Son Heung-min’s arrival at Los Angeles FC has remodeled Main League Soccer, together with his jersey changing into the most effective sellers worldwide inside weeks. Now, the South Korean star might quickly witness one other main change within the Black and Gold camp, as a former Lionel Messi coach is reportedly nearing a transfer to LAFC’s sidelines.
Again in April, Steve Cherundolo introduced he would step down as LAFC’s head coach on the finish of the 2025 season. The Illinois native defined that his determination was pushed purely by household causes, expressing a want to return to Germany, the place he spent most of his taking part in profession—regardless of the robust legacy he’s in-built Los Angeles.
LAFC are at present having fun with a superb MLS marketing campaign, sitting fourth within the Western Convention with an actual likelihood to climb larger in the event that they capitalize on their remaining fixtures. With Cherundolo’s departure approaching, the membership’s entrance workplace has began looking for a high-profile successor able to taking the franchise to the subsequent stage—they usually might have discovered one in a well-recognized face to Messi.
In accordance with Argentine switch insider Germán García Grova, Gerardo “Tata” Martino has reached a verbal settlement to turn into LAFC’s subsequent head coach, changing Cherundolo for the 2026 season. Contract particulars are nonetheless being finalized, however after parting methods with Inter Miami in 2024, Martino now seems set for one more MLS return.
Head coach Gerardo Martino of Inter Miami appears on earlier than the match in opposition to Atlanta United within the Audi 2024 MLS Cup playoffs at Chase Stadium on November 09, 2024.
Martino can be a serious acquisition for LAFC. The Argentine tactician not solely has a number of MLS trophies to his identify with Atlanta United and Inter Miami but in addition brings invaluable expertise managing locker rooms full of stars, a perfect match for a crew led by Son. Within the meantime, after falling brief within the CONCACAF Champions Cup, FIFA Membership World Cup, and Leagues Cup, Cherundolo’s remaining mission can be to ship the MLS Cup earlier than his farewell.
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Martino and a possible third MLS chapter
After his tenure as Argentina’s nationwide crew coach, Martino made a shock transfer in 2017 to hitch Atlanta United, rapidly establishing himself as one of many league’s most revered managers. He went on to information the enlargement aspect to its first main titles, success he later replicated at Inter Miami.
With Atlanta, Martino oversaw the 2017 and 2018 seasons, profitable the MLS Cup and posting a document of 42 wins, 16 attracts, and 20 losses throughout 78 matches. Throughout his 18-month spell at Inter Miami, he led the membership to its first-ever trophies, the Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Defend, ending with 38 wins, 13 attracts, and 16 defeats in 67 video games.
Throughout his profession with MLS golf equipment, Martino has managed 145 matches, recording 80 wins, 29 attracts, and 36 losses. Together with his confirmed success and talent to construct title-contending squads round international stars, LAFC’s reported pursuit of the previous Messi coach appears like a transfer completely aligned with the membership’s ambitions.
