MLS Coaches sharing this common history

Ahead of Friday night's second game in the opening round of the best-of-three between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids, there is plenty of noteworthy history to dissect. There are a number of players who share common ground playing for both of these teams.

When the inaugural season for MLS opened up in 1996, there were ten teams to start. Two of those original squads are the LA Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids.

As multiple players have etched their names in the storied histories of these teams, some individuals have done so amongst the coaching ranks.

1. Greg Vanney

Current Head Coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy is one example. He was a member of the first Galaxy roster.

Vanney played his first six seasons in MLS for the team that he now coaches. In 168 games, he scored 21 times.

He never won an MLS Cup with the team as left the team the year before their first title in 2002. Vanney did play in three championship games during his tenure including the first ever in 1996.

Vanney left MLS for a few years before returning in 2005 to play for FC Dallas for a pair of seasons. The following year, in 2007, is when the American born defender joined the Colorado Rapids.

He would only appear in nine games during his brief stint as he shared time that season with DC United.

In his final season as a professional soccer player, Vanney rejoined the LA Galaxy in 2008.

His first job in the coaching ranks came in 2011 when he was an assistant for Chivas USA. After a year off, Vanney made the big leap managerial wise and became the head coach of the expansion draft team, Toronto FC.

He won a title there during his seven-year regime in 2017 alongside his nephew and current LA Galaxy player Eriq Zavaleta.

As we know, both would eventually make their way to the Galaxy. Vanney has been the head coach here since 2021.