MLS

• Arena claims MLS Coach of the Year award

  
  

  New York, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday that Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena captured the 2009 MLS Coach of the Year honor after leading his club to its first playoff berth since the 2005 season and a top seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 12-6-12 record.

  Arena, now in his second season as Galaxy head coach, led Los Angeles to one of the most dramatic single season turnarounds in MLS history.

  In 2008, the Galaxy finished at the bottom of the Western Conference with an 8-13-9 record while also giving up a league-high 62 goals.

  The Galaxy began the 2009 season with a 1-1-9 record and did not initially look like an MLS Cup contender, but David Beckham returned in midseason after a loan spell with AC Milan and the Galaxy began winning more often than not.

  LA even vied for the best record in MLS into the last weeks of the season, and they will host the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference final on Friday.

  Arena was hired as head coach and general manager of the Galaxy on Aug. 18, 2008 and led the Galaxy to a 2-5-3 record over the final 10 games of the 2008 season.

  Prior to being hired by the Galaxy, Arena served as coach of the New York Red Bulls during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. His most successful MLS stint came as the head coach of D.C. United from 1996 through 1998, where he captured two MLS Cup championships in three appearances.

  Arena ranks fourth all-time in MLS regular season wins and has compiled a regular season coaching record of 91-62-25. He holds the highest postseason winning percentage (.705) and is tied with Bob Bradley for second all-time in post season wins with 14.

  This is the second MLS Coach of the Year honor for Arena. He joins current U.S.

  National Team head coach Bob Bradley, and Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid as a two-time recipient of the award. Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid and Columbus Crew head coach Robert Warzycha were the other finalists for the Coach of the Year award.

  11/11 14:13:00 ET