Galaxy Name Former Red Bulls Coach Bruce Arena Coach & GM

AEG Hopes Arena's Resume Can Help Rectify Galaxy

The MLS Galaxy yesterday named former Red Bulls coach & Sporting Dir Bruce Arena GM & coach, after former President & GM Alexi Lalas and coach Ruud Gullit parted ways with the club last week. Arena will oversee all soccer operations, including the first team, reserve and academy teams and youth development. Arena, who stepped down as U.S. men's national team coach in '06, led DC United to two MLS championships in '96 and '97 (Galaxy). In L.A., Grahame Jones reports the position of President previously held by Lalas has been "eliminated in the new structure devised by Galaxy owner AEG." Arena has "total control" of soccer operations (L.A. TIMES, 8/19).

THE RIGHT HIRE? In L.A., Steve Dilbeck writes AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke "no doubt determined the Galaxy needed to make the biggest coaching splash possible, and there was Arena, almost oddly available, not doing much but some TV commentary." Leiweke has "demonstrated a growing impatience with his staff and is hardly shy about making changes." Dilbeck writes "spend zillions on the [Galaxy MF David] Beckham phenomenon and you expect results beyond a few extra seats filled" at The Home Depot Center. Arenas "has the kind of name the Galaxy needs as a head coach," and "time will tell if Arena is still more than that" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 8/19). ESPNSOCCERNET.com's Ives Galarcep wondered, "Can Arena handle the circuslike atmosphere that David Beckham's presence brings to the Galaxy? Can he persuade [Galaxy F] Landon Donovan to stay in MLS and help him turn things around?" (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 8/18).