Dennis te Kloese is the New General Manager for LA Galaxy
Last year, the LA Galaxy created headlines bringing on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Now, after a less than stellar season, the club is bringing on expertise from outside the general management talent pool with the hopes of getting it right.
Soccer News: The LA Galaxy new General Manager Dennis te Kloese is determined to focus on youth player development and creating a significant pathway from the MLS club’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy to their first team.
Often referred to as the Dutchman, LA Galaxy’s new GM is looking towards the future to leave his mark.
Te Kloese will oversee all aspects of LA Galaxy soccer operations, including first-team, LA Galaxy II and LA Galaxy Academy decisions.
Te Kloese, who has been intimately involved in developing young players during stints with Chivas USA and in Mexico as the director of national teams for the Mexican Football Federation, is committed to developing the future stars of the game.
A former professional player, Te Kloese played for Ajax as a defender in the Netherlands before hanging up his pro cleats to take up the study of Law at the University of Amsterdam before returning to the beautiful game in front office capacities.
“I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to join the LA Galaxy and look forward to strengthening all soccer operations within this club,” said te Kloese.
“The LA Galaxy and its supporters expect to compete for championships year-in and year-out.”
“I am fully committed to putting together a team capable of competing at the highest level,” said te Kloese. “That work begins immediately and will encompass a wide range of responsibilities, from developing competitive edges in our scouting, recruiting and player development to establishing our youth initiatives and further establishing our Academy. I want to thank Mr. Anschutz, Dan Beckerman and Chris Klein for this opportunity and the trust lead the soccer operations group at the most successful club in Major League Soccer.”
In his General Manager role, the Dutchman will lead the search for the team’s next head coach since Sigi Schmid officially resigned in September and will take charge in the talks with Zlatan Ibrahimovic regarding his commitment to LA for next year.
Te Kloese noted that the Swedish super soccer star “has a positive feeling for being here” and that “his wife and two sons are much more settled in.” He will also oversee Technical Director Jovan Kirovski and Director of Player Personnel Kurt Schmid.
Listen to the LA Galaxy Press Conference Q&A’s
Te Kloese, who is fluent in English, Spanish, German and Dutch, has worked for the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) since 2011, most recently as the director of national teams, where he oversaw men’s and women’s youth and senior-level programs.
Prior to his time as director, Te Kloese served as the director of FMF youth national teams, where he was influential in helping lead the program to notable accomplishments during his time there, including capturing the 2012 Summer Olympics Gold Medal for the men’s soccer, defeating Brazil in the final.
“Dennis has in-depth experience and proven success on an MLS level, a youth level, and an international level,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein.
“We are confident in his abilities to improve our club’s soccer operations in all facets. We welcome his leadership and are excited to have him begin as General Manager. We will provide him with comprehensive resources to be successful,” added Klein.
Born in the Netherlands, te Kloese originally began working in Mexico in 2003 as Chivas de Guadalajara’s scouting director. In 2005, he worked in Major League Soccer for Chivas USA, which marked a period that saw the club make four-straight postseason appearances, the only playoff berths in their history. During his time in MLS, te Kloese was responsible for acquiring future U.S. Men’s National Team players Brad Guzan, Sacha Kljestan, and Jorge Villafaña.
In 2008, the Dutchman returned to Mexico as the Academy Director of Tigres in Liga MX. He joined FMF in 2011 to oversee the national team’s youth teams, including when the men’s team won the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal behind a squad that featured Jesús Corona, Carlos Salcido, Héctor Herrera, Marco Fabián, Oribe Peralta, Javier Aquino, Raúl Jimenez, Diego Reyes, and Giovani dos Santos.
After spending another year with Chivas de Guadalajara in 2013, he returned to FMF in 2014 as the Director of Youth National Teams and later the Director of the Men’s and Women’s National Teams.
Te Kloese played as a defender in the Netherlands for various clubs during his time as a professional, including Ajax in Amsterdam. He attended the University of Amsterdam, where he studied law, before his time working in the front office and technical staff positions.
Source: LA Galaxy Press Release
