According to sources familiar with the situation, LAFC is poised to announce Neil McGuinness, currently the director of scouting for the Columbus Crew, as their new technical director. In his new role, McGuinness will report to John Thorrington, LAFC’s chief soccer officer and co-president. Known for his adept talent-spotting abilities, McGuinness will take on an expanded role within the Los Angeles club.
McGuinness joined the Crew in 2019 after serving as a senior scout for Celtic, where he played a role in the signing of Virgil van Dijk. His tenure in Columbus coincided with a significant overhaul of the team, leading to two MLS Cup victories (2020, 2023).
It’s worth noting that Columbus triumphed over LAFC in the MLS Cup last year. Additionally, the Crew are currently vying for the CONCACAF Champions Cup title, aiming to become the second MLS team to secure the trophy in its modern iteration.
