LAFC and head coach Bob Bradley have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced Thursday. Bradley was out of contract after this season.
Bradley was LAFC’s inaugural head coach and led the team to great success over four seasons. The Black & Gold set a new single-season record for points in 2019 and won the Supporters’ Shield. They also set a league record for points during their expansion season in 2018 and made the Concacaf Champions League final in 2020.
"Bob has been fantastic as the first and only head coach for this club," LAFC co-president & GM John Thorrington said in a club statement. “He provided strong leadership and has been a great ambassador for LAFC. Bob helped us develop a winning culture and established a legacy that will always be a part of LAFC’s history.”
Bradley amassed a 58W-34L-32D record over those four years. The three-time MLS Coach of the Year and former US men's national team coach ranks third all-time in MLS wins. Under his watch, LAFC superstar Carlos Vela delivered the best individual season in league history in 2019, with 34 goals and 15 assists. Bradley challenged Vela to be LAFC's version of Lionel Messi ahead of their inaugural campaign.
“It’s been incredible to have played a part in the early history of LAFC,” Bradley said. “From the beginning there was a real commitment to connect to the city and the fans and we shared some amazing experiences.”
Under Bradley, several LAFC players have developed and enjoyed major individual success, including the likes of Vela, Diego Rossi, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Walker Zimmerman, Eduard Atuesta, Latif Blessing and more.
Prior to his time with LAFC, Bradley was an assistant with D.C. United in the league's first two years before taking charge of Chicago Fire FC in 1998. He also was manager of the New York Red Bulls and Chivas USA before being named USMNT head coach in 2006. After leading the US to knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup, Bradley left the role in 2011 and was subsequently appointed the national team manager of Egypt before becoming the first American to manage a Premier League team in 2016 when he took over at Swansea City.
LAFC finished ninth in the Western Conference standings this season, missing the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in the club's brief history.
“We are grateful to Bob for his service to LAFC and the city of Los Angeles," Thorrington said. “He helped lay a foundation for this club that we will build on as we wish him well in his next chapter. I am confident in our club and process that we will find the next head coach who will help lead us forward.”
