LAFC Tryouts
Los Angeles Football Club, commonly referred to as LAFC, is an American professional soccer team based in Los Angeles, California. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league’s Western Conference.
LA FC Youth Development Academy
Academy Teams
LAFC launched its Youth Academy in 2016 with one fully-funded U-12 USSDA academy team. The Academy has expanded to four teams from U12 – U15, and will be adding U17 for the 2019-2020 Academy season.
For up-to-date information on LAFC Academy new, please follow them on Facebook.
LAFC Tryout Trials
LAFC is inviting players on a trial basis as identified through their scouting network. If your player was born between 2002 and 2012 and is interested in being considered for a trial, please fill out the below form.
They will evaluate each application closely and extend invitations to selected applicants in their sole and final discretion. Invitations will be extended on the basis of the Academy’s timelines and needs, as well as the applicant’s demonstrated ability to compete at the appropriate level. Please note that not all applicants will be selected to participate in a trial.
To register for a trial, please click here.
Academy Staff
| Academy Director | Todd Saldaña |
| Director of Coaching / Academy Coach | Enrique Duran |
| Academy Manager | Tony Vigil |
| Academy Administrator | Christian M. Becerril |
| Academy Coach | Fabian Sandoval |
| Academy Coach | Juan Fresquez |
| Academy Coach | Marius Rus |
| Academy Coach | Abraham Jacinto |
| Academy Assistant Coach | Michael Jacobson |
| Academy Goalkeeper Assistant Coach | Adrian Padilla |
| Academy Sports Performance Coach | Jason Clifford |
| Academy Scout | Robert Vidrio |
| Academy Scout | Gabriel Lucatero |
| Academy Scout | Mario Ayala |
| Academy Scout | Hector Garcia |
LAFC Academy Camps
LAFC has a series of academy camps throughout the year. To sign up for upcoming academy camps, please click here.
LAFC Girls Academy
LAFC’s Girls Academy, LAFC Slammers Academy, is committed to developing world class players and people, and seeks to create dynamic teams that represent the diversity of our city. Our exciting partnership with Southern California-based Slammers FC creates one of the first Girls Development Academy Programs and is set to debut fall 2017. The program will focus on maximizing elite youth player development.
ABOUT SLAMMERS FC:
Slammers Futbol Club is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation headquartered in Newport Beach, California, USA. Our broad mission is to advance the cause of youth soccer for boys and girls through education, training, recreation, and local, national and international competition.
For more information, please click here.
LAFC Recruitment Trials
At the time of this writing, the LAFC Academy is inviting players on a trial basis as identified through our scouting network. If your player was born between 2002 and 2012 and are interested in being considered for a trial, please click here to redirect to LAFC’s academy recruitment form.
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LAFC History
As of October 30, 2014, Major League Soccer had added a new franchise in Los Angeles to replace Chivas USA, which had folded three days earlier. Previously known as the Los Angeles Football Club, the team officially changed its name to Los Angeles Football Club on September 15, 2015. Los Angeles FC’s major owner at the time, Henry Nguyen, hinted to this possibility when he described the name as “timeless” immediately after the club was announced.
Los Angeles FC hired Bob Bradley as its new head coach in July 2017 and partnered with general manager John Thorrington in the search for new players. Mexican attacker Carlos Vela was signed on August 11th, 2017, and he became the club’s first designated player.
On March 4, 2018, Los Angeles FC made its MLS debut with a 1–0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. In the 11th minute, Diego Rossi, a designated player for LAFC, scored the club’s first competitive goal with an assist from Vela.
Zlatan Ibrahimovi’s MLS debut ended in a 4–3 loss for LAFC on March 31, 2018, the team’s first MLS defeat. LAFC was the second team in MLS history to lose a game despite a 3–0 lead. Los Angeles became the first club to gain 12 points from a season-opening road trip that included at least six games despite the defeat. Their seven road victories were a post-shootout record for an expansion team.
LAFC had the best regular season in MLS history for an expansion team, with a total of 57 points. Bob Bradley led the 1998 Chicago Fire to a league-high 56 points; the 2017 Atlanta United team set the post-shootout record with 55 points. LAFC’s seven road victories are also equal with the 1998 Fire’s two shootout victories for the most ever by an expansion team in the pre- or post-shootout era. Just behind Atlanta’s record-setting 70 goals, they ranked second on the all-time list of goals scored by an expansion team in one season.
After defeating the Colorado Rapids 3–0 on October 6 to finish third in the Western Conference, LAFC qualified for the playoffs for the first time, but were eliminated in the first round at home by Real Salt Lake, who finished sixth. For the first time, Los Angeles appeared in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, defeating Liga MX León 3–2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2–0 in Mexico City. In the quarterfinals, they beat Cruz Azul and Club América, respectively. They were the third MLS team to make it to the championship game, where they lost to Tigres UANL 2-1.
At a press conference held on July 8, 2020, LAFC announced the signing of three Academy products as the first three Homegrown players in Club history: Tony Leone, Christian Torres, and Erik Dueas
“Today marks a very special day for our entire organization, the LAFC Academy, the three players and their families,” said LAFC EVP & General Manager John Thorrington. “Erik, Tony and Christian have shown great development and have undoubtedly earned this opportunity. We look forward to helping them continue their progression at the MLS level.”
TRANSACTION: Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) signs the first three Homegrown players in Club history – Tony Leone, Christian Torres and Erik Dueñas.
During a preseason game against Toronto FC on February 12, 2020, Torres became the first LAFC Academy player to score with the main team. Torres scored 30 goals in 44 games in his two years in the Academy, including three in the Playoffs and Championships, to win the Golden Boot for the 2018-19 season. Torres represented the United States of America’s Youth National Teams at the Concacaf U-15 Boys’ Championship in August of last year.
Colors
On January 7, 2016, Union Station hosted the unveiling of the club’s colors and emblem. Its major colors are black and gold, with red and gray as accents. With its winged “LA” monogram and Neutraface “Los Angeles” and “Football Club” phrases, the Art Deco-inspired logo contains a shield shape reminiscent of the city seal. Matthew Wolff came up with the concept for the crest.
LAFC Stadium
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was selected on May 17, 2015, as the location for the team’s new MLS stadium at Exposition Park, which will cost $250 million to build. According to the group’s estimates, the project would generate $2.5 million in annual tax revenue and 1,800 full-time jobs. There was a three-year time frame for the environmental impact report, demolition of an arena, and construction of a new stadium. Clearing the way for stadium development was made possible by City Council approval on May 6, 2016.
On August 23, 2016, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. The Banc of California signed a 15-year, $100 million stadium naming rights contract with LAFC, which was announced in front of owners and construction crews in attendance. Within a month after the groundbreaking, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was demolished.
On April 18, 2018, the stadium had its first public event, an open practice session and dedication ceremony. The club’s first home encounter was against Seattle Sounders FC on April 29, 2018, and the home team won 1–0. Laurent Ciman scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time in front of a full house of 22,000 people.
Supporters
Los Angeles FC supporters are collectively known as “The 3252,” a reference to Banc of California Stadium’s safe-standing supporters section, as well as a number that adds up to 12, symbolizing their role as LAFC’s 12th man. Supporters organizations such as the Black Army 1850 and the District 9 Ultras are all part of 3252, which is the club’s independent supporters union and includes a variety of linked supporters groups.
Ownership
As of 2016, the club’s management was taken over by three local investors: Brandon Beck, Larry Berg, and Bennett Rosenthal, with Berg serving as the principal managing owner. Peter Guber, the founder and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group, is the executive chairman, Tom Penn, a former NBA executive, is president, and Henry Nguyen, a venture financier, is vice chairman. Businessman Ruben Gnanalingam is also a member of the ownership group. There are a number of others who have invested in the company, including Will Ferrell, Natalie Mariduena, Nomar Garca-Parra, Mia Hamm-Garca-Parra, Chad Hurley, Magic Johnson, Joseph Tsai, Tucker Kain, Mark Leschly, Mike Mahan, Irwin Raij, and Tony Robbins, as well as Mark Shapiro, Mark Shapiro, Jason Sugarman, and Rick Welts.
In February 2020, the owners of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) began the process of acquiring a 20 percent ownership position from Vincent Tan of Malaysia. To date, the most a Major League Soccer team had ever been valued at before the buyout was $700 million.
LA FC Roster
| Player | Profile |
|---|---|
| Carlos Vela | http://fcscout.com/pro/carlos-vela/ |
| Brian Rodríguez | http://fcscout.com/pro/brian-rodriguez/ |
| Kellyn Acosta | http://fcscout.com/pro/kellyn-acosta/ |
| Cristian Arango | http://fcscout.com/pro/cristian-arango/ |
| Latif Blessing | http://fcscout.com/pro/latif-blessing/ |
| José Cifuentes | http://fcscout.com/pro/jose-cifuentes/ |
| Maxime Crépeau | http://fcscout.com/pro/maxime-crepeau/ |
| Erik Dueñas | http://fcscout.com/pro/erik-duenas/ |
| Mamadou Fall | http://fcscout.com/pro/mamadou-fall/ |
| Julian Gaines | http://fcscout.com/pro/julian-gaines/ |
| Franco Escobar | http://fcscout.com/pro/franco-escobar/ |
| Francisco Ginella | http://fcscout.com/pro/francisco-ginella/ |
| Doneil Henry | http://fcscout.com/pro/doneil-henry/ |
| Ryan Hollingshead | http://fcscout.com/pro/ryan-hollingshead/ |
| Sebastien Ibeagha | http://fcscout.com/pro/sebastien-ibeagha/ |
City of Los Angeles, California
The City of Los Angeles, or L.A., is the most populous city in the state of California. New York City is the country’s most populated city with an estimated population of about four million people, making it the second-largest in the United States. There are many things to love about Los Angeles, including its warm Mediterranean climate, wide range of cultures, the presence of Hollywood, and the city’s size.
Located in Southern California, Los Angeles is surrounded by mountains up to 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) high and deserts. As the county capital of the nation’s most populous county, the city of Los Angeles has a land area of approximately 469 square miles (1,210 km2). With a population of 13.1 million, the Los Angeles MSA is the second-largest in the country, after only New York. Greater Los Angeles encompasses the metropolitan area of Los Angeles, as well as the Inland Empire and Ventura County. Second only to New York in terms of total population in the United States, its 2015 population was estimated at 18.7 million.
In 1542, Juan Rodrguez Cabrillo claimed Spanish ownership of the land that would become Los Angeles, home to the Chumash and Tongva peoples. On September 4, 1781, Felipe de Neve, the Spanish ruler, established the city of Yaanga on the Yaanga settlement. Following the Mexican War of Independence in 1821, it became a part of the country of Mexico. To put it simply, Los Angeles and California were purchased by the United States as part of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, following Mexico’s defeat in the Mexican–American War. On April 4, 1850, five months before the state of California became a state, the city of Los Angeles was formally established as a municipality. During the 1890s, when oil was discovered, the city experienced fast expansion. In 1913, the Los Angeles Aqueduct was completed, which brought water from the eastern part of California to the city.
Many firms operate in Los Angeles, including those in a wide range of professional and cultural sectors. It is also home to the Americas’ busiest container port. After the metropolitan areas of Tokyo and New York City, the Los Angeles region has an annual gross domestic product (GDP) of $1.0 trillion, making it the world’s third largest economy. Los Angeles held the Summer Olympic Games in 1932, 1984, and 2028.
Geography
With a total area of 502.7 square miles (1.302 kilometers), the city of Los Angeles is divided between land covering 468.7 square miles (1.214 km2), and water covering 34.0 square miles (88 km2). From north to south, the city covers 44 miles (71 kilometers) and from east to west, it covers 29 miles (47 kilometers). The city’s girth measures 342 miles (550 km).
The city of Los Angeles is both flat and hilly. Mount Lukens, at 1,547 feet (5,074 m), is the city’s highest peak and may be found in the northeastern extremity of the San Fernando Valley. The Santa Monica Mountains’ eastern end spans from Downtown to the Pacific Ocean and separates the Los Angeles Basin from the San Fernando Valley. The Mt. Washington neighborhood north of Downtown, eastern areas like Boyle Heights, the Crenshaw district around the Baldwin Hills, and the San Pedro district are all examples of Los Angeles’ steep terrain.
Climate | Weather
Köppen Csb on the coast and in downtown Los Angeles, Csa to the west of the metropolitan area, and just enough annual rainfall to avoid a semi-arid climate, characterize Los Angeles (BSh),. The year-round average high and low temperatures for daytime hours are similar. In the winter, the average temperature is 68 °F (20 °C), which gives it a tropical feel, but it is a few degrees too cool to be a real tropical climate on average due to the cool night temperatures. With an average of 35 days of measurable precipitation each year, Los Angeles has an abundance of sunshine throughout the year.
Only about a dozen days each year see highs of 90°F (32°C) or higher in the coastal region, with the exception of five days in September and one day each month in April, May, June and November. The San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys have significantly warmer temperatures. Temperatures fluctuate dramatically during the day, with an average daily low and high of more than 30 °F (17 °C) in inland locations. The ocean’s annual average temperature is 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius), with lows of 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius) in January and highs of 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in August. An average day in December has seven hours of sunshine; in July, it has twelve. The number of hours of sunshine each year is around 3,000.
Los Angeles Lifestyle
