Three weeks ago Steve Cherundolo said this season would be his Last as coach at Lafc. Wednesday he explained why.
“I just feel like the next step, reconnecting with European game and training in Europe, is something I would like to do,” said Cherundolo, who returns to Germany, where he played as a player. “The timing of it and messaging, I think the sooner will be best so that we can plan and move forward and focus on this season's goals.
“I'm not a big fan of leaving things at the last minute.”
Cherundolo, 46, spent his entire 16 -year -old club career in Germany in Hanover, where he met his wife, founded a family and still has a house. It was also there that he started to train. The decision to go back was a family, he said, as is the decision to come to the United States four years ago.
“I do not think there is something negative on this subject for me. Everything is an opportunity and positive in the next chapter,” said Cherundolo, who grew up in San Diego. “This is how we saw Return to Los Angeles: we saw an excellent opportunity and as a family, more adventure.
“And now we see something similar return to Europe.”
Cherundolo said he intended to continue to train, but said he hadn't aligned anything for next season, preferring to focus on the rest of this season.
“It is really difficult to plan seven months in advance by coaching,” he said. “Few clubs are ready to wait so long for a private trainer unless your name is Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. And the last time I checked my passport is not my name.
“So no, there is nothing immediately at the corner of the street and I really have like that. I am enthusiastic by which project would be the next one.”
Cherundolo succeeded in management in the Hanover academic system, then led to the Affilié de Lafc in the USL second division championship – going 6-23-3 – in 2021 before taking over for Bob Bradley in MLS a year later. And in three seasons and more, it has established itself as one of the most successful coaches in the history of the League.
As a recruit manager, he became the only man to win the shield and the MLS Cup of the supporter during his first season. He also won the US Open Cup 2024 and took the Lafc to the match for the title of the Champions League of the Concacaf 2023, the 2023 MLS Cup and the League 2024 Cup.
His 59 regular season wins since 2022 are most of all MLS coaches during this period; He went 88-43-28 and played in six finals in all competitions. And he did it with a rotating door at the entrance to his team's locker room since two players, defenders Ryan Hollingshead and Eddie Segura, remain from the list he inherited in 2022.
His last season is to promise to be his most difficult, not because the announcement of his imminent departure last month makes him a lame coach. At 5-4-2, Lafc is already nine points in the supporter race of the supporter, but they can play their way in the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup With a victory over the American Mexico club later this month.
Cherundolo said that the decision to return to Germany had been taken “a few months ago”, but that he did not share it publicly until the team was eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup on April 9. The announcement came eight days later.
“No hidden or other reason agenda,” he said about the calendar. “It was really just to maintain the accent.”
This, he said, will be easier now than its short-term future is fixed.
“There is nothing to remember,” he said. “It is easier to push even stronger to end on the most positive note as possible. What others think, I don't control and I don't spend time waste energy. This is not my problem. The team is my problem.
“Everyone is locked up and focused on the possible success.”
Cherundolo also said that the return to Germany does not mean that he must stay there. His name appeared in conversations on the work of the American national team, which will open after Next year World CupAnd there will certainly be opportunities to return to the MLS one day, so he does not close any door.
“No, no,” he said. “All options on the table.”
