L.A. Galaxy re-sign president Chris Klein
Chris Klein joined the Galaxy front office after retiring from MLS in 2010. (Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
The L.A. Galaxy have re-signed club president Chris Klein to a multi-year contract extension worth as much as $500,000 per season.
AEG president and CEO Dan Beckerman confirmed the new deal, although not the terms, in a quote provided by the Galaxy to SI.com.
“We are pleased to have a long-term agreement in place with Chris, who in a short period of time he has developed into one of the most respected executives in Major League Soccer,” Beckerman said. “In addition to his tremendous soccer acumen and knowledge of the game, Chris has quickly acquired an extensive knowledge of our business, and is fast becoming one of the more well-rounded leaders in our sport.”
Klein, 37, has risen quickly through the Galaxy front office since retiring as a player following the 2010 MLS campaign. He started out as senior director of the club’s academy, was promoted to vice president in February 2012 and then to president last January.
Klein’s new contract will keep him at StubHub Center through at least the 2017 season, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.
While Galaxy owner AEG has been in flux with the March departure of former head Tim Leiweke and Beckerman’s subsequent appointment, Klein has established himself as one of American soccer’s most influential young executives. He had a hand in two MLS Cup titles, the recent re-signing of Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez and last year’s extension for David Beckham.
Klein also has been instrumental in the growth of the Galaxy’s academy. It is overshadowed by the first team’s star power but not for lack of success. L.A. has transitioned the likes of Jack McBean, Jose Villarreal and Gyasi Zardes to the senior squad and it claimed the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s under-16 championship in 2011. Klein will help oversee the formation of the Galaxy reserve team that will play in USL Pro, American soccer's third tier, next year.
