given me so much, and now I finally have the opportunity to give back to the club. It’s been an incredible journey this far. I’m continuing to grow as a person and as a player, and this club has obviously provided me an opportunity to do so.”
Tsakiris didn’t downplay the significance of what a win, and the full three points, would mean for the team.
“Of course it’s massive,” Tsakiris said. “Every match is important, but the first game is at home and everyone wants to win. It’s an exciting young team with a lot of energy and a lot of hunger, and we just want to continue to show the fans and prove to ourselves we’re good enough.”
Incredibly, Tsakiris is already in his fifth season with the Quakes first team, having signed a Homegrown Player contract when he was 16. He continued to progress with each succeeding season, starting 19 games in 2024.
A sizable portion of Tsakiris’ 2025 season was plagued by injuries, though he did score a goal in the team’s regular-season finale while also helping the U.S. U20 team reach the World Cup quarterfinals.
Tsakiris’ physicality has caught up with his skill set, and that growth is a big reason why all signs point to the 5-foot-10, 154-pounder having his best season yet. His teammates and coaches are expecting big things, too.
Quakes defender Daniel Munie, who scored the team’s final goal against Kansas City, was asked about Tsakiris’ on-field play after the game.
“It’s great,” Munie said via Quakes media relations. “We have a lot of confidence in him, and we know what he can do, what he’s capable of. He maybe didn’t get as many minutes as he wanted last year, but maybe he has something to prove. I feel like he’s doing a great job, and I feel like the whole team has a lot of confidence in him. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do, because he can do so much for us.”
San Jose head coach Bruce Arena also expressed excitement on Tsakiris’ prospects for this season and beyond.
“Niko is a young player with a lot of promise,” he said. “We think he can be a very good player in this league. He’s going to have those opportunities to continue to play and develop and hopefully he does well.”
Arena’s coaching acumen and style seemingly has meshed well with Tsakiris’ talents.
“He’s giving me a lot of confidence to express myself and my play,” Tsakiris said. “What comes with that is me being confident with myself and him giving me that ability to create moments for the team. Hopefully, that continues.”
One game doesn’t make a season, but a key stat from the season-opener should make those involved around the club optimistic—and that’s an understatement, According to RotoWire, Tsakiris produced 22 crosses against Kansas City—just one shy of his entire 2025 season output.
Just as important, six of Tsakiris’ 22 crosses were considered accurate, surpassing last year’s total.
“I’m feeling great,” Tsakiris said. “Obviously, last year was tough to get minutes. But this year—just growing up and maturing into my body, just the person that I am now, how I play—I think a lot of this is coming together. I’m feeling strong.”
