LOS ANGELES (Friday, January 21, 2022) – The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has hired Mike Muñoz as Director of Methodology and Development. Muñoz will oversee all LA Galaxy Academy decisions.
“We are delighted to welcome Mike back to the Galaxy as the new Director of Methodology and Development,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. “Mike is a respected leader in the field of youth development, very knowledgeable about the Southern California market and passionate about the LA Galaxy. With Mike in this role, I think integrating our style of play and of our methodology will flow seamlessly from the first team to the academy.
Muñoz, 38, has spent the past two years as head coach of Toronto FC II (2020-21), where he guided the club to a 10-10-8 record in the 2021 regular season. the USL League One. Prior to joining Toronto FC II, Muñoz spent six seasons (2013-19) with the LA Galaxy organization, coaching the Galaxy U-14, U-16, U-18 and LA Galaxy II, in addition to to be the LA Director of Galaxy Academy. Notably, Muñoz was the head coach of the LA Galaxy U-16 team that won the 2013-2014 USSDA National Championship and helped establish the LA Galaxy Academy school program.
“I am honored and thrilled to return to the LA Galaxy family. I am grateful to Chris Klein and Greg Vanney for this opportunity,” Muñoz said. “There is an incredible amount of talent in our academy system and in Southern California and I look forward to guiding LA Galaxy Academy to be the best in North America.”
In 2010, Muñoz worked with Vanney on the establishment of the Real Salt Lake Arizona Academy, where Muñoz began his career as head coach for U-16 Real Salt Lake-AZ. That season, he was named US Development Academy U-16 Coach of the Year after guiding RSL-AZ to an overall record of 16-8-4.
Prior to his coaching career, Muñoz played professionally with Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy. He was selected by Chivas in the third round of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. Muñoz played two seasons for Chivas USA, making his professional debut on August 13, 2005 against DC United. Muñoz joined the LA Galaxy after spending the 2007 season with the USL-1 team California Victory. He made his first-team debut for the Galaxy on 6 September 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute against Real Salt Lake.
A native of Bellflower, Calif., Muñoz graduated from Los Alamitos High School before earning a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors as a rookie and the All-Pac-10 first-team honors. during his sophomore and junior seasons.