LAFC have gone from startup MLS expansion club to record-breaking team on the field in just two years, and three of the architects behind the success are set to stay around for the foreseeable future.
In news originally reported by Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times on Friday, LAFC have given multiyear contract extensions to executive vice president of soccer operations and general manager John Thorrington, president Tom Penn and chief business officer Larry Freedman.
“Our senior leadership team has done an incredible job of guiding our club to unprecedented success both on and off the field in a relatively short period of time,” said LAFC lead managing owner Larry Berg in a team statement. “Together with our fans and supporters, we have made Banc of California Stadium a premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Heart of Los Angeles.”
Thorrington built the roster that won the 2019 Supporters' Shield, with LAFC breaking records for points in a season and tying the longstanding goals mark in a season. Carlos Vela was MLS MVP and three players in all made the 2019 MLS Best XI from the Black & Gold.
Penn has overseen operations for the entire club, and he and Freedman have brought Banc of California Stadium from the planning stages to a venue that has sold out all home league games the last two seasons. Freedman, the newly-minted 2019 Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year by MLS, has supervised all commercial matters for the club. In addition, LAFC were the recipient of numerous awards including Fast Company’s Most Innovative Company (No. 1 Live Events category), Front Office Sports’ Best Employer in Sports and additional MLS Club Executive and Sales Awards including Ticket Sales Team Of The Year and Business Analytics Team of the Year.
