LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016) – The LA Galaxy announced today that Head Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena will leave the LA Galaxy to become the Head Coach of the United States Men’s National Team. Arena leaves the Galaxy after joining the club in 2008 and winning three MLS Cups, two MLS Supporters’ Shield and recording an MLS-best 125-70-79 record. The LA Galaxy will begin the search for the club’s next Head Coach and General Manager immediately.
“My time with the LA Galaxy has been among the most memorable and meaningful years in my entire career,” said Arena. “I have been fortunate to work alongside an incredible staff and coach teams and players that have made me extremely proud. Together, we brought championships to the LA Galaxy and the City of Los Angeles. It is difficult to leave this great club, but I am excited for the opportunity to return as coach of the United States Men’s National Team. I want to thank Mr. Anschutz, Dan Beckerman, Chris Klein and the entire LA Galaxy organization for my time here.”
Arena will depart from the LA Galaxy and Major League Soccer with a record five MLS Cup victories in his career in addition to being only one of two coaches in MLS history to surpass 200 wins all time. Arena led the Galaxy to four MLS Cup Finals during his eight full seasons with the club, winning in 2011, 2012 and in 2014. Previously, Arena captured MLS Cup titles with D.C. United in 1996 and 1997. Arena has also won three MLS Supporters’ Shields (1996, 2010, 2011), a U.S. Open Cup (1996), a CONCACAF Champions’ Cup (1998) and was named MLS Coach of the Year three times (1997, 2009, 2011).
“The LA Galaxy had a choice to make and felt that this decision was in the best interest of the club, for Bruce and for the betterment of soccer in the United States,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “We have been incredibly fortunate to have Bruce coach this team over the past eight years and will greatly miss him. Bruce has meant so much to this organization and helped make the LA Galaxy into what it is today. We will support Bruce as he pursues this new opportunity and want to thank him for his many contributions to the Galaxy during his time here. We have an internal timeline in place and will communicate our plans regarding the LA Galaxy head coach and general manager roles within the coming days.”
Arena was previously Head Coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1998-2006, where he led the team to a 71-30-29 record all-time and helped the USMNT advance to the quarterfinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the furthest the U.S. has advanced in a World Cup since 1930.
Before his time in the professional ranks, Arena had a brief stint at the University of Puget Sound (1976), before being named the head coach at the University of Virginia, in 1978. He held that position for 18 years, helping the Cavaliers to five ACC Tournament Championships and five National Championships, including four in a row from 1991-1994.
In 2015, Arena was awarded the Werner Fricker Award from the U.S. Soccer Federation, which is the highest honor that an individual can receive that is bestowed on an individual who has worked tirelessly on furthering the interest of the sport of soccer without regard to personal recognition or advancement.
LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships for the 2017 MLS season are available for purchase now. Season Ticket Members and Galaxy fans can go to www.lagalaxy.com/tickets/seasontickets to secure their 2017 LA Galaxy Season Ticket package.
