Page 78 - Soccer360 Issue 107

MLS FOCUS
ABOVE:
MLS rookie Gabriel Pec has been a revelation for the Galaxy in 2024.
BELOW:
Will Kuntz was appointed as
the Los Angeles Galaxy’s General Manager in December 2023, a decision that has so far paid off.
“GABRIEL PEC REPRESENTED A SHIFT WAY FROM THE HOUSEHOLD NAMES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN UP DESIGNATED PLAYER SPOTS IN LOS ANGELES.”
to spend the most to win. Even though the team has spent less, they are a much deeper squad in 2024 than they were in previous seasons of the Vanney era. Will Kuntz was appointed the Galaxy’s General Manager in December 2023 and ever since has spent his time molding the team into Vanney’s vision.
“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,” said Kuntz
in a press release announcing his arrival. “I want to thank Greg Vanney for being my strongest advocate in bringing me into the Club last winter, and I am thrilled with how our partnership has developed since I came on board. I look forward to collaborating with Greg towards achieving our shared vision and building on the foundation that has been created over the past several years.” The club signed talented Brazilian Gabriel Pec from Vasco da Gama as a
Young Designated Player and it has paid off immensely. The 23-year-old already scored 10 goals and provided 10 assists in his first 25 games in MLS. He fits perfectly into Vanney’s system and has been a huge help to the squad in 2024.
Aside from his goals and assists, Pec is a workhorse on the pitch who never seems to run out of energy. He is exactly the type of player Vanney had been looking for to elevate the squad. The MLS rookie was even named to the MLS All-Star team in his debut season.
“Gabriel has been a key contributor for one of the biggest clubs in Brazil’s Série A and we are beyond excited that he is choosing to join the Galaxy as the next step in his burgeoning career,” Kuntz said in a press release announcing his signing.
“In addition to his work rate and attacking prowess, he will also be bringing the experience of representing his native Brazil in the qualification tournament for the 2024
Paris Olympics when he joins our group.
We are thrilled to announce Gabriel as the newest member of the LA Galaxy.”
Pec represented a shift way from the household names that had previously taken up Designated Player spots in Los Angeles. Big stars like David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Steven Gerrard, and Robbie Keane have all represented the Galaxy in the past, but the club was now focused on signing younger players in the prime of their careers.
The Brazilian wasn’t the only player the Galaxy brought in though as Joseph Paintsil was also signed to help turn things around. Paintsil has been a revelation in Los Angeles during his first season and can play either as a winger or striker.
Joining the Galaxy in February 2024,
Paintsil wasn’t a familiar face to most fans despite the club paying a $9m transfer fee to Belgian side Genk for the 26-year-old’s services. Much like Pec though, Paintsil
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