Ruud Gullit resigned as coach of the slumping Los Angeles Galaxy for personal reasons on Monday, and president and general manager Alexi Lalas was also out of a job.
“We are stepping up and doing what we need to do to straighten this thing out,” Galaxy investor and operator Tim Leiweke told reporters in announcing the changes.
The Galaxy, led by English star David Beckham and US international Landon Donovan, are on a seven-match winless streak in Major League Soccer and lie 11th in the 14-team standings.
PHOTO: AFP
“There are two good people that for different reasons aren’t part of this organization today, and that’s a shame,” Leiweke said. “The fact is, the players have to look deep inside themselves and understand they have to be responsible for some of this.
“Am I angry we find ourselves in the situation we find ourselves in? Yes. This is not a fun week. The Galaxy hasn’t made the playoffs for a couple years. Punting on this season is not acceptable. It starts on Thursday [against Chivas USA],” he said.
Much was expected when Beckham joined the Galaxy last season. But he was limited to five games because of injuries and the Galaxy won only nine of 30 games and were eliminated from playoff contention on the season’s final day.
The Galaxy were in pretty good shape this season before the recent winless streak left them at 6-5-8.
Gullit will be succeeded on an interim basis by 37-year-old Cobi Jones, a first-year assistant who retired following last season after spending his entire pro career with the Galaxy. The 45-year-old Gullit signed a three-year contract last November, making him one of the MLS’ highest-paid coaches, and its most accomplished.
As a player, Gullit helped the Netherlands win the 1988 European championship, and Milan to the European Champions’ League title twice and Italy’s Serie A three times. He was world player of the year twice and Europe’s player of the year in 1987. In 2004, FIFA selected him as one of its 100 all-time greatest living players. As a coach, he led Chelsea to England’s FA Cup in 1997.
Leiweke, the president and CEO of AEG, said Jones was the interim coach “for right now.”
“I appreciate Cobi’s stepping in,” Leiweke said. “The one guy’s loyalty and passion over there I don’t question is his. I think we have eliminated any and all excuses now. No one can point any fingers.”
Leiweke said he didn’t know whether a permanent head coach will be named before the end of the season.
The 37-year-old Lalas’ contract runs out at the end of the season.
“Alexi’s been with us a long time. I’m very appreciative of everything he’s done for the Galaxy. That one is painful,” Leiweke said.
Leiweke said Tom Payne, who has served as Lalas’ assistant, will run the business side of the team. Paul Bravo, the director of soccer, will work with Jones on personnel decisions, he said.
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