Southern California

Three Things to Know About LA Galaxy's New Manager Curt Onalfo

If you don't know anything about the LA Galaxy's new coach, that's okay, we're here to help you. Here's three things to know before Tuesday's announcement.

If the Los Angeles Galaxy were looking to make a big splash with their head coaching vacancy, they picked the wrong candidate.

But, that doesn't mean they didn't pick the right candidate.

The five-time MLS Cup champion and most decorated franchise in MLS history is expected to name Curt Onalfo as their new manager at a press conference on Tuesday according to multiple sources.

If Onalfo's name doesn't register with you, that's okay, it shouldn't for most modest soccer fans. That's why NBC LA is here to fill you in on the new head coach of Southern California's local soccer team.

Here are three things to know about Bruce Arena's successor:

1. He was born in Brazil: Onalfo was born in Sao Paolo, Brazil in 1969, but grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut and played his college ball at the University of Virginia under then head coach Bruce Arena—a pairing that would suit Onalfo well for the remainder of his career. Onalfo also speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese.

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2. He Played for the LA Galaxy: Onalfo was drafted by the LA Galaxy in February 1996 of the inaugural draft. He played for the Galaxy in the first ever MLS Cup that year and had MLS stints with the San Jose Clash (Earthquakes) and D.C. United. He also played for the U.S. Men's National Team in 1988, making one appearance.

3. He was the Manager of D.C. United, Kansas City, and LA Galaxy II: You may have not heard much of Onalfo's coaching career, but we promise its quite extensive. The 47-year-old rejoined D.C. United as an assistant in 2000 and later became the interim head coach in 2001. After that, he became an assistant coach for the USMNT under Bruce Arena. After Arena left the national team in 2007, Onalfo was named the manger of the Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC), before another short stint with D.C. United in 2010. When Arena took over the L.A. Galaxy in 2008, he asked Onalfo to join him, something that eventually happened in 2011.

With the prospect of filling Arena's shoes at some point a possibility, Onalfo took over as manager for the LA Galaxy II a developmental team that is owned by the Galaxy and play in the United States Soccer League.

Onalfo will have big shoes to fill, but he knows the tradition, the personnel, and the culture of Southern California's soccer dynasty.

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