LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2018) – The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has hired Guillermo Barros Schelotto as Head Coach. Schelotto, 45, joins the LA Galaxy after completing his third season with Boca Juniors, where he led the historic club to two Argentine Primera División championships.
“I am honored to be the head coach for the most decorated club in Major League Soccer,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto. “This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I am excited to get to work. The LA Galaxy have long been the standard in MLS and I am ready to push the club to new heights.”
As a player, Schelotto won six league titles and four Copa Libertadores in 10 seasons with Boca Juniors before signing with Columbus Crew in 2007, where he won one MLS Cup, two Supporters’ Shields, and was named 2008 Landon Donovan MLS MVP and 2008 MLS Cup MVP.
“After a comprehensive search, domestically and internationally, we believe Guillermo will be a landmark signing for this club,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese. “Guillermo is a proven winner who has experience coaching, playing and winning for big clubs. It is our hope that Guillermo’s managing style and familiarity with MLS will bring trophies and championships to LA Galaxy fans and the city of Los Angeles.”
Schelotto began his managerial career with Club Atlético Lanús of Argentina’s Primera División in 2012. He won the Copa Sudamericana in 2013 with the club.
After four seasons with Lanús, Schelotto was named manager of Boca Juniors in March 2016. In his first full season, Boca won the Argentine Primera División, a feat they would repeat in the 2017-18 campaign.
Born in La Plata, Argentina, Schelotto’s career as a player began with his boyhood club, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in 1991. He spent five seasons with Gimnasia before being signed by the Argentinian powerhouse Boca Juniors, where he would record 300 appearances and over 80 goals as a forward.
In 2007, Schelotto left Argentina to sign with Columbus Crew. Schelotto became the Crew’s first-ever designated player in 2008. That season, he tallied seven goals and 19 assists and was named 2008 Landon Donovan MLS MVP. He led the Crew to a Supporters’ Shield and their first MLS Cup win in that same season. He was named 2008 MLS Cup MVP for his three assists in the Crew’s 3-1 win over New York Red Bulls atDignity Health Sports Park. He won the Supporters’ Shield again for the Crew in 2009.
In 2011, Schelotto returned to his first club, Gimnasia y Esgrima, and retired there as a player in that same season.
Schelotto’s first season as LA Galaxy Head Coach will begin with the 2019 Home Opener, when the Galaxy host Chicago Fire on Saturday, March 2 at 5 p.m. PT. Tickets to that match are on sale now, available here.
2019 LA Galaxy Home Opener
Schelotto and the LA Galaxy will kick off the 2019 MLS preseason in February, hosting three MLS sides during three consecutive Saturdays in February 2019. The Galaxy will begin first against Toronto FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Feb. 9, followed by Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Feb. 16 at Orange County Great Park and finishing with the Colorado Rapids on Feb. 23 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
