Next Galaxy Coach: Bruce Arena

It looks as if last night's 2-2 draw with Chivas USA will be the only game that Cobi Jones gets to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy. It has been confirmed by several sources that former U.S. Men's National Team coach Bruce Arena will take over the reins of the club, and should be on the sidelines for the Galaxy's next game, this coming Thursday against the Chicago Fire.The Arena-to-Los Angeles rumor heated up quickly after he was seen in attendance at last night's game and also meeting with AEG President Tim Leiweke. In an interview with ESPN2 during the game, Leiweke dropped a few hints that Arena was being courted to take the position.

"If I could convince Bruce to join AEG and join the Galaxy, he'd be the ideal guy to come in here," said Leiweke. "There's not a better candidate. There's not a better potential coach. He knows more about the game. I have more respect, Mr. Anschutz has great respect for Bruce, so we'd be honored to have him.

"I personally think he's the best coach in the history of the league and we'd be damn lucky if we could get him in here," he continued. "You've got to look at the environment he was put in [with the Red Bulls]. The last time I looked, he had a couple of championships."

Arena, renowned in the soccer community for his knowledge in the American system, will now be tasked with turning around another disappointing season in Los Angeles, as the team would miss the playoffs for an unprecedented third consecutive year if the season ended today. In addition, Ives Galarcep is reporting that former Chicago Fire head coach Dave Sarachan will join Arena as an assistant coach in the Galaxy organization.

Arena will become the eighth head coach in the history of the franchise, replacing the recently departed Ruud Gullit, who resigned from his position due to "personal reasons" on Monday. The status of interim head coach Cobi Jones is uncertain at this point, but it is highly likely that he will remain with the club in some form.