LA Galaxy Name Greg Vanney As Head Coach

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The LA Galaxy announced today that Greg Vanney, who began his professional career as a player with the team, has been named head coach.

Vanney, 46, returns to the Galaxy after a six-year stint as Toronto FC's manager, in which he became the only coach to capture an MLS Treble by winning the MLS Cup, the MLS Supporters' Shield and the Canadian Championship during the 2017 season.

“Greg is a part of the history of the LA Galaxy and we are confident that he is the right person to lead our team moving forward,'' said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese.

“He has deep knowledge of this club and Major League Soccer as a player and a coach and has proven to be a consistent winner with a championship pedigree. His accolades as Toronto FC's manager are evidence of his ability to create and sustain success in our league. We look forward to working with Greg to continue to build a team that will compete for trophies.''

Vanney said he was “extremely excited'' about the opportunity to coach “an iconic club with a rich history in Los Angeles, MLS and North American soccer over the last 25 years.''

“I am committed to working tirelessly for this club, our fans and Los Angeles to win a championship. I look forward to this new challenge in my career and am eager to get started,'' he said.

The former Galaxy defender's coaching staff have yet to be named.

Vanney stepped down as Toronto FC's longest-tenured coach following the 2020 MLS season after notching 112 total wins, with 250 games coached. In all, he recorded an 87-68-48 MLS regular season record and a 10-5-2 MLS postseason record while being named MLS Coach of the Year and Concacaf Coach of the Year in 2017.

As Toronto FC's coach, Vanney helped lead the team to the MLS Cup Playoffs in five of the previous six seasons (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020), while making appearances in three MLS Cup Finals (2016, 2017, 2019) and the Concacaf Champions League Final (2018). He also helped capture three-straight Canadian Championships (2016, 2017, 2018).

As a player, Vanney made 270 total MLS regular season appearances, including 193 as a member of the LA Galaxy, where he helped lead the club to a Supporters' Shield (1998), CONCACAF Champions' Cup (2000) and U.S. Open Cup (2001) while being named to the MLS Best XI twice (2000, 2001) and earning honors as LA Galaxy Defender of the Year (2001).

He also made an additional 32 MLS Cup Playoff appearances, including 26 postseason appearances with the Galaxy.

Vanney began his professional playing career after being drafted by the Galaxy from UCLA with the 17th overall selection in the 1996 MLS College Draft.

In addition to the Galaxy, he played for FC Dallas, Colorado Rapids and D.C. United in Major League Soccer while also completing a stint for Bastia in France.

Following his retirement after the 2008 MLS season, Vanney served as director of the Real Salt Lake Youth Academy from 2008-2011 before joining Chivas USA as an assistant coach from 2011-2012. He originally joined Toronto FC as the club's assistant general manager and academy director in 2013 before being named head coach and technical director on Aug. 31, 2014.

Photo: Getty Images


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