Getting to Know Brandon McDonald

Q: How does it feel playing in the backline with Jason Hernandez?

A: It’s been great getting to play alongside the captain of the team. We understand each other, making it easy for us to control the back and minimize mistakes. Jason is a skilled veteran and he really has been helping me out a lot in improving my ability to play and understand how to control the backline. It’s always fun with Jason learning new things and overcoming certain obstacles.

Q: This season you made your first start against your former team (LA Galaxy), what was that experience like?

A: It’s always great playing against your former team because you want to do your best against them. It was nice though, seeing old friends who I still keep in contact with and now playing against them was new for me. I had fun because I had some idea of what style the Galaxy play.

Q: You attended the University of San Francisco, how was it playing for the Dons?

A: Going to USF was great. I played midfield and playing with the Dons helped me get to the professional level. At USF we really tried to bring back a tradition of being successful and I think as a team we did pretty well by winning a few league championships.

Q: What goals do you have for yourself and the Earthquakes?

A: One goal I have is to help the team get a playoff spot. I still have not had the opportunity to experience the playoffs in MLS and would like to complete that goal I have. I also would like to become a better player and the ability to understand the game more. I like to be a student of the sport by learning new things.

Q: Growing up in Glendale, AZ, how does it differ from San Jose?

A: It’s very different. In Glendale it would be 118 degrees today, there’s no way I would want to be in that weather right now. I love San Jose, it has perfect weather, I like San Francisco even more. I like to wake up in the morning and it being cloudy and gray outside. The Bay Area is for sure my all time favorite place compared to Glendale and Los Angeles.

Q: San Jose or San Francisco?

A: San Francisco, there is plenty to do there.

Q: X-Box 360 or PS3?

A: X-BOX 360, my favorite game is Gears of War 2.

Q: What is your favorite kind of food?

A: Soul Food.

Q: Who do you consider your best friend on the team?

A: Ryan Johnson, Bobby Convey, and Mike Zaher. I am always with these three guys, whether we are just hanging out or if we plan a trip.


Hi Earthquakes fans! MyQuakes caught up with recently signed midfielder Ramón Sanchez of the El Salvador national team. He answered a few questions about his career and his background. Check back for more player Q&A’s on MyQuakes.
Q: How did you feel when you heard the Earthquakes were interested in you, and how is it being part of the club?

A: I was very excited to hear that an MLS team was interested in me. Prior to the news about an interested MLS team, I also had received news from my previous club Alianza F.C, saying that they were releasing me. Signing with the Quakes on Thursday gave me the greatest feeling because it made me very proud to have the opportunity to represent my country of El Salvador out here in MLS.

Q: How did you feel coming to a new team where there is another player with Salvadoran roots, Arturo Alvarez?

A: I was very happy knowing that Arturo Alvarez is also from El Salvador. It’s great to know that there is some kind of Salvadoran blood out here with the Quakes. He has been courteous enough to help me out on and off the field keeping me included with the rest of the guys here making it easier to interact with the other teammates. Arturo is an excellent person and teammate, and I appreciate the help he has offered me.

Q: You are the second player on the Salvadoran national team to come to MLS, how do you feel about that?

A: I am very happy and proud about being another player of “La Selecta” (El Salvador National team), along with Alfredo Pacheco who is with the New York Red Bulls, to compete in MLS. I know that this is a very competitive and important league, and I hope I can help the Quakes make a chase for the playoffs. This opportunity also gives me a great feeling that we are both representing our country of El Salvador and hope to open doors to my fellow national squad teammates here in MLS.

Q: What town or city of El Salvador are you from?

A: I am from a very small town in the department of La Libertad, called San Juan Opico. I am very proud of my town because that is where I began my career as a soccer player at the school of San Juan Opico. It is a very nice and tropical area located in the northwest part of the country.

Q: Is there any difference between the city of San Jose and the town of San Juan Opico?

A: There is plenty of difference between San Juan Opico and San Jose. I now have the same feeling as many Salvadorans do when they come to a city like San Jose in the United States. It is very different both culturally and in size. But, I believe it will not be a challenge adapting to this society knowing that I have friends and family members here in the United States as well.

Q: What family members or friends do you have that live in California or other parts of the United States?

A: I have an uncle who lives here in San Jose, a brother who lives in Los Angeles, and another family member who resides in Lake Tahoe. It has been very helpful to know that I have family who live nearby that can help me out and who I can visit in my spare time. It’s more of a help knowing that they are supporting me on my journey in MLS.

Q: Who were your influences growing up?

A: My family was a great influence on me, especially my father who is a big soccer fanatic himself. My father was a coach of a small team in El Salvador, so soccer has always been in our blood not only for me, but for my brothers as well.

Q: Are there any players who have also influenced you in bringing your game to another level like MLS?

A: There have been plenty of players of the national team who have influenced me as I was growing up. Players like Jorge “El Zarco” Rodriguez, Ronald Cerritos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, and Raul Diaz Arce have all impacted my life in becoming a better soccer player. All these players have set great examples not only for me, but for my teammates back home as well.

Q: How long have you been playing soccer?

A: I started playing soccer at the age of 12 where I took part in the U12 national team and from there I just kept improving and having doors open like getting this opportunity with the Quakes.

Q: What was your most memorable goal and why?

A: The most memorable goal I have scored has to be my first career goal as a professional in San Juan Opico. Another goal I can consider my favorite, has to be my first goal I scored for the national team. It was my first goal while wearing my country’s jersey in the 2007 Gold Cup vs. Trinidad & Tobago at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles. I was a substitute coming in the 10th minute of the first half due to a teammate being injured and a few minutes in the game I got the chance to equalize the match, where we then won 2-1 earning a huge three points.


The San Jose Earthquakes announced Thursday that the team has signed the captain of the El Salvador national team Ramon Sanchez. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will be added to the roster pending the arrival of his ITC.

"There have been a number of successful players in Major League Soccer from El Salvador and we think that Ramon has the ability to make an impact here also," said General Manager John Doyle. "We were looking for a player to solidify the central midfield. He has experience playing that position in a number of important games for his country and we believe he can fill that role for us."

The 27-year-old central midfielder has made more than 50 appearances for El Salvador's senior national squad, scoring two goals. In 2002 he won the gold medal with the Salvadoran under-22 team in the Juegos Deportivos Centroamericanos, beating Mexico in the final.

Sanchez played most recently with El Salvador in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also appeared in the 2007 Gold Cup and 2003 Gold Cup. The San Juan Opico native has also appeared in every World Cup qualifying match for the upcoming tournament in South Africa. He was part of the Salvadoran team that competed in World Cup qualifying for Germany 2006.

Sanchez most recently played professionally with Alianza F.C. of the first division in El Salvador. He scored three goals in the 2009 season for Alianza, which was good for second most on the team. Sanchez has also played for Arcense, San Salvador F.C. and C.D. Chalatenango, before joining Alianza in 2008. He has played 227 games in the Salvadoran first division and scored 19 goals.

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