Chris Klein: A Decade of Mismanagement

A year ago, Dignity Health Sports Park found itself at the heart of a boycott from its most frequent visitors. Thousands of LA Galaxy supporters, some even since the club’s inception in 1996, chose to abandon their weekly game day rituals and favorite players in protest.

Fans called for the president of the club, Chris Klein, and technical director, Jovan Kirovski, to be removed from their positions. Some also set their sights on head coach, Greg Vanney to be fired. Vanney is the only one still with the club today.

An internal collapse at the club brought this moment. Fans would only refuse to watch their club play as a last resort. Only years of mismanagement and ignored voices could have led to this.

The major source of animosity towards the LA Galaxy executive staff came after a series of decisions brought the team into the worst seven-season stretch in Galaxy history.  

The first of these decisions came from Klein who hired former Galaxy player, Peter Vagenas, as general manager for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. This move would prove tumultuous as Klein would face accusations of nepotism for the hiring. In 2022, he hired former Galaxy player, Michael Stevens, as the club’s scouting director,  reigniting the aforementioned accusations.

While Klein played as a defender for the LA Galaxy from 2007 to 2010, he seemingly did not comprehend the intricacy of the dynasty he took over just three years after retiring from the field.

Just before Klein took over, the Galaxy had won the Supporters’ Shield, the award for being the best team in the regular season, in two of three seasons and won the MLS Cup Playoffs two years in a row. One year later, when Klein took over as president, the team did not win any trophies and faced an early playoff elimination.

Momentum seemed to be picking up when Klein brought the LA Galaxy their fifth MLS Cup victory in 2014, setting the league record for titles.

While star player, David Beckham, left the league before Klein arrived in 2012, fellow star players began to follow in his lead shortly after. Landon Donovan said goodbye to fans in 2014 before returning for a very brief stint in 2016, only to leave the team alongside fan favorite, Robbie Keane.

The LA Galaxy Academy also saw a migration of players and coaches out of the club. Players Alex Mendez and Ulyses “Uly” Llanez left the Galaxy in 2018. Academy coach, Brian Kleiban, was announced to be fired eight days after Llanez departed. 

According to Corner of the Galaxy, both Mendez and Llanez signed to clubs in Germany that offered lower deals than the Galaxy. Both players utilized the same agent, Gary Kleiban, Brian’s brother. Klein oversaw the hiring of Brian Kleiban in 2014. The Galaxy never confirmed why he was fired.

Previous to this, in 2017, the Galaxy would finish last in the league for the first time. In the 21 seasons before this, the Galaxy had spent all but three years in the playoffs; since 2017, they have only featured twice. 

While all these moments contribute to Klein’s downfall, John Figueroa pinpoints the moment that solidified the need for Klein’s resignation as the 2016 playoff loss against the Colorado Rapids. This would be the final game that the LA Galaxy dynasty would play, marking an end to an eight-year playoff streak that garnered three titles.

Figueroa referenced a “Gerrard fiasco,” when Chris Klein reportedly pushed through a deal for Liverpool F.C. legend, Steven Gerrard, against the wishes of former legendary coach, Bruce Arena. Arena would leave the LA Galaxy for good after another disagreement regarding the decision to bring Mexican National Team star, Giovani dos Santos, to the team. Years after Arena’s departure, the club’s general manager from 2019 to 2021, Dennis te Kloese, also left citing the reason as an unorthodox and unclear front office.

After the 2022 season when the LA Galaxy was found to be cheating by Major League Soccer, things would come to a fever pitch. Under Klein’s presidency, the Galaxy reported an inaccurate wage for winger, Cristian Pavón, to ensure the roster wages did not exceed the league maximum.

The Galaxy was fined a million dollars and the further million in league-designated money which all clubs were set to receive. The Galaxy was also given a transfer ban on non-American or Canadian players for the Summer of 2023. Chris Klein was suspended for nearly five months. 

During the length of Klein’s suspension, his five-year contract was set to run out. This would have given Anschutz Entertainment Group, owners of the LA Galaxy, the perfect chance to move on quietly. However, less than a month later, Klein’s five-year extension was announced. 

Disappointed with the idea of extending Klein’s contract, supporters began to theorize why the club would make such a bizarre decision. Some fans believe that Klein was kept around due to the manufactured extension to the Galaxy’s shirt sponsorship deal with Herbalife Nutrition in 2022. This deal initiated a partnership with Herbalife to pay seven million dollars annually to remain on the front of Galaxy uniforms. 

While this decision was popular in the boardroom, it was unpopular in the stands. Andrew “Samoa Bob” Alesana said, “It’s terrible, it’s a multi-level marketing scheme that targets lower-socio-economic people…it’s wrong.”

Klein’s extension was the final straw for fans who began the now infamous stadium boycott shortly afterward. 

Starting with a pre-season match against New York City FC on Feb. 4, 2023 crowds gathered outside of stadium gates as rhythmic chanting of, “Klein out!” along the sidewalks. Once the season commenced and crowds grew, many casual fans attending matches would cheer on the protesters.

After nearly four months of boycotts, fans were finally able to complete their goal. Klein would ultimately be ousted in May of 2023.

Immediately following Klein’s firing, all supporters’ groups returned to the stadium for the next home match.

Klein’s firing did not change much for the 2023 LA Galaxy. The club missed the playoffs, finishing 13th in the Western Conference. However, 2024 could be the start of a new era. The Galaxy have a new president in Will Kuntz, formerly of the New York Yankees and LAFC, and have yet to lose through four games this season. Whether this will last is yet to be seen, but the energy around the club feels drastically different to just 12 months ago.