CaliMag Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Gullit has left LA. Back to punditry for him. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-galaxy12-2008aug12,0,4926526.story Lalas, Gullit shown door by Galaxy The Los Angeles Galaxy removed Alexi Lalas as team president and general manager. After seven straight winless games, Alexi Lalas exits before his contract is up at year's end and coach Ruud Gullit resigns for 'personal reasons.' By Grahame L. Jones, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 11:01 AM PDT, August 11, 2008 In a pair of sweeping changes brought about by a Major League Soccer season in meltdown, the Los Angeles Galaxy today removed Alexi Lalas as team president and general manager and Ruud Gullit as coach. In its official statement on the changes, AEG, which owns the team, said that Gullit had resigned "for personal reasons" and that Lalas' contract was up at the end of the year and that the team decided to part company now rather than wait. Cobi Jones will take over from Gullit as the Galaxy's interim coach. The team's longest-serving and best-known player before the arrival of David Beckham, Jones had served as assistant coach under Gullit since November. Tom Payne, the team's assistant general manager will take over Lalas' duties on an interim basis, concentrating more on the business side. Payne will be assisted on the soccer side by Paul Bravo, the Galaxy's director of soccer. The changes were not altogether unexpected. The Galaxy has not won its last seven games and is 6-8-5 overall in a season in which, with a healthy Beckham, it had been expected to contend for the MLS title. The team also failed to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup. In recent weeks, the atmosphere in the locker room has been anything but cohesive, with finger-pointing common among the players. Also, the relationship between Lalas and Gullit was not a positive one, with the former U.S. international star trying to maintain control and the former Dutch international player frustrated by the constraints imposed by MLS. Tim Leiweke, chief executive officer of AEG, a couple of weeks ago described the team as "dysfunctional," and in a face-to-face meeting with the players he gave the team two weeks to turn things around. The Galaxy then promptly lost at San Jose, giving up a goal in the closing minutes to apparently seal Lalas' and Gullit's fate. A sign that Gullit might be on his way out came a couple of weeks ago when he sold his house. At the time, Gullit said merely that his wife had not liked it, denying that it meant he was leaving. Lalas has been AEG's point man at the San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls when the sports and entertainment giant owned those teams. He came to the Galaxy in April 2006 after playing for the team from 2001 to 2003. Neither Lalas nor Gullit were immediately available for comment. The Galaxy's next game is against rival Chivas USA on Thursday at the Home Depot Center. [email protected] I have seen the Galaxy play a few times and this should come as no surprise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobby_solano Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 what price david beckham to be player/coach? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzieMandias Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 The Galaxy ... is 6-8-5 overall... What does that mean, then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 The Galaxy ... is 6-8-5 overall... What does that mean, then? W D L ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliMag Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Its W - L - D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliMag Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Can't see Beckham wanting (or even being allowed) to be player/coach. My dream appointment: Gary Speed. See if he can do the business at this level before going back to England/Wales. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 No way. Cali-Mag you a listner of "WOrld Soccer Daily" they reported that Gulliet had put his house up. They said he also was a poor coach. He was trying to do adrill where they beat defender and score. None could do it, so he got up to show them and was tackled, apparently he just stormed off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliMag Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 No way. Cali-Mag you a listner of "WOrld Soccer Daily" they reported that Gulliet had put his house up. They said he also was a poor coach. He was trying to do adrill where they beat defender and score. None could do it, so he got up to show them and was tackled, apparently he just stormed off. I had not heard that story, but I did hear he was just as tempermental as ever. He likes to find people to blame for everything which in any type of management is a recipe for disaster. Where do you listen to "World Soccer Daily"? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 although he was a crap manager, at least he walked when he wasnt up for the job without a pay off unlike dalgleish, souness, roeder and fat sam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 No way. Cali-Mag you a listner of "WOrld Soccer Daily" they reported that Gulliet had put his house up. They said he also was a poor coach. He was trying to do adrill where they beat defender and score. None could do it, so he got up to show them and was tackled, apparently he just stormed off. I had not heard that story, but I did hear he was just as tempermental as ever. He likes to find people to blame for everything which in any type of management is a recipe for disaster. Where do you listen to "World Soccer Daily"? Podcast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I know Gullit's cousin (a former footballer too). There will be some mickey taking done tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedro111 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 God, I remember my excitement at his announcement as manager. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Texasmag Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Calimag - World Soccer Daily is on Sirius satellite radio, I think it's channel 125, or round there somewhere. Steve Cohen off Fox Football Fone-in is the owner of it. There is another guy who is on with him, and fans call in and give their opinions etc. It's a good show. Cohen and Webster from Fox Soccer are big buddies of Lala's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Cohen hates Lalas and the Galaxy. Other guy is Kenny Hassan good show but when it comes to us they are so off the boil its untrue. The few toon fans that ring up are just as clueless. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 God, a world without Lalas' fucking face on TV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfast Boy Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 No way. Cali-Mag you a listner of "WOrld Soccer Daily" they reported that Gulliet had put his house up. They said he also was a poor coach. He was trying to do a drill where they beat defender and score. None could do it, so he got up to show them and was tackled, apparently he just stormed off. ;D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest getalife Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 although he was a crap manager, at least he walked when he wasnt up for the job without a pay off unlike dalgleish, souness, roeder and fat sam I think that's a bit harsh on Roeder........ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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