Marc Dos Santos is the familiar face leading LAFC's next chapter

LOS ANGELES -- Marc Dos Santos was officially introduced as the third head coach in LAFC history on Monday at a BMO Stadium press conference, signifying a new era of football for the club.

"Marc understands at a deep level what LAFC is about," said Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington. "He has earned the trust of our locker room in his time at LAFC. I have never been as confident in the direction we are headed and excited about what is ahead."

Serving as an assistant for the previous four seasons under Steve Cherundolo and being a member of the club's inaugural coaching staff in 2018, Dos Santos brings a deep familiarity with the organization. He recognizes the passion and intensity that the 3252 expect to see on the pitch every season.

"From day one, I was able to see as an assistant coach everything that you bring to the club," said Dos Santos, speaking to the LAFC faithful. "I hope and will do everything to play at the same beat as our fans."

Despite the cliché hesitation that often surrounds an internal promotion, Thorrington made it clear that the decision was strongly supported by players. It's a move that reinforces continuity and consistency as core values for the club's leadership.

While change is inevitable with a new head coach, LAFC leadership stressed that the club's on-field philosophy will remain largely intact. Dos Santos is expected to build upon the aggressive, front-foot style that has defined the Black & Gold since its inception.

"As we were going through the [hiring] process, unsolicited players came to me and voiced near unanimous support for Marc," said Thorrington. "That was really important for us to hear because a rare luxury for LAFC is that we are now returning the vast majority of our group. Their support for this decision was critical because there is always a question of that transition from assistant to head coach."

The 48-year-old's breadth of coaching experience across the United States, Canada and Brazil will serve him well as he takes the reins of a club accustomed to competing at the highest level of MLS. Each stop has helped shape his approach to managing pressure, adversity and expectations.

Dos Santos regarded the level of pressure coaching in Brazil as something that he "never experienced before". Additionally, he considers his time in Canada as the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps from 2019 to 2021 as his "most challenging period as a coach", learning to navigate the obstacles of COVID-ridden campaigns.

There will certainly be no shortage of expectations for the Montréal native, who will pilot a 2026 campaign that looks to avenge a disappointing playoff exit in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Whitecaps. Success will be measured not by transition, but by results, as LAFC aims to return to MLS Cup contention immediately.

Little time awaits Dos Santos to ease into the role, as an intensive offseason precedes a fast-approaching competitive debut. He will lead Los Angeles into the Concacaf Champions Cup in early February, before officially opening his MLS coaching tenure later that month at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against defending champion Inter Miami.

"It's so important that our willingness to improve as a team, our willingness to succeed, has to be bigger than our willingness to win," he said. "If we're able to push in training every day and be committed to the brand that we want to play, it's going to show in the games."