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2015 LA Galaxy Media Guide

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86 CURT ONALFO - LA GALAXY II HEAD COACH An MLS Cup winner as both a player and a coach, Curt Onalfo was announced as the USL PRO side LA Galaxy II head coach earlier in January 2014 after spending two seasons as the Galaxy's Assistant Coach and Reser ve Team Head Coach. In his first season with Galaxy II, Onalfo led the club to a 15-6-7 record and fourth place finish in the USL Regular Season while reaching the Semifinal match in the USL Playoffs. A former MLS head coach with Kansas City and D.C. United, Onalfo played his college soccer for Bruce Arena at the University of Virginia and then ser ved as his assistant coach with the U.S. National Team from 2003-2006. He was hired by the Galaxy in January 2011 and played a central role in the club repeating as Supporters' Shield winners and capturing their third MLS Cup last season. A Galaxy original, Onalfo played 13 games for the club in 1996, helping them reach the inaugural MLS Cup. He went on to play in 23 games in four years in the league, spending time with San Jose and D.C. United in addition to the Galaxy. After retiring from MLS in 1999, Onalfo moved into the world of coaching as an assistant coach with D.C. United in 2001. He spent two years with United before moving onto the U.S. National Team as an assistant coach. In four years with the U.S., Onalfo helped the team win the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Onalfo left the national team shortly after the 2006 World Cup and got his first heading coaching job in MLS in November 2006 when he was hired by the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City). The 42-year-old spent two-and-a-half seasons as the Kansas City head coach, leading the team to the postseason twice after seeing them fail to qualify for the playoffs in the two season prior to his arrival. He had a 27-29-22 record in his time with Kansas City before leaving the club in August 2009. Four months later, in December 2009, Onalfo was back in MLS as he was named the new head coach for D.C. United, replacing Tom Soehn. Onalfo remained United's head coach for eight months before leaving the club in August. He led United to the semifinal of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and played a pivotal role in the growth and development of eventual MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar. Originally born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Onalfo played four years of college soccer at Virginia, helping the Cavaliers reach the NCAA Tournament four times and win a share of the National Championship in 1989. A two-time All- ACC First Team selection, Virginia had a 68-12-13 record in Onalfo's four years in Charlottesville, including the 1988 ACC Championship. In addition to his play with the Cavaliers, Onalfo was a member of the U.S. U-20 team that finished fourth at the 1989 World Youth Championships and a co-captain with the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team. He began his professional playing career in 1991 with FC La Ciotat in France and later went on to play in Mexico with Tampico FC before returning to the United States to play in MLS. He was selected by the Galaxy in the inaugural MLS Player Draft and spent one season with the club before being traded to San Jose in 1997. A year later, he joined D.C. United, helping the club win the 1998 InterAmerican Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup, as well as the 1999 MLS Cup before retiring at the end of that season.

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