Greg Vanney

Greg Vanney (born June 11, 1974) is an American former professional soccer player and head coach of the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He was known for his strong defense skills and was one of the original players in Major League Soccer. He played for 10 seasons in the league. Before that, he played for Sporting Club de Bastia in the French First Division from 2002 to 2005.

Vanney also played for the U.S. national team from 1996 to 2006. As a coach, he won many awards. In 2017, while coaching Toronto FC, he won several big prizes, including the MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield, and the Canadian Championship. He was named MLS Coach of the Year. He later won another MLS Cup as coach of the LA Galaxy.

Playing career

Greg Vanney played soccer for Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona. He helped the team win three state championship titles from 1990 to 1992. He also played college soccer for Florida International University and later for UCLA.

Vanney began his professional career when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996. He played for the Galaxy for six years and was known as one of the best defenders in Major League Soccer. After that, he played in France for SC Bastia before returning to MLS with teams like FC Dallas, Colorado, and D.C. United. He retired in 2008.

Vanney also played for the United States national team for 11 years. He helped the team in World Cup qualifying matches and was part of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup winning team.

Coaching career

Greg Vanney has many years of experience working with young soccer players. He has coached, directed, and given advice on soccer for over 15 years. He has a special license to coach and has helped find good young players for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

Vanney started a youth soccer club in Arizona in 1997 while he was a student. He later worked with a team in Utah, helping to set up the first special training school for young players in Major League Soccer. He also helped manage a big sports center in Arizona with many fields and training rooms. In 2011, he became an assistant coach for a team in California.

Vanney became the head coach for a team in Toronto in 2014. He helped the team win important games and even led them to a big championship in 2017. He left the team in 2020. In 2021, he returned to coach the LA Galaxy, the team where he used to play. Under his leadership, the Galaxy won another big championship in 2024.

Personal life

Greg Vanney is the uncle of LA Galaxy defender Eriq Zavaleta.

Broadcasting

In 2009, Greg Vanney helped explain the games by giving comments for Seattle Sounders FC matches. He worked with the main announcer, Kevin Calabro, on TV channels like FSN Northwest and KONG-TV, and also on the radio.

Other

Greg Vanney helps with soccer rules. He works with the U.S. Soccer Professional Referee Committee and the U.S. Soccer Athlete's Council.

Coaching statistics

As of match played 16 May 2026

Coaching record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Toronto FC		August 31, 2014	December 1, 2020	252	113	58	81	428	347	+81	044.84
LA Galaxy		January 5, 2021	Present	219	85	54	80	366	354	+12	038.81
Total				471	198	112	161	794	701	+93	042.04

Honors

Greg Vanney has won many awards as a player and as a coach. As a player with Los Angeles Galaxy, he helped the team win the Western Conference playoffs in 1996, 1999, and 2001. He also won the Supporters' Shield in 1998, the U.S. Open Cup in 2001, and the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 2000. With D.C. United, he won the Supporters' Shield in 2007. Playing for the United States team, he won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005. He was named MLS All-Star in 2000 and made the MLS Best XI team in 2000 and 2001.

As a coach, Vanney led Toronto FC to win the MLS Cup in 2017, the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2016, 2017, and 2019, the Supporters' Shield in 2017, the Canadian Championship in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and the Trillium Cup in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019. With LA Galaxy, he won the MLS Cup in 2024 and the Western Conference playoffs in 2024. He was named MLS Coach of the Year in 2017 and CONCACAF Coach of the Year in 2017.