The MLS franchise on Tuesday announced the removal of Chris Klein as president of the LA Galaxy. Klein has served in this role since January 2013.
The club has struggled in recent years, missing the playoffs in four of the past six seasons and failing to advance past the quarter-finals since winning the MLS Cup in 2014.
The Galaxy currently sit last in MLS with just nine points from their first 14 matches.
Sections of LA Galaxy fans were protesting the club’s and Cline’s involvement for much of the season. Clyne was suspended in the winter as part of penalties stemming from incorrectly reporting to the club the 2019 deal for the signing of Christian Pavon. Pavon was listed as a designated player for the allocation money when he should have been a designated player. Cline wrote a letter to season ticket members in April to say he would stand down if the club did not advance in the playoffs this year.
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Galaxy supporters say the protests will continue until Chris Klein is gone from the club
It is not clear if any other changes have been made. Jovan Kirovski is the Galaxy’s head coach while Greg Vanney serves as the athletic director and head coach. Kirovsky and Klein have long been associated with the front office; Kirovsky was also appointed to the position in January 2013. Will Koontz was recently appointed Senior Vice President of Player Affairs.
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What does this mean for los angeles
This means that Fanny is responsible for sporting decisions as the club approaches the summer transfer window. As part of the penalties that led to Klein’s suspension, though, the Galaxy cannot sign players from overseas this summer. They can add players from within the league and sign free agents in the US, but their pool of players to choose from has shrunk.
The Galaxy can still allow players to leave on transfers, which is a key aspect of a potential retooling of the team as they sit at the bottom of MLS more than 40 percent over the course of the season. Moving on from underperforming players will free up resources to make additions, either for domestic players this summer or clearing the books off-season when they have more flexibility.
The DP contracts for both Chicharito and Douglas Costa expire in the winter. Both players have performed poorly this year, especially Costa, who contributed only one red card to a goal. He is the seventh highest paid player in Major League Soccer.
The main question now is whether this opens the door for more moves. It was difficult for the Galaxy to make any kind of personnel changes under Klein given the team boss’ fan protests. With Klein out now, if the Galaxy continue to struggle, we could see other changes happen – be it Kirovski or Vanney, should things stay this bad on the field.
The news is a welcome development by protesting fans and should buy some goodwill, but the discontent is likely to continue. After the Galaxy’s most recent loss – 1-0 at home to Charlotte – “We want better,” supporters chanted. Where Fanny and some players stayed on the field.
The LA Galaxy’s next home game won’t end until June 21 against Sporting KC. They will face Real Salt Lake and St. Louis City on the road in a league match, as well as RSL away in the quarter-finals of the US Open Cup.
what are they saying
“As a club, we haven’t achieved our goals or met the standards we set for the LA Galaxy,” AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman said in a statement. “We believe it is in the best interest of the club to make a change and begin a comprehensive process to find new leadership that will bring the club back to the level our fans and partners have come to expect. We are grateful to Chris for his years of dedication and commitment to the LA Galaxy as a player and CEO.”
Klein added, “I want to thank Phil Anschutz and Dan Beckerman for the opportunity to serve as president of the LA Galaxy for the past 11 years,” Klein said. “My family and I love this club and I am grateful to have spent 16 years with this organization as a player and CEO. Thank you to our fans, partners, players, coaches and staff for all the passion, dedication and hard work.”
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(Photo: Katherine Lutzi/Getty Images)
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