Payback is a bitch

Frank Yallop returns to the Bay, where he led the Quakes to the greatest comeback in MLS history in '03 -- against the Galaxy. AP

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Frequent player movement in any sports league in the modern age is a given. But the amount of players (and coaches) moving back and forth between Northern and Southern California is bizarrely heavy.

On the current Galaxy roster, there's Donovan, who began his MLS career in San Jose in '01 before heading home to L.A. in '05 after a short stint in Germany. There's also keeper Steve Cronin, who also started out up north and, of course, Lalas, who played three seasons for the Galaxy and then served as San Jose's GM for a year before eventually winding his way back to SoCal.

In San Jose, it's even more peculiar. In addition to a handful of players and coaches who spent time in Galaxy jerseys, there's Yallop and Cannon, who return to the Quakes after spending significant time on the L.A. payroll.

Cannon was an unbridled star during his four seasons in San Jose, backstopping the team to the MLS Cup in '01 and winning Goalkeeper of the Year in '02. In fact, it took L.A. fans awhile to get used to the fact that he was one of their own when he joined the Galaxy last season. But Cannon ended up being one of the bright spots for the team's disappointing '07, turning in perhaps the goalkeeping performance of the year in the SuperLiga final against Mexican club Pachuca.

Still, his wages were burning a hole through the Galaxy's salary cap, so he was traded back home to his native Bay Area this past winter. "When I step on the field, I dislike most teams," he says, mostly in jest, "but especially that one."

Yallop, on the other hand, had his greatest success during his three years in San Jose, coaching the Quakes to both their titles. But like Cannon, he found his way to the Galaxy and took his lumps during the tumultuous '07 in L.A., which saw the midseason arrival of the Beckham circus, a never-ending spate of injuries and a schedule so back-loaded it almost seemed like the league was against the team.

The English-born Canadian Yallop has never been a spotlight-oriented coach and seemed to shrink in stature with every additional TV camera pointed his way during the media hoopla at the Home Depot Center last year.

When he left the team last fall and rejoined the Quakes, it was a mutual decision. Lalas clearly felt Yallop was the wrong man for MLS' glitziest coaching position (hence the hiring of former Dutch star Ruud Gullit and his brand of "sexy football" as his successor); Yallop wanted to be just a coach -- not a celebrity.

"It wasn't personal," says Yallop, who looks remarkably rejuvenated and less stressed out this year. "I left on my terms. They were good to me."

He and Cannon say they're excited to face their old team and see some familiar faces. Still, "it's just another game"? Really?

Edge: Earthquakes.

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