Gonzalez both described their promotion to the LA Galaxy’s first team coaching staff in the same words.
“This is the biggest opportunity of our lives,” the pair echoed.
The two men were unveiled along with Ante Razov on Tuesday as members of Curt Onalfo’s coaching staff for the upcoming 2017 campaign. Both worked with Onalfo during his time as Galaxy II head coach from 2014 to 2016.
After replacing Bruce Arena as the head man with the Galaxy a month ago, Onalfo’s decision to bring over his two of his top assistants from Los Dos was seen as a no-brainer.
“They earned it,” Onalfo said. “They have a really good understanding of how I work, but they also have an intimate understanding of the players that we have worked with over the last few years that our part of our organization. It was a natural progression.”
During the past three years, the two coaches were integral members of Onalfo’s staff as he led Galaxy II to three consecutive USL postseason appearances, including a trip to the USL final in 2015. Whereas Onalfo and Razov have coached primarily in Major League Soccer, Becerra and Gonzalez provide a different set of experiences from the college ranks, and even indoor soccer, to their new posts.
Becerra enjoyed success at the college ranks with Stanford and the University of Redlands before joining the Galaxy, while Gonzalez has previously served as the goalkeeper coach at the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA. As the Galaxy embark on a new era with Onalfo at the helm, Becerra believes that continuity is key as the club navigates change.
“Anytime that you have an opportunity to work with people that you know and are familiar with their tendencies and how they work best, it’s always helpful,” Becerra said. “We understand what Curt wants from a staff and what he’s looking for in players and style of play. Being able to bring that right away, plus we’ve worked with so many young players should help the process and provide a smooth transition.
“The opportunity to follow the previous coaching staff with all their success that they achieved is exciting. We hope to continue their tradition, but also put our stamp on it to continue the vision of the Galaxy.”
Eager to prove themselves with the Galaxy’s first team, the newest members of the club’s coaching staff are ready to get to work.
“This is a dream job, and I take it with a lot of responsibility. It’s pressure, and it’s unbelievable the amount of help that we get from the organization,” Gonzalez said. “Curt is a strong leader who will be great for [this club]. This [job] is a great opportunity. Now we need to take it and run with it. We need to make sure that we do all the right things to be successful.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
