Los Angeles FC will have the remainder of the FIFA international break to find a replacement at head coach after the club fired Marc Dos Santos, who was in his first year on the job, on Sunday.
The new head coach will have a tough task ahead when LAFC return from the break Oct. 10 to face the Vancouver Whitecaps, the first-place team in the Western Conference. LAFC have six games remaining in the regular season to secure one of nine playoff spots in the Western Conference.
“Marc has given a great deal to this club over the years, and we are grateful for his commitment, care and contributions to LAFC,” LAFC president of soccer operations John Thorrington said in a statement. “We wish Marc and his family all the best moving forward.”
On a run of just two victories over their last 13 matches across all competitions, LAFC (11-9-8, 41 points) have dropped to sixth place.
Dos Santos, 49, helped LAFC get off to a strong start this season when they opened 5-0-1 in MLS play without allowing a goal and were unbeaten in their first 11 games across all competitions. The club scored 27 goals through those first 11 games.
The downfall started after LAFC were eliminated from CONCACAF Champions Cup in the semifinals by Liga MX side Toluca. On Saturday, LAFC dropped a 1-0 decision to FC Dallas without its offensive leaders in Denis Bouanga (14 goals, eight assists) and Son Heung-Min (six goals, 13 assists), who were on national team duty.
Dos Santos previously coached the Whitecaps from 2019-21 after serving as an assistant coach during LAFC’s debut season in 2018. He returned to LAFC as an assistant in 2022 and took over the head spot this season after Steve Cherundolo stepped down.
A native of Canada, Dos Santos has a 33-46-26 record as a head coach in MLS regular-season play.
–Field Level Media
