In a season filled with attention-grabbing headlines, the LA Galaxy just created another significant news story, as Head Coach Sigi Schmid announced that he has stepped down from coaching the team, effective immediately.
Dominic Kinnear has been named LA Galaxy Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2018 Major League Soccer season. Throughout his career as a head coach in MLS, Kinnear has won two MLS Cups and recorded 166 wins, the third most in the league’s history.
“I want to thank Sigi and the LA Galaxy for bringing me here last season,” said Kinnear. “Our focus now is to win as many games as possible through the end of the season.”
Schmid steps away from coaching as one of the most decorated coaches in Major League Soccer history, with 266 total wins, two MLS Cups, five U.S. Open Cups, and three Supporters’ Shield trophies.
“I have coached at various levels of soccer in the United States for over 35 years, where I have dedicated myself to furthering the sport in our country,” said Sigi Schmid. “After careful consideration, I have decided to step away from coaching at this time, but would like to remain in the game. With six games remaining as the club fights for a playoff spot, I understand the timing of this decision is unfortunate. However, I believe this group can come together and fight for a spot this season under Dom’s guidance. I am grateful to the LA Galaxy for being such a significant part of my life and my career.”
Schmid is the winningest coach in MLS history with 266 wins across MLS regular and post-season play. Schmid is one of two coaches in MLS history to guide two different teams to MLS Cup titles, and he is one of three to coach in four total MLS Cup Finals. He is a member of the U.S. Soccer National Hall of Fame and a UCLA Hall of Fame inductee.
“We want to thank Sigi for everything he’s done for the LA Galaxy and for soccer in Southern California,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “Dom is one of the finest coaches in the history of this league, and we trust him to lead this group for the remainder of the season. His keen understanding of our team and MLS will serve us well for the last six games of the season. The club will conduct its search for the next LA Galaxy head coach immediately.”
During his time in MLS, Schmid has compiled a 240-183-125 record during the MLS regular season.
Schmid’s coaching career began in 1980 when he became head coach of the UCLA Men’s Soccer Program after serving as an assistant in previous years. He remained with UCLA, his alma mater, for nearly 20 years, leading the team to a 322-63-33 record, 16-consecutive playoff appearances and three NCAA championships (1985, 1990, 1997) while becoming one of the most successful soccer college coaches of all time. Following the 1997 season, Schmid was named NCAA Coach of the Year.
His time with UCLA led him to his first professional coaching job when he took over the LA Galaxy in 1999. In his first season with the club, he led the team to a 17-9-0 record and was voted the MLS Coach of the Year. From 1999-2004, Schmid led the LA Galaxy to four major trophies: the 2002 MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield, the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and the 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. Altogether, his Galaxy teams recorded a 79-53-32 record and reached the MLS Cup final four times, winning three division crowns during that span.
Internationally, he has twice served as the U.S. U-20 National Team head coach, most recently in 2005 at the FIFA World Championships.
By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and new services
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