The LA Galaxy announced Wednesday the addition Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas, the central midfield duo that helped the club win the 2012 and 2014 MLS Cup, to their academy coaching staff.
“Juninho and Marcelo are club legends that bring extensive experience to our Academy coaching staff,” Galaxy director of methodology and development Juan Carlos Ortega said in a statement. “They are intimately familiar with our club, standards and culture and will make a strong impact on our youth players and their development for years to come. We are thrilled to add them to our academy staff.”
The Brazilian duo represented the Galaxy together from 2012-2014 and were one of the league's best midfield tandems over that span.
Juninho at age 31 announced his retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Brazilian midfielder ended his professional career with as one of the most successful midfielders in club history, helping the club capture two MLS Supporters’ Shields and three MLS Cup victories. His 189 appearances for the club are the second-most among midfielders behind Mauricio Cienfuegos (206).
“I am honored to return to the LA Galaxy and be a part of developing our youth players on the Academy level,” Juninho said in a statement. “The LA Galaxy have given so much to me throughout my career and I am eager to continue to represent this club and invest in our future.”
Sarvas joined the Galaxy in 2012. He also played for the Colorado Rapids (2015) and D.C. United (2016-2017). In his MLS career, he tallied 166 appearances, 12 goals and 23 assists.
He was previously working in the Rapids' academy.
“It is extremely exciting to join a club that has been so special to me,” Sarvas said in a statement. “The Galaxy are a club with rich history, unparalleled success and deep roots in Los Angeles and I look forward to helping cultivate talent in our region to help them become players of high quality and character.”
