The LA Galaxy have relieved Pete Vagenas from his duties as General Manager effective immediately, the club announced today. Sigi Schmid will oversee all player personnel decisions for the club in addition to his responsibilities as head coach. Vagenas will remain with the LA Galaxy as Vice President of Soccer Operations.
“The results this season did not meet the standard and expectations of this club, our fans and this city,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “Sigi has a proven track record building championship-caliber teams in MLS. He understands this league, its players and its structure as well as anyone in soccer and we have full confidence in him as we enter this offseason to strengthen our roster ahead of 2018. Pete has been an important member for this club on and off the field and will continue to play a part in our club as the Vice President of Soccer Operations.”
Schmid, the winningest coach in MLS history, was named LA Galaxy Head Coach on July 27. Schmid will oversee all soccer operations for the of the LA Galaxy including player acquisition, scouting and management of the club’s coaching staffs. Additional staff announcements will be released in the coming days.
“I am excited for the opportunity to build the LA Galaxy roster into one that is capable of competing for championships,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “The Galaxy continue to have tremendous support from Dan Beckerman, Mr. Anschutz and AEG in every aspect of operations and I look forward to further aligning and improving the LA Galaxy, Galaxy II and our Academy. This offseason is vital as we look ahead to the coming season and we will begin the efforts necessary to strengthen our roster immediately.”
As a head coach, Schmid has recorded 256 wins across MLS Regular and Post Season play. Throughout his career, he has captured two MLS Cups (2002, 2008), a record five U.S. Open Cups (2001, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014), three MLS Supporters’ Shields (2002, 2008, 2014) and coached one of just two teams ever to capture a CONCACAF Champions Cup (2000). He reached the MLS Cup Playoffs in 13 seasons, while recording 28 MLS Cup Playoff wins, the second most in MLS history. Schmid is one of two coaches in MLS history to guide two different teams to MLS Cup titles and he is one of three to coach in four total MLS Cup Finals.
Vagenas previously played for the Galaxy during nine of his 13 years in Major League Soccer and was a part of the Galaxy’s 2002 and 2005 MLS Cup championships. He was named the LA Galaxy General Manager in November 2016 after previously serving as Vice President of Soccer Operations and Director of the LA Galaxy Academy.
The LA Galaxy finished the 2017 MLS Regular Season on Sunday in Dallas. The team finished the year with 32 points from a 8-19-8 record, scoring 46 goals and conceding 72 during their 34 games.
