The manager of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is Steve Cherundolo. Cherundolo took over as LAFC’s manager in 2022, replacing Bob Bradley who had been the team’s first and only manager since their inception in 2018. As a former US Men’s National Team player himself, Cherundolo brings a wealth of experience both as a player and coach to lead LAFC into their next era.
Quick Answers
LAFC’s current manager is Steve Cherundolo.
Cherundolo was appointed as LAFC’s manager in 2022.
He replaced Bob Bradley, who was LAFC’s first manager from 2018-2021.
Cherundolo is a former USMNT player who transitioned into coaching after retirement.
LAFC Background
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) joined Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 2018. Coming into the league along with FC Cincinnati, LAFC was the first MLS team to represent the city of Los Angeles since Chivas USA folded in 2014.
LAFC quickly found success in MLS under manager Bob Bradley, who had previously managed the USMNT and other MLS clubs like Chicago Fire and Chivas USA. In their inaugural season, LAFC won the Supporters’ Shield with the most points in MLS and broke the league record for most points by an expansion team in a season.
They continued their strong play in 2019 and 2020, making the playoffs both years. LAFC captured their first MLS Cup in 2022 with Bradley at the helm, defeating Philadelphia Union on penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw.
Bob Bradley’s Departure
After leading LAFC to trophies in both the Supporters’ Shield race and MLS Cup, Bob Bradley left the team following the conclusion of the 2022 season. He departed to take over as the manager of Toronto FC in MLS.
Bradley finished his LAFC career with 82 wins, 29 draws, and 37 losses over four seasons. His regular season record of 1.89 points per game is the highest in MLS history for managers with at least 100 games coached. He clearly made a huge impact in establishing LAFC as a dominant force right from the start in MLS.
Steve Cherundolo’s Appointment
After an extensive search process, LAFC announced Steve Cherundolo as the club’s new manager on December 30, 2021. Cherundolo signed a three-year contract to take over starting with the 2022 season.
Cherundolo represented the US Men’s National Team as a player 87 times in his career, including playing in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. He spent the majority of his professional playing career with Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga.
Following retirement as a player, Cherundolo embarked on a coaching path in Germany. He served as an assistant for the Stuttgart U-17 team before taking over as manager of Las Vegas Lights FC in the USL Championship in 2018. Cherundolo then returned to Germany to manage Hannover 96’s U-17 team.
The opportunity to manage an MLS contender like LAFC drew Cherundolo back to the United States. His first season saw immediate success, as LAFC won the Supporters’ Shield once again and defeated the Philadelphia Union on penalties to claim their first MLS Cup trophy.
Coaching Style
As a manager, Steve Cherundolo emphasizes an attacking, possession-based style of play. With LAFC in 2022, his tactics focused on dominating games through midfield possession and organized pressure without the ball.
Cherundolo sets his teams up in a 4-3-3 formation, with three dynamic central midfielders serving as the key foundation. Fullbacks push high up the field to provide attacking width while the front three forwards aggressively press the back line.
This style took some time to coalesce in the first half of 2022 but really kicked into gear down the stretch. LAFC won 10 of their final 15 matches as the players fully adapted to Cherundolo’s system. The result was claiming the Supporters’ Shield and winning MLS Cup.
2023 Season Outlook
Steve Cherundolo faces high expectations going into 2023 after the success of his first season. LAFC retained most of their championship core, including MLS MVP Carlos Vela, to make another run at the MLS Cup title.
One major change will be adjusting to life without homegrown midfielder José Cifuentes, who transferred to LAFC’s new expansion rival St. Louis City SC this offseason. Cherundolo will need to find the right balance in midfield after losing such an important two-way player.
Tactically, look for LAFC to further refine their high-intensity playing philosophy under Cherundolo in 2023. He now has a full season to ingrain his detailed approach and build chemistry across the entire roster.
With other Western Conference powers like Austin FC and FC Dallas on the rise, repeating as Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup winners will be difficult. But Steve Cherundolo clearly has LAFC headed in the right direction to sustain success both now and for years to come.
Key Facts
- Steve Cherundolo became manager of LAFC in 2022.
- He replaced Bob Bradley, LAFC’s first and only manager from 2018-2021.
- Cherundolo is a former USMNT defender who played in two World Cups.
- His coaching career includes stints in Germany and with Las Vegas Lights FC.
- Cherundolo implemented an attacking 4-3-3 system focused on possession.
- LAFC won MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield in his first season as manager.
- LAFC will aim to defend their titles under Cherundolo in 2023.
Conclusion
The managerial change from Bob Bradley to Steve Cherundolo has represented a smooth transition for the Los Angeles Football Club. While Bradley provided outstanding leadership in LAFC’s first four seasons, Cherundolo picked up right where he left off to bring immediate success.
With his tactical philosophy and high-pressing 4-3-3 system now entrenched, Cherundolo has LAFC well-equipped to continue contending for MLS Cups every year. After winning it all in his first season, the expectations will be sky-high for Cherundolo and LAFC entering 2023.
The foundation is firmly in place for Los Angeles to remain a premier club under Cherundolo’s leadership. LAFC fans can feel confident that the team’s future remains bright with Steve Cherundolo at the helm as their manager.