Entering its ninth season in Major League Soccer in 2026, the Los Angeles Football Club has tapped Marc Dos Santos to take the reins as head coach.
LAFC announced Dos Santos’s ascension Friday, making the 48-year-old Canadian the third manager in club history alongside Bob Bradley and the recently departed Steve Cherundolo, who stepped down at the end of the 2025 season following four successful years.
During Cherundolo’s tenure, Dos Santos, a native of Montréal, served as an assistant coach. He was also a member of Bradley’s inaugural staff in 2018 prior to taking over as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps from 2019-2021, compiling a 22-37-18 record.
“I’m honored to step into the role of head coach at LAFC,” Dos Santos said in a statement. “This is a special club – you feel it the moment you step into the training facility or stadium, when you meet the people who work here, and when you see the passion of everyone involved.
“The ambition here is clear in the way we approach each day and in the standards we set for ourselves. My focus now is to build on the strong foundation and culture that’s already in place. I’m excited to take on the challenges ahead together with our players, staff, and supporters.”
For the second time since Bradley was hired leading into the club’s expansion season, LAFC promoted a head coach from within. Cherundolo was head coach of the second-team Las Vegas Lights for one year prior to being elevated into the job in 2022.
Dos Santos’ coaching résumé includes stints in the North American Soccer League, where he won coach of the year in 2015 and 2017, several stops in Canada, and youth coaching roles in Brazil. He also served as technical director for Desportivo Brasil.
“As an ownership group, we believe Marc is the right person to lead LAFC to new heights,” LAFC lead managing owner Bennett Rosenthal said in prepared remarks. “Marc has long been a part of LAFC’s amazing culture, and his presence provides all the positives of that continuity. He also brings fresh ideas and new approaches that will continue to elevate the Black & Gold standard.
“Marc’s qualities as a person and a coach stood out to us when evaluating who would be our next coach. Our expectations for this club – on and off the pitch – have always been ambitious, and we know our supporters in Los Angeles and around the world share those ambitions. We have a talented roster, with many core pieces in place, and we are confident that Marc possesses the qualities needed to bring out the best in this group and deliver a level of performance that the entire fanbase will be proud of.”
Ante Razov, the only coach on the LAFC staff for each of the club’s eight seasons, also sought the position.
The makeup of Dos Santos’ staff is yet to be announced.
“Marc understands as well as anyone what the best version of LAFC looks like – an entertaining, front-foot style of play grounded in ambition, intensity, and a collaborative culture that reflects who we are as a club,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “He has earned the trust and belief of all of our players.
“From our emerging young talents to our most experienced stars, the support for Marc’s appointment has been unanimous. His relationships, clarity of ideas, and passion for LAFC make him uniquely positioned to elevate what we already do well and push us toward our full potential. We are excited for this next chapter under Marc’s leadership as we continue our pursuit of excellence.”