Latest news with #SteveCherundolo
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Chelsea's final Club World Cup opponents confirmed in dramatic extra-time play-off
Chelsea will face LAFC in the Club World Cup later this month after the MLS side booked their place at the newly-expanded competition in dramatic fashion on Saturday night. The Blues already knew that they had been placed in Group D alongside Brazilian outfit Flamengo and Tunisian team Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and they had originally been due to play Mexico's Club Leon. However, Club Leon were ruled out earlier this year due to the tournament's multi-ownership rules, meaning another club was given the chance to qualify in their place. It all came down to a play-off between LAFC and Club America on Saturday, and it appeared that the latter were going to book their spot at the Club World Cup when they took the lead in the 64th minute through a penalty from Brian Rodriguez. However, LAFC hit back in the 89th minute as Igor Jesus equalised to take the game to extra time, and Denis Bouanga completed the comeback by scoring the winning goal in the 115th minute. Reacting to the victory, LAFC's Bouanga said: 'It's simply one of the best moments of my career. I love this team, and I love this game.' He added: 'It's a great achievement and the opportunity of a lifetime. It really opens up some doors for our club.' LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo, who is due to leave the club at the end of the season, was full of praise for his team as he said: 'It's kind of a culmination of three-and-a-half years of hard work and dedication that just explodes in that moment.' LAFC will be Chelsea's first opponents at the tournament in the US, with the two sides scheduled to play each other on June 16. Four days later, Enzo Maresca's men will take on Flamengo, before finishing their group campaign by facing Esperance Sportive de Tunis on June 25. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the knockout stages of the competition. Chelsea will be looking to add more silverware to their collection after winning the Conference League earlier this week following a 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the final. They won the Club World Cup back in 2022 after triumphing in the Champions League the previous year. However, this year's tournament promises to be a tougher challenge due to 32 teams now competing, including Real Madrid, Manchester City and Champions League winners PSG.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Vancouver fight back to earn spirited draw against LAFC
Vancouver Whitecaps extend their lead at the top of the West after a hard-fought comeback 2-2 draw against visiting Conference rivals White 26', 70'; Delgado 8', Bouanga 19' A fearless LAFC got the ball rolling on the night when Marco Delgado opened the scoring with a close-range finish in the 8th minute after Vancouver failed to clear their lines. The situation would go from bad to worse for Jesper Sørensen's Whitecaps when Denis Bouanga doubled LAFC's lead inside the opening 20 minutes when the Gabonese forward slotted home from the penalty spot. Vancouver would get back in it seven minutes later through none other than star striker Brian White, who did well to rise highest and head home Sebastian Berhalter's ball into the box from a deep free-kick. After Sørensen reshuffled the attack, a revitalized Vancouver would strike for a second time, with White completing his brace with a header from inside six yards to level matters at two-all, which pulled him level in the race for the Golden Boot. Despite their early two-goal lead, Steve Cherundolo's Black and Gold looked to be resigned to a point on the road as the final ten minutes approached. A late surge from the Western Conference powerhouse would test Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka on two occasions, with the Japanese shot-stopper coming up big with a pair of key saves to keep the scoreline level. With that, both sides would take a credible point away at BC Place, with Vancouver still sitting atop the West as their incredible run in 2025 presses on, while LAFC now sits sixth in the table. 📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Anne-Marie Sorvin | 2025 May 11-Imagn Images
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reconnecting with Europe: Why LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo is stepping down
Since taking over as LAFC coach, Steve Cherundolo has a league-best 59 wins and an 88-43-28 record in all competitions. (Eduardo Verdugo / Associated Press) Three weeks ago Steve Cherundolo said this season would be his last as coach at LAFC. On Wednesday he explained why. 'I just feel like the next step, reconnecting with the European game and coaching in Europe, is something that I would like to do,' said Cherundolo, who is returning to Germany, where he starred as a player. 'The timing of it and the messaging, I think the sooner the better so we can all kind of plan and move forward and get it out of the way and focus on this season's goals. Advertisement 'I'm not a great fan of leaving things to the last minute.' Cherundolo, 46, spent his entire 16-year club career in Germany at Hannover, where he met his wife, started a family and still owns a house. That's also where he started coaching. The decision to go back was a family one, he said, as was the decision to come to the U.S. four years ago. 'I don't think there's anything negative about it for me. It's all opportunity and positive about the next chapter,' said Cherundolo, who grew up in San Diego. 'That's how we saw moving back to Los Angeles: We saw a great opportunity and as a family, more of an adventure. 'And now we see something similar moving back to Europe.' Advertisement Read more: LAFC to play for spot in FIFA Club World Cup after Mexican soccer club León loses appeal Cherundolo said he intends to continue coaching but said he hasn't lined up anything for next season, preferring instead to focus on the remainder of this season. 'It's really hard to plan seven months in advance in coaching,' he said. 'Not many clubs are willing to wait that long for a particular coach unless your name is Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. And last time I checked my passport, that's not my name. 'So no, there's nothing immediately around the corner and I actually kind of like that. I'm excited about what project would be next.' Advertisement Cherundolo got his managerial start in Hannover's academy system, then coached LAFC's affiliate in the second-division USL Championship — going 6-23-3 — in 2021 before taking over for Bob Bradley in MLS a year later. And in three-plus seasons, he established himself as one of the most successful coaches in league history. As a rookie manager, he became the only man to win both the Supporter's Shield and MLS Cup in his first season. He also won the 2024 U.S. Open Cup and took LAFC to the title game of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup. His 59 regular-season wins since 2022 are the most of any MLS coach over that span; he's gone 88-43-28 and played in six finals in all competitions. And he's done that with a revolving door at the entrance to his team's locker room since just two players, defenders Ryan Hollingshead and Eddie Segura, remain from the roster he inherited in 2022. His final season is shaping up as his most challenging, and not because the announcement of his impending departure last month makes him a lame-duck coach. At 5-4-2, LAFC is already nine points back in the Supporter's Shield race yet they can play their way into the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup with a victory over Mexico's Club América later this month. Advertisement Read more: Nathan Ordaz and Jeremy Ebobisse lead LAFC to victory over Houston Cherundolo said the decision to return to Germany was made 'a couple of months ago' but he didn't share it publicly until the team was eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on April 9. The announcement came eight days later. 'No hidden agenda or other reason,' he said of the timing. 'It was really just to maintain focus.' Doing that, he said, will be easier now that his short-term future is set. 'There's nothing to hold back,' he said. 'It makes it easier to push even harder to end on the most positive note possible. What other people think about it, I'm not in control of nor do I spend any time wasting energy on that. That's not my issue. The team is my issue. Advertisement 'Everybody is locked in and focused on being as successful as possible.' Cherundolo also said the move back to Germany doesn't mean he has to stay there. His name has come up in conversations about the U.S. national team job, which will come open after next year's World Cup, and there will certainly be opportunities to return to MLS some day, so he's not closing any doors. 'No, no,' he said. 'All options on the table.' This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Reconnecting with Europe: Why LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo is stepping down
Three weeks ago Steve Cherundolo said this season would be his last as coach at LAFC. On Wednesday he explained why. 'I just feel like the next step, reconnecting with the European game and coaching in Europe, is something that I would like to do,' said Cherundolo, who is returning to Germany, where he starred as a player. 'The timing of it and the messaging, I think the sooner the better so we can all kind of plan and move forward and get it out of the way and focus on this season's goals. 'I'm not a great fan of leaving things to the last minute.' Cherundolo, 46, spent his entire 16-year club career in Germany at Hannover, where he met his wife, started a family and still owns a house. That's also where he started coaching. The decision to go back was a family one, he said, as was the decision to come to the U.S. four years ago. 'I don't think there's anything negative about it for me. It's all opportunity and positive about the next chapter,' said Cherundolo, who grew up in San Diego. 'That's how we saw moving back to Los Angeles: We saw a great opportunity and as a family, more of an adventure. 'And now we see something similar moving back to Europe.' Cherundolo said he intends to continue coaching but said he hasn't lined up anything for next season, preferring instead to focus on the remainder of this season. 'It's really hard to plan seven months in advance in coaching,' he said. 'Not many clubs are willing to wait that long for a particular coach unless your name is Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. And last time I checked my passport, that's not my name. 'So no, there's nothing immediately around the corner and I actually kind of like that. I'm excited about what project would be next.' Cherundolo got his managerial start in Hannover's academy system, then coached LAFC's affiliate in the second-division USL Championship — going 6-23-3 — in 2021 before taking over for Bob Bradley in MLS a year later. And in three-plus seasons, he established himself as one of the most successful coaches in league history. As a rookie manager, he became the only man to win both the Supporter's Shield and MLS Cup in his first season. He also won the 2024 U.S. Open Cup and took LAFC to the title game of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup. His 59 regular-season wins since 2022 are the most of any MLS coach over that span; he's gone 88-43-28 and played in six finals in all competitions. And he's done that with a revolving door at the entrance to his team's locker room since just two players, defenders Ryan Hollingshead and Eddie Segura, remain from the roster he inherited in 2022. His final season is shaping up as his most challenging, and not because the announcement of his impending departure last month makes him a lame-duck coach. At 5-4-2, LAFC is already nine points back in the Supporter's Shield race yet they can play their way into the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup with a victory over Mexico's Club América later this month. Cherundolo said the decision to return to Germany was made 'a couple of months ago' but he didn't share it publicly until the team was eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on April 9. The announcement came eight days later. 'No hidden agenda or other reason,' he said of the timing. 'It was really just to maintain focus.' Doing that, he said, will be easier now that his short-term future is set. 'There's nothing to hold back,' he said. 'It makes it easier to push even harder to end on the most positive note possible. What other people think about it, I'm not in control of nor do I spend any time wasting energy on that. That's not my issue. The team is my issue. 'Everybody is locked in and focused on being as successful as possible.' Cherundolo also said the move back to Germany doesn't mean he has to stay there. His name has come up in conversations about the U.S. national team job, which will come open after next year's World Cup, and there will certainly be opportunities to return to MLS some day, so he's not closing any doors. 'No, no,' he said. 'All options on the table.' Page 2
Reuters
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Cup-winning LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo to depart at end of season
April 18 - LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo is leaving the club at the end of the 2025 MLS season, the franchise announced Friday. A member of the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame, Cherundolo was a defender on three World Cup teams. But he made his biggest career splash in Germany, where he spent 15 years playing for Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga before beginning his coaching career there. He said in a team news release that he will move back to Germany. "It is an honor to be the head coach of LAFC," said Cherundolo, 46. "After much reflection and discussion with my family, we made the decision that at the end of this year we will return to Germany. I love Los Angeles and LAFC, but this move is in the best interest of my family, even as it will ultimately take us away from a team, city, organization and fan base that I am proud to represent. "I am looking forward to continuing our work with the players, coaches and staff to make the 2025 season a success as we keep fighting to win trophies." LAFC are 4-4-0 (12 points) and in seventh place in the Western Conference ahead of their match Saturday against the Portland Timbers. LAFC hired Cherundolo to replace Bob Bradley as coach in January 2022, with the club winning the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield that season. He also won the 2024 U.S. Open Cup title and reached the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup final. His record with LAFC is 87-43-26 in all competitions. In Major League Soccer, it's 58-31-21 in the regular season and 8-3-1 in the playoffs. "Steve has been a tremendous leader for LAFC and has proven to be one of the top coaches in our league," said LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington. "What he has achieved during his tenure speaks for itself, and we are extremely thankful to him for his continued dedication and hard work. We support his decision to focus on his family with this move at the end of the season. For the remainder of 2025, our goals have not changed. We remain committed to winning trophies this season. We believe we have the people to make that happen, and there will be no better way to close this chapter than with another trophy for LAFC."
