Bruce Arena hired as Galaxy coach, GM

Bruce Arena, the coach who led the United States men’s soccer team to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, on Monday was named general manager and coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Arena, 57, took charge of his first Galaxy training session at the Home Depot Center in Carson and afterward said that his primary task this season is not necessarily to win the Major League Soccer’s 2008 championship but simply to improve the team.

The Galaxy, with David Beckham and Landon Donovan, are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight year; they are 6-8-6 with four losses and four ties in their last eight matches.

Dutchman Ruud Gullit resigned as Galaxy coach last Monday and general manager Alexi Lalas was dismissed.

Arena won two MLS titles as coach of D.C. United, defeating the Galaxy in the 1996 final, before spending eight year’s as U.S. national team coach and compiling a 71-29-30 record.

In addition, the Galaxy named former Chicago Fire coach and 2002 World Cup assistant coach Dave Sarachan as “associate head coach.”

Arena also replaces Lalas in the general manager’s position and will have total control of all soccer operations. Tom Payne will continue to be in charge of all business affairs for the MLS team.

Cobi Jones, who served as interim coach for Thursday’s 2-2 with Chivas USA, will remain on the staff as assistant coach.

“I’ve been out of the game for eight or nine months and I’m looking forward to getting back into it,” said Arena, who served as coach of the New York Red Bulls after the 2006 World Cup. “I thought it was an opportunity I could not pass up.

“I think this organization is outstanding and we hope that the technical (soccer) side catches up to the business side. I know we have a lot of work to do and our immediate goal is to build a team that fans can be proud of and we can be proud of as coaches and players.”

Arena’s first game in charge will be against Chicago in Carson on Thursday night.

 grahame.jones@latimes.com