CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy are considering a number of candidates for their vacant head coaching position according to club president Chris Klein.
Klein told reporters in a teleconference call on Monday that the Galaxy are hoping to have a new head coach in place by the end of the year after the departure of head coach and general manager Bruce Arena. The Galaxy Club President announced the hiring of Pete Vagenas to fill Arena’s general manager role on Monday.
To replace Arena, Klein and Vagenas are casting a wide net, but the Galaxy Club President admits that he’s focusing primarily on candidates currently in the United States.
“We’re going through the process now of reaching out to other candidates,” Klein told reporters on Monday. “Some are currently coaching in this league, so we have to get permission to speak to them. We expect the interviewing of those candidates to take place shortly.
“Domestic coaches certainly have had more success in our league than those from without. I’m not saying a foreign coach could not be successful with us,” he later added. “We’ve had people contact us from all over the world that everyone would know and some that you wouldn’t. We are not ruling it out. It’s likely we will interview at least one coach that is not from our country. Our search is primarily focused on domestic coaches, but we would like to interview at least one foreign candidate.”
During the call, Klein shed light on only a handful of names. Confirming that the Galaxy have held discussions with Galaxy II head coach Curt Onalfo about the vacancy, will not speak to former Associate head coach Dave Sarachan, while also offering a no comment on any link to former Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid.
Although Klein is eager to find the right candidate, he admits that he isn't looking for Bruce Arena 2.0.
“The success he’s over eight-plus seasons here says you don’t replace a Bruce Arena. We’re thankful for everything that he brought here and we will move on to the next phase of a very good history for the LA Galaxy. I’m not trying to get the new Bruce Arena,” Klein said. “We’re trying to take the next step and learn from what he’s brought to this club and celebrate all that he was. It’s the same thing with players.
“You don’t replace Landon Donovan or Robbie Keane, but we have to go out and get the next players because the expectations are still the same. The expectations really never change from the Galaxy, and that started before Bruce Arena was here.”
