MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Name Bruce Arena General Manager and Head Coach

Published on August 18, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Monday, August 18, 2008) - Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO AEG, investor/operators of the Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer (MLS) club, announced today that Bruce Arena, the most successful head coach in U.S. National Team history and a two-time MLS Cup Champion Head Coach with D.C. United, has been named General Manager and Head Coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy. Arena, who becomes the seventh coach in club history, will oversee all of the club's soccer operations, including the first team, reserve and academy teams and youth development.

"While it has been a very difficult week, I believe the end result is a very positive step forward for the Galaxy," said Leiweke. "Bruce is the best coach for the Galaxy and certainly one of the best coaches in the history of the league. I am impressed with his passion, desire and focus and believe that his recent experiences with the U.S. National Team and Red Bulls have prepared and motivated him for this next challenge."

"We have always felt that the Galaxy should aspire to be the club that sets the pace and tone in Major League Soccer," Leiweke added. "I believe Bruce sees it the same way and will put us back in that position."

The all-time winningest coach in U.S. National Team history, Arena led the U.S. to the FIFA World Cup twice, including an historic quarterfinal berth in 2002 in Japan/Korea. Arena took over as head coach in November 1998 and was in charge for nearly eight years, collecting a 71-30-29 all-time record, while leading the U.S. to the CONCACAF Gold Cup title in 2002 and 2003, the 2000 Nike U.S. Cup championship, as well as a third place finish in the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico.

"I am very excited to assume this position with the Los Angeles Galaxy," said Arena. "I realize we have a lot of work ahead of us and I am optimistic that with the support of management, our coaching staff and the players, we will move forward to positioning this team to qualify for this season's MLS playoffs. My ultimate goal is to win championships and build a club that all of our fans will be proud of," Arena added.

"I want to thank Mr. Anschutz and Mr. Leiweke for their confidence and support and I pledge that I and my staff will do everything possible to build a team they will be proud of," Arena continued.

A two-time MLS Cup winning coach, Arena is one of just three coaches ever to win the MLS Cup on more than one occasion and the only one of those coaches to have also won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Arena was the first coach in D.C. United history, joining the club for its inaugural season in 1996. He would spend three seasons with United, reaching the MLS Cup three times, winning it twice, in addition to reaching the U.S. Open Cup Final twice, winning one. He also helped United become the first MLS team ever to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Interamerican Cup, winning each in 1998.

Following the 2006 World Cup, Arena returned to MLS in August 2006, when he was named the Sporting Director and Head Coach of the New York Red Bulls. He spent a year and a half with the Red Bulls, compiling a 16-16-10 record while helping New York reach the postseason both years. He helped to develop young stars like Jozy Altidore and Dane Richards while also signing players like Juan Pablo Angel, who was a finalist for the MLS MVP award and the Newcomer of the Year Award in 2007.

The 57-year old Fairfax, Va. native has a career regular season record of 77-51-10 in MLS and a postseason mark of 14-5-2. He has the ninth most wins in MLS history and needs nine more wins to become the third coach in MLS history to have 100 or more wins combined in regular season and postseason play.

Following a brief stint at the University of Puget Sound (1976), Arena was 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.

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