Two days after the LA Galaxy, once MLS's glamour team, lost to FC Dallas, 5-1, to finish last of 22 teams,
Pete Vagenas was relieved of his duties as general manager.
Sigi Schmid, who was 2-8-4 after being named coach in July, will take over the player personnel duties from Vagenas, who stays on as vice president of soccer operations.
Bruce Arena had been not only head coach of the Galaxy but general manager. The Galaxy signed big stars like
David Beckham and
Robbie Keane but he was adept at finding role
players whom he knew from his years in the league.
In 2017,
Curt Onalfo took over as head coach when Arena left to become U.S. national team coach. But he was fired as head coach
when the Galaxy fell to 6-10-4 after losing five games in a row.
Injuries were a killer for the Galaxy.
Robbie Rogers,
Sebastian Lletget and
Baggio Husidic, who
played 13 games between them. The Galaxy was the MLS club to invest in a USL second team, but few of the Los Dos players brought into the first team made significant contributions.
Finally! Vagenas was the worst choice for the club - he was doing a poor job as the academy director, so they promoted him. Now Sigi can manage this team back into shape.
Come on Cienfuegos...
Vagenas was put in position because his buddy Chris Klein is the president. There was some structural failure once the Bruce Arena know-how left the building.
This move is one I predicted when Sigi - whom I've known since his freshman years at UCLA and with whom I've maintained close contact and friendship - was broiught back to the team. As for Peter, I don't know how many know that he played at UCLA when Sigi was his coach and thereafter for some years when Sigi coached the LAG, but I questioned his ascendancy to top management, then again, that is life in the MLS. I feel that Coach Sigi will do well, once he starts righting his ship, he is a true "native" of the LAG's sphere of influence, and I know that he will give the new LAFC a run for his money (both Bradley and Sigi go way back) Though it would be quite a coup if Mauricio Cienfuegos - and some former emplyees under Sigi's reign - are returned to the fold!
MUCHSIMA SUERTE MI GRAN AMIGO SIGI!!!!