Los Angeles FC dismissed head coach Marc Dos Santos on Sunday following a 1-0 away defeat to FC Dallas that left the club sixth in the Major League Soccer Western Conference. Club officials announced the decision after a detailed evaluation of the team’s performance across all competitions.
Dos Santos departs with the team holding an 11-8-9 record in MLS play, totaling 43 goals for and 30 against over 28 league matches, according to club figures cited in primary reports. Across all competitions, including the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup, his record stood at 19 wins, 9 draws, and 10 losses across 38 games.
Front Office Response to the Departure
John Thorrington, LAFC’s president of soccer operations, addressed the coaching change in an official club statement released Sunday. Thorrington expressed gratitude for Dos Santos’s multi-year contributions to the organization.
Thorrington expressed gratitude for Dos Santos’s contributions, stating that the club was thankful for his commitment and dedication, and wished him and his family the best in their new chapter.
The club announced that it will name an interim technical staff soon while beginning a comprehensive search for a permanent head coach.
Evaluating the 2025 Season and Recent Struggles
Dos Santos took over as head coach on December 5, 2025, succeeding Steve Cherundolo, under whom he had served as an assistant from 2022 to 2025. During that assistant tenure, he contributed to three major titles: the 2022 MLS Cup, the 2022 Supporters’ Shield, and the 2024 U.S. Open Cup. However, his tenure as head manager saw significant offensive inconsistency despite utilizing a transition system centered on attackers Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga.
The team struggled significantly following the Leagues Cup summer tournament, managing only one victory in their last nine matches across all competitions. LAFC was eliminated in the group stage of the Leagues Cup despite playing all three matches at home, winning one and drawing two. In continental play, the club reached the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, defeating Toluca 2-1 in the home leg before suffering a 4-0 defeat in Mexico.
Following the first leg against Toluca, Dos Santos criticized the MLS schedule for failing to accommodate teams competing in regional tournaments. Following Saturday’s 1-0 loss to FC Dallas, the outgoing manager pointed to injuries and international call-ups as primary obstacles that prevented the squad from establishing consistency.
Dos Santos described the situation as very difficult, citing roster interruptions and scheduling challenges, and noted that after the Leagues Cup, the team had struggled to win games due to not having the opportunity to be together.
Upcoming Schedule and Interim Plans
LAFC enters a scheduled international break before returning to MLS action on Saturday, October 10, when the team hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Stadium. The front office has not yet confirmed who will manage the team for that fixture.
Related reading