LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023) – The LA Galaxy have appointed Will Kuntz as General Manager. Announced today by Dan Beckerman, President and CEO of AEG, Kuntz will report directly into Beckerman and will be responsible for soccer operations from the first team through the academy, including scouting, player acquisitions, salary cap and budgets. Greg Vanney will report to Kuntz and will return to his primary role as Head Coach where he will continue to guide the technical vision of the club, including coaching methodology, while managing the first team staff and the sports performance department. Kuntz and Vanney will collaborate on all major soccer operations decisions for the Club.
“There is no opportunity in Major League Soccer more exciting to me than the chance to help lead this club to reclaim its place as the top club in the league,” said Kuntz. “I want to thank Greg Vanney for being my strongest advocate in bringing me into the Club last winter, and I am thrilled with how our partnership has developed since I came on board. I look forward to collaborating with Greg towards achieving our shared vision and building on the foundation that has been created over the past several years. AEG’s commitment to providing this organization with everything necessary to be successful has been evident over the years and I’ve seen it firsthand during my time with the club.”
Kuntz joined the LA Galaxy as its Senior Vice President of Player Personnel in April 2023. In his role as Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, Kuntz was responsible for multiple aspects of the club’s soccer operations, including salary cap management, club development, immigration process, executing player and personnel contracts, and technical administration for the LA Galaxy.
“Will has extensive experience in MLS and a proven track record in the league,” said Beckerman. “We have full confidence in his capacity to elevate our club's soccer operations and help to build a championship-caliber team. In his short time with the Galaxy, Will has already demonstrated his abilities and proven that he deserves this leadership opportunity.
“I want to thank Greg for taking on so many additional responsibilities during the 2023 season and helping us navigate through a challenging year on and off the field,” added Beckerman. “This promotion will enable Greg to resume the role for which he was hired, while still guiding the technical philosophy of the club, and partnering with Will to build upon their shared vision.”
“I have enjoyed working with Will since he arrived and he is the right guy to lead the soccer operations,” said Vanney. “I look forward to the continued collaboration with Will and the rest of our technical group as we work towards our shared vision of building a team that consistently competes for championships.”
Kuntz joined the Galaxy after spending the previous six seasons with LAFC (2017-22) where he served as Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations and Assistant General Manager. At LAFC, Kuntz helped manage and assemble the roster that won an MLS Cup in 2022 and Supporters’ Shield titles in 2019 and 2022.
Prior to joining LAFC, Kuntz spent three years at Major League Soccer’s league office, serving as the Director of Player Relations, interfacing with the league’s clubs in franchise salary budget management, the development of strategic league initiatives and the negotiation of the 2015 MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement. Before joining the MLS league office, Kuntz spent 10 years with Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, where he began as a summer intern and progressed to Manager of Pro Scouting under long-time general manager Brian Cashman. While working for the Yankees, Kuntz attended Fordham Law School at night and received his JD degree in 2013. Notably, Kuntz contributed to the Yankees’ roster that won the 2009 World Series. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Kuntz attended Williams College.
