Bruce Arena Returns to MLS with Galaxy

The David Beckham era in Los Angeles unveiled its third coach in less than two seasons Monday when former U.S. National Team boss Bruce Arena was introduced by the Galaxy. He replaces former Dutch star Ruud Gullitt, who lasted less than a year in La-La Land.

Arena will also take over the General Manager duties from Alexi Lalas and try to steer the Galaxy -- currently five places off first place in the Western Conference -- into the playoffs. Los Angeles hasn't won a game since June 14 in all competitions.

He'll have his work cut out for him. Though Arena's won multiple MLS Cups with DC United when the league began in 1996, things will be quite different with the current Galaxy team. The bulk of the Galaxy's salary cap space is chewed up by three players -- Beckham, Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz -- meanwhile nine players on the roster currently make less than $20,000. It's like building a bad fantasy team in a salary cap league.

Arena spent a thoroughly uneventful season with the New York Red Bulls in 2007, so at the very least he should know a little something about the current MLS makeup, but since the international transfer window is shut he'll have to make do with what he has either through tactics or more likely smoke-and-mirrors.

It's doubtful Arena took the job only for the money. He's a competitive guy and coaching Los Angeles -- MLS' most high-profile squad -- should scratch that competitive itch. Still, he'll have to deal with the circus that always surrounds Beckham.

Regardless of how the Galaxy experiment turns out, Arena's already cemented his legacy as the best American-born coach of this era. If he can turn the Galaxy from sideshow curiosities into champions, it'll be another notch on his belt -- something he'll be sure to talk about when he inevitably lands another television gig.