LA Galaxy hiring former Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter looked like a done deal just a few days ago, with only formalities needing to be ironed out. Now, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Carlisle, Porter decided to snub Galaxy’s offer and will take over Columbus Crew instead.
On Tuesday, reports started circling that Los Angeles Galaxy is resigning their star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to a new and improved contract while finalizing the deal with Caleb Porter to take the vacant head coaching position. Columbus Crew, who was left without a coach after Gregg Berhalter was appointed as manager of the USMNT, swooped in in the last moment, however, and made an offer to the 43-year-old that was too good to pass.
According to ESPN, Porter was all cleared to take the Galaxy job, but he felt the structure of the team in Columbus suited him better.
Caleb Porter started his coaching career at a collegiate level before taking over United States U23 in 2011. After two years with the team, he took over the Portland Timbers in 2013 and immediately won the 2013 MLS Coach of the Year after leading the team to the top seed in Western Conference. Although he had a great run in Portland, Porter and Timbers mutually parted ways following the 2017 MLS season.
Under Porter, Timbers made the playoffs four times and won the MLS Cup in 2015.
