The new 2022 LAFC assistant coaching staff brings in both new and familiar faces
In preparation for the 2022 MLS season, the 2022 LAFC assistant coaching staff announcement was made Tuesday morning and drew in Ante Razov, Marc Dos Santos, and Oka Nikolov under the leadership of Head Coach Steve Cherundolo. With a combined 30 years of experience in MLS and international coaching, the group has a comprehensive understanding of major league soccer teams.
As a returning member to the 2022 LAFC assistant coaching staff, Ante Razov will be going into his fifth season with the club. Before his time here with LAFC, he worked as the assistant coach for the Seattle Sounders from 2015 to 2016 and the LA Galaxy in 2017. It’s great to have the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA all-time leading scorer back on board.
Marc Dos Santos also served the Black & Gold as part of the technical staff in their inaugural 2018 season as assistant coach in 2018. He’s back on the squad after his time as Head Coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC between the end of 2018 and throughout 2021 holding a 22-39-20 record. Before the MLS, Dos Santos led the San Francisco Delta to the 2017 North America Soccer League (NASL) Championship where he was named NASL Manager of the Year. He had also won the same accolade just two years prior in 2015.
📋 Marc Dos Santos
📋 Ante Razov
📋 Oka NikolovMeet our 2022 assistant coaching staff. #LAFC
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 8, 2022
The newcomer to the 2022 LAFC assistant coaching staff is Oka Nikolov, who will be the Head of Goalkeeping for the Black & Gold. The former goalkeeper himself played with the Philadelphia Union in 2013 and coincidentally coached the team in 2016-17 and 2019-2020. Around those years, he coached the LA Galaxy in 2018 and D.C. United just this past season. Nikolov was also Germany’s goalkeeper coach for the U-19 team along with Macedonia’s National Team in 2014 and 2015. With six years of experience in MLS, Nikolov is a great addition to the team.
As for those who have left this offseason, Mike Sorber joined with Bob Bradley to Toronto FC. Kenny Arena followed Pat Noonan’s staff at FC Cincinnati while Zak Abdel, the former goalkeeper coach, has not made a decision on his next move.
