Give credit to LA Galaxy General Manager, Will Kuntz!

One year ago today, the Los Angeles Galaxy made one of the smartest business decisions perhaps in recent years. This particular wasn't about any one player.No, it was bigger than this.

On December 5, 2023, the five-time MLS Champions made Will Kuntz the new General Manager of the LA Galaxy. Kuntz joins a short list of Black executives in the league.

No stranger to professional soccer in Orange County, California, Kuntz served as Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations for LAFC from 2017 through 2022. He also held the title of Assistant General Manager.

In his new role, Kuntz overlooks player acquisitions, talent scouting, managing the salary cap and team budgets, and more. This allowed Head Coach Greg Vanney to focus more on coaching the first team.

Kuntz wasted little time to make a splash

After Bruce Arena left the LA Galaxy in 2016, the team suffered its longest drought without a title in franchise history. Much less, the team failed to ever make it past the second round of the playoffs during the time of his absence.

Until now!

"There is no opportunity in Major League Soccer more exciting to me than the chance to help lead this club to reclaim its place as the top club in the league."

Will Kuntz, GM of the LA Galaxy

On January 30th, the Los Angeles Galaxy inked the now 23-year-old, Gabriel Pec. In 168 appearances for Vasco da Gama, the Brazilian winger and midfielder scored 25 goals. In his first season with the LA Galaxy, Pec scored 16 goals and assisted on 14 more.

Less than a month later, on February 21, the Los Angeles Galaxy added the Ghana-born winger, Joseph Paintsil. A deal was struck for four years to play for the once mighty Western Conference juggernauts.

The pair of newcomers made an immediate impact on their new team. They joined veterans Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig.

Paintsil and Pec made history as the only two new teammates to both record ten goals and ten assists each. This also helped make another historic mark in MLS.

Joveljic, Pec, Puig and Paintsil became the only four players to score ten goals or more. Only one other team has fielded three players to score ten goals or more. That, too, was the LA Galaxy in 1998.

In the middle of August this summer, Kuntz shot for the stars again. The 35-year-old German soccer sensation, Marco Reus, left Borussia Dortmund. He signed a two-and-a-half year contract to follow in the footsteps of Pec and Paintsil.

Against Atlanta United, Reus made his MLS debut. He was awarded Player of the Game after logging a goal and an assist. His efforts gave the LA Galaxy the 2-0 lead over their opponent.

With the LA Galaxy qualifying for the 2025 playoffs, Head Coach Greg Vanney's contract was automatically extended through the 2025 season. He coached the Toronto FC team during their 2017 MLS Cup Championship.

Why are these three signings a work of genius from Kuntz?

The goal was to be aggressive in reshaping the roster for the five-time MLS Champions. They have gone ten years since their last trip to the grandest stage in the league.

Now, the team enters this weekend set to host the New York Red Bulls. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Galaxy will be playing without Puig. He suffered a torn ACL on Saturday against the Seattle Sounders FC.

Pec, Paintsil and Reus give the LA Galaxy enough firepower to back Joveljic up. The Serbian forward scored the game's only goal in the MLS Western Conference Finals.

Much credit obviously goes to the players. However, one of the brightest stars in the LA Galaxy is certainly their General Manager. His name is Will Kuntz.