Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) today announced that longtime executives John Thorrington and Larry Freedman have each signed multi-year contract extensions with the club. As part of the new agreements, Thorrington has been appointed President of Soccer Operations, while Freedman has been named President of Business Operations for LAFC & BMO Stadium, reinforcing the club's long-term commitment to leadership continuity and sustained success on and off the pitch.
“Larry and John have been instrumental in building LAFC into one of the premier clubs in North American sports, creating a culture of excellence that defines our organization,” said LAFC Lead Managing Owner Bennett Rosenthal. “Their complementary leadership, shared vision and synergistic business acumen have made them one of the strongest management teams in Major League Soccer. Their collaborative leadership has been foundational to our growth, and continuity at this level is essential as we continue to evolve. These appointments reflect our continued confidence in their leadership and our commitment to building a club that will compete for championships and set the standard across the sport for many years to come.”
“We have always believed that the partnership between John and Larry is one of this club's greatest strengths,” said LAFC Co-Managing Owner Brandon Beck. “Together, they have built a culture of excellence and a standard that continues to elevate LAFC on and off the field. The way they challenge one another, support one another and lead with a shared commitment to winning is a big part of what makes this club special.”
From the club's inception, Larry Freedman has helped establish the “Black & Gold” as one of the most successful and valuable organizations in global sports. He was instrumental in building the club’s business foundation and driving its commercial growth, while overseeing the transformation of BMO Stadium into a premier sports and entertainment destination. Under his leadership, the venue has sold out every MLS match since opening and welcomed more than one million concertgoers in a single year. Freedman also helped guide LAFC to become the first MLS club to be valued at more than $1 billion by multiple publications, furthering its position as a global sports business leader. His contributions have earned him the 2019 MLS Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year Award and the 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year® for Greater Los Angeles. Most recently, he served as Co-Chair of the Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee, playing a pivotal role in preparations for this past summer’s highly successful tournament.
"LAFC has always aspired to be more than a football club, and I am incredibly proud of what we've built together,” said Freedman. “I am grateful to Bennett, Brandon, and our ownership group for their unwavering support, enabling us to pursue excellence in every aspect of the organization. Alongside our success on the pitch, we've established BMO Stadium as a global destination for sports, entertainment, and culture while creating one of the premier fan experiences in the world. I'm excited to continue working alongside John and our outstanding staff as we build on that momentum, continue to innovate, and create even greater opportunities for our supporters, partners, the City of Los Angeles and beyond.”
John Thorrington has guided the club through the most successful era in its history. With him at the helm, LAFC has won the 2022 MLS Cup, two Supporters' Shields (2019, 2022), the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, reached two Concacaf Champions League Finals (2020, 2023), the 2024 Leagues Cup Final, and made history as the first MLS club to defeat three Liga MX teams in a single Concacaf Champions League campaign en route to the 2020 final. The club also won the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup Play-In match with a 2-1 victory over Club América at BMO Stadium on May 31, 2025. Thorrington continues to cement LAFC as a global destination, having overseen the acquisitions of world-renowned players including Carlos Vela, Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini, Hugo Lloris, and, most recently, international superstar Son Heung-Min.
“I am deeply grateful to Bennett, Brandon, and our entire ownership group for their continued trust and belief in our vision for LAFC,” said Thorrington. “Their commitment to excellence has empowered us to build a club that competes for championships every year while proudly representing the City of Los Angeles. It has been an incredible privilege to help lead this organization, and I am excited to continue working alongside Larry and the outstanding people throughout our club as we build on what we have accomplished and push ourselves toward even greater success.”
The extensions reinforce LAFC's long-term commitment to a leadership team that has guided the club since its inception. Thorrington and Freedman will continue working in partnership to advance the club's ambition of setting the global standard for soccer in North America.
