CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy today named Curt Onalfo, a former MLS head coach who played 13 games for the Galaxy in 1996, as the club’s new assistant coach and reserve team head coach. Onalfo played for current Galaxy general manager and head coach Bruce Arena with D.C. United in 1998 and then served as his assistant coach with the U.S. National Team for four years, including at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He joins Arena, as well as associate head coach Dave Sarachan, player/assistant coach Gregg Berhalter and goalkeeper coach Ian Feuer on the Galaxy coaching staff.
“I am pleased to have Curt join the coaching staff, I think he will be an excellent addition to our club,” Arena said. “Curt was a trusted member of my staff with the National Team and I think he brings great experience and knowledge of MLS to our staff.”
After retiring from MLS in 1999, Onalfo moved into coaching as an assistant coach with D.C. United in 2001. He spent two years as an assistant with United before moving onto the U.S. National Team. An assistant to Arena, who was his college coach at the University of Virginia, for four years with the National Team, Onalfo got his first heading coaching job in MLS in November 2006 when he was hired by the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City).
The 41-year-old spent two-and-a-half seasons as the Kansas City head coach, leading the team to the postseason twice. He had a 27-29-22 record in his time with Kansas City before leaving the club in August 2009. In December 2009, he was named as D.C. United’s head coach and held that position for eight months before leaving the club in August.
“I am very excited to be reunited with Bruce and am looking forward to working alongside him and the rest of the coaching staff here with the Galaxy,” Onalfo said. “I began my MLS career with the Galaxy in 1996 and my ambition remains the same from then, to work each and every day in order to help this club win championships.”
Originally born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Onalfo played four years of college soccer at Virginia, helping the Cavaliers reach the NCAA Tournament four times and win a share of the National Championship in 1989. A member of the U.S. U-20 team that finished fourth at the 1989 World Youth Championships and a co-captain with the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, Onalfo began his playing career in 1991 with FC La Ciotat in France. He later went on to play in Mexico with Tampico FC before returning to the United States to play in MLS.
He was selected by the Galaxy in the inaugural MLS Player Draft and spent one season with the club before being traded to San Jose in 1997. A year later, he joined D.C. United, helping the club win the 1998 InterAmerican Cup, as well as the 1999 MLS Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Galaxy will open the 2011 MLS season on Tuesday, March 15 when they head to Seattle to take on the Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field in MLS First Kick 2011, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game, which will kick off at 6:30 p.m., will be shown live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as online at ESPN3.com. The Galaxy will then host the New England Revolution in their home opener at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 20 at The Home Depot Center. Tickets are available for that match through the Galaxy Kickoff Pack, which includes four tickets and two Galaxy blankets, starting at $96. BUY NOW
