The LA Galaxy announced in January 2021 that the club has named Greg Vanney Head Coach. Vanney, 46, began his professional career as a player with the LA Galaxy and returns as Head Coach after a six-year stint as Toronto FC’s Manager in which he became the only coach to capture an MLS Treble by winning MLS Cup, the MLS Supporters’ Shield and the Canadian Championship during the 2017 season.
Vanney stepped down as Toronto FC manager following the 2020 MLS Season as both the most successful and longest-tenured coach in Toronto FC’s history with every major club record, including total wins (112) and games coached (250). In all, Vanney recorded an 87-68-48 MLS Regular Season record and a 10-5-2 MLS postseason record while being named MLS Coach of the Year and Concacaf Coach of the Year in 2017. As Toronto FC’s coach, the former Galaxy defender helped lead his side to the MLS Cup Playoffs in five of the previous six seasons (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020), while making appearances in three MLS Cup Finals (2016, 2017, 2019) and the Concacaf Champions League Final (2018). He also helped his side capture three-straight Canadian Championships (2016, 2017, 2018).
As a player, Vanney made 270 total MLS Regular Season appearances, including 193 as a member of the LA Galaxy, tied with Todd Dunivant for the seventh-most appearances of any player in LA Galaxy history and trailing only Cobi Jones (281), Landon Donovan (253), Kevin Hartman (243), Mauricio Cienfuegos (206) and A.J. DeLaGarza (204). With LA, Vanney helped lead the club to a Supporters’ Shield (1998), CONCACAF Champions’ Cup (2000) and U.S. Open Cup (2001) while being named to the MLS Best XI twice (2000, 2001) and earning honors as LA Galaxy Defender of the Year (2001). He also made an additional 32 MLS Cup Playoff appearances, including 26 postseason appearances with the Galaxy.
Vanney began his professional playing career after being drafted by the Galaxy from UCLA with the 17th overall selection in the 1996 MLS College Draft. During his time as a professional, Vanney represented the Galaxy, FC Dallas, Colorado Rapids and D.C. United in Major League Soccer while also playing a stint for Bastia in France. He also earned 11 caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team, making his debut in 1996 before later featuring in the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup Championship and 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Following his retirement after the 2008 MLS season, Vanney served as the Real Salt Lake Youth Academy Director from 2008-2011 before joining Chivas USA as an assistant coach from 2011-2012. Vanney originally joined Toronto FC as the club’s assistant general manager and academy director in 2013 before being named head coach and technical director on August 31, 2014.