Los Angeles FC is set to appoint Columbus Crew’s director of scouting, Neil McGuinness, as technical director becoming the club’s number two executive, The Athletic’s Tom Bogert reported.
According to Bogert, McGuinness will work directly under chief soccer officer and co-president John Thorrington. McGuinness reportedly beat out Newcastle United’s assistant head of first-team recruitment Andy Howe for the role.
McGuinness has been with Columbus Crew since 2019 after leaving Celtic. The Crew’s squad has undergone an overhaul during his time there with the team winning two MLS Cups in 2020 and 2023. Columbus also just qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup final defeating Liga MX’s Monterrey 5-2 on aggregate. If Columbus Crew lifts the trophy, it would be only the second time a MLS team wins the cup in the modern era.
Cucho Hernandez, Lucas Zelarayn and Diego Rossi are just a few of the names that have played big parts in the Crew’s success over the past two years.
LAFC is expected to have a busy summer transfer window with Olivier Giroud expected to lead the list of signings. The team is currently seventh in the Western Conference winning just four of its first 11 matches. LAFC won its first MLS Cup back in 2022, but fell just short of repeating losing 2-1 to the Crew.
McGuinness fills the shoes left by Will Kuntz who joined LA Galaxy at the end of last year.
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