LOS ANGELES -- With the Steve Cherundolo era officially over, LAFC announced the hiring of Marc Dos Santos as the third head coach in club history on Friday morning. Dos Santos had served as an assistant coach in each of the last four seasons for the Black and Gold, with his efforts helping the club earn three major trophies.
The 48-year-old will take the helm with plenty of experience under his belt, with nearly two decades of coaching experience in places such as Brazil, Canada and the United States. Under LAFC in 2022, he earned his UEFA Pro License.
"I'm honored to step into the role of head coach at LAFC," said Dos Santos. "This is a special club - you feel it the moment you step into the training facility or the stadium, when you meet the people who work here, and when you see the passion of everyone involved. 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."
As a two-time North American Soccer League (NASL) Coach of the Year (2015 and 2017), Dos Santos found success as a coach prior to his move to MLS. He led the San Francisco Deltas to the 2017 NASL Championship and won the USL Western Conference Championship with the Swope Park Rangers in 2016.
Dos Santos returned to join the LAFC coaching staff in 2022 after serving as the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps for over two seasons. During his time leading Vancouver, the club accumulated a record of 22-37-18.
"We are thrilled to announce Marc as the third head coach in LAFC history," said LAFC Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington. "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. He has earned the trust and belief of all of our players."
Los Angeles enters a critical 2026 campaign looking to bounce back from a Western Conference Semifinals exit against the Whitecaps. Dos Santos is tasked with guiding the club to its second-ever MLS Cup trophy and first since 2022.
Lead Managing Owner Bennett Rosenthal believes that Dos Santos's experience within the club makes him an ideal fit for a position in which understanding the culture and vision of the club is so critical.
"Marc has long been a part of LAFC's amazing culture, and his presence provides all the positives of that continuity," said Rosenthal. "He also brings fresh ideas and new approaches that will continue to elevate the Black & Gold standard. 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."
He will be introduced in a press conference on Monday, December 15, at BMO Stadium, formally ushering in a new era of football for LAFC.