Galaxy fires their general manager, long a target of Fan Anger

When the world’s most famous soccer player, David Beckham, came to Major League Soccer in 2007, his arrival put the league on the map and cemented Los Angeles Galaxy’s status as the fledgling league’s super team. During his tenure, the Galaxy played in three MLS Cups, won two and exuded a Hollywood glamor that resonated around the world.

So it is surprising to see the Galaxy have the worst record in the league this season, with just two wins from 14 matches. In response, and after missing the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, the team on Tuesday fired its longtime president, Chris Klein, who had also played with Beckham at the Galaxy.

Klein’s sacking came after months of clamor from hardcore fans angry at the club’s direction. Several supporter groups had called for Klein’s resignation and threatened to boycott matches; some have already done so. The rise of the Galaxy is down about 10 percent from last season, a reflection of both the team’s dramatic results on the pitch and the simmering anger among fans.

“I hope there will be a solution and that the supporter groups – who are very important to all of us and the players – will find the right way to show up, regardless of the resolution,” said Galaxy coach Greg Vanney. told ESPN in February. “Because it probably won’t be Chris out.”

Now Chris is gone. “We believe it is in the best interest of the club to make a change and start a comprehensive process to seek new leadership who will take the club back to the level our fans and partners expect,” said Dan Beckerman , the president of AEG, the team’s parent company, said when announcing Klein’s departure. Vanney will remain in his job as a coach, the team said.

The Galaxy’s last MLS championship was in 2014, its third in four years, but it hasn’t won anything significant since. Last year’s playoff appearance, the first in three seasons, ended in the conference semifinals.

The team that knocked out the Galaxy at that stage is particularly angry: it was Los Angeles FC, the new club in town, which has only been a member of the league since 2018, but already has more accolades in its trophy cabinet (three ) than the Galaxy have in the past decade.

LAFC has won the Supporters Shield twice, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, and last season won its first MLS Cup championship. It has also progressed to the final of this year’s Concacaf Champions League, where it will meet Mexico’s Club León this week in a home-and-home series for the regional club championship.

The Galaxy, meanwhile, is stunning. The team is the worst 2-9-3 this season with a minus 14 goal difference. On Wednesday night, the Galaxy lost three consecutive league games without scoring a goal. After the last of those defeats, 1-0 at home to Charlotte on Saturday, fans chanted, “We want better!”

While LAFC’s Denis Bouanga leads MLS with 10 goals, the Galaxy’s scoring leader Dejan Joveljic has two. Underperforming big-name Galaxy players include Mexican striker Javier Hernández, better known as Chicharito, and Brazil’s Douglas Costa, who was also winless in four appearances. is arrested in Brazil on charges of non-payment of child support, it was revealed this week.

In the wake of Klein’s firing, supporters groups congratulated each other on the news and vowed to return to games.

Klein had problems of his own late last year: He was suspended in the off-season after MLS found violations in a deal to be signed the Argentinian wing Cristian Pavón. The sanctions too limit movements the Galaxy can make this summer on the international transfer market. That means rebuilding the Galaxy will be quite a task. Even with their fans back on board, a return to glory could take a while.