CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy players presented head coach Bruce Arena with a signed ball in celebration of Arena’s 200th career MLS victory on Saturday night against the Columbus Crew.
Arena, however, had one minor complaint about the gesture.
“I told them I wish this could have been done about a month ago,” he said with a straight face.
The 64-year-old Arena became the second coach in league history (Sigi Schmid is the other) to achieve 200 career victories, but he has had little if any time to reflect on the achievement with his team in the thick of an MLS Cup playoff race.
He probably wouldn’t do so, anyway.
“He won’t even acknowledge it,” said Dave Sarachan, his longtime assistant and associate head coach. “But at some point in his lifetime when he finishes and can sort of step away and look at it from a different perspective, I think he might recognize and appreciate how hard it is to do what he’s done and to do it for this long.”
Those who work with him and play for him were quick to realize the magnitude of the occasion. Midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, in his 12th season and first with the Galaxy, said he was “happy to be a part of it.” Sarachan said it was a remarkable accomplishment.
“When you look at coaches that are successful, a lot of times their record is .500,” he said. “It’s a hard league to win.
“When you look at 200, that’s a pretty impressive number.”
Arena’s son Kenny, now a member of his father’s Galaxy coaching staff, remembers when his dad earned career win No. 200 at the University of Virginia and, in keeping with a school tradition, received 200 pennies from the athletic department. Kenny Arena said he would have duplicated the gesture on Saturday but he was unable to get to a bank for some rolls of coins.
The younger Arena said the win over the Crew was a special moment but one he expected to happen much sooner. The Galaxy, however, went on a six-game winless streak (0-1-5) before the 2-1 decision over Columbus.
Kenny Arena was asked to talk about some of the characteristics that have made his father so successful at his profession.
“He’s just a combination of a lot of things and he does them all really well,” he said. “I could name a lot of things, and especially now that I work with him I see all of them.
“He’s also very strong mentally and he’s able to carry the burden of a big club that demands winning and has big personalities. You could make a list of over 100 things that he is really good at. He has the ability to handle huge responsibilities, and that’s why he’s been able to be successful at every level as the magnitude gets bigger.”
Arena said he hoped his father’s achievement was an affirmation of his standing in the sport.
“It’s another great accomplishment for him and obviously solidifies his career,” he said. “Hopefully it’s a little reminder that people can’t take for granted great coaches, great players, anything. Sometimes after a while people forget how really good someone is.
“I think this is just a little reminder for everybody just how special his career has been.”
