LAFC has stayed in-house with the appointment of its new head coach.

Marc Dos Santos has been named to the position, taking over for Steve Cherundolo who stepped down at the end of the 2025 MLS season, the club announced. Dos Santos has served as assistant coach for the past four seasons, helping the club win three major trophies over that span.

He’s been part of the franchise since its expansion year in 2018 and brings nearly two decades of coaching experience at both the professional and youth levels.

“We are thrilled to announce Marc as the third head coach in LAFC history,” said LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington. “Marc understands as well as anyone what the best version of LAFC looks like – an entertaining, front-foot style of play grounded in ambition, intensity, and a collaborative culture that reflects who we are as a club. He has earned the trust and belief of all of our players.

“From our emerging young talents to our most experienced stars, the support for Marc’s appointment has been unanimous,” Thorrington added. “His relationships, clarity of ideas, and passion for LAFC make him uniquely positioned to elevate what we already do well and push us toward our full potential. We are excited for this next chapter under Marc’s leadership as we continue our pursuit of excellence.”

A Canada native, Dos Santos previously served as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps for two seasons. He compiled a 22-37-18 record during his time with the Whitecaps.

Dos Santos also held stints with the San Francisco Deltas in the NASL, winning Coach of the Year honors twice. He also coached in the USL with the Swope Park Rangers, as well as three different spells in Canada.

LAFC reached the Western Conference semifinals this fall before suffering elimination at the hands of the Vancouver Whitecaps.