All you need to know about Los Angeles FC

Hugo Lloris has made the move to the USA to play for Los Angeles FC. 

The decision brings an end to the French World Cup winner's time at Tottenham, for whom the goalkeeper made 447 appearances after signing in 2012. 

Ahead of his fresh start in the MLS, we take a look at what Lloris can expect from his new life Stateside. 

History

LAFC were born in 2014 when the decision was made to award the City of Angels an extra MLS expansion team after Chivas USA ceased operations. 

Among the investors in the project was comedian and actor Will Ferrell. 

Bob Bradley was appointed as the club's first head coach in 2017. The franchise played its opening MLS game in March 2018 and enjoyed a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders. 

For a relatively new team, LAFC have already tasted a lot of success. They won the Western Conference just a year after launch in 2019 and reached the Conference finals. 

In 2022, they once again won their conference and this time went on to lift the MLS Cup. 

Lloris' former teammate Gareth Bale scored a 128th-minute equaliser to force a 3-3 draw in the final against Philadelphia Union. Los Angeles won the resulting penalty shootout. 

Last season, they reached another MLS Cup final, losing 2-1 to Columbus Crew. 

They were also beaten in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League by Mexico's Leon. 

Stadium

Lloris will be playing his home matches at the BMO Stadium. 

Opened in 2018, it has a capacity of 22,000. As well as LAFC, it is also the host venue for National Women's Soccer League outfit Angel City FC. 

There is a 3,252 safe standing section for supporters. The fans that occupy that area are known as the 3252 — when you add the numbers together, it comes to 12. 

This is a deliberate reference to this area of the crowd acting as a 12th man for the team 

Manager

LAFC's current manager is Steve Cherundolo, who was appointed in 2022. 

As a player he was notable for the fact that he spent his entire career at German side Hannover 96. 

It was at that club that Cherundolo began his coaching career and he would later become an assistant manager at Stuttgart and the US national team. 

His first job as a head coach came in 2021 when he took charge of USL Championship franchise Las Vegas Lights FC. 

Within a year he had moved on to Los Angeles and he made an emphatic start by winning the MLS Cup in his first season. 

Players

LAFC have had superstar players such as Bale and Giorgio Chiellini within their ranks in recent years. 

Now, only Lloris himself falls into that category, though there is plenty of time for some big names to join him with the MLS season not kicking off until late February. 

Somehow they must replace recently departed club legend Carlos Vela, with the Mexican having scored 93 goals in 188 games.

The best performer last season was Gabonese striker Denis Bouanga, who notched 38 goals in 48 appearances and was the top scorer in the MLS with 25.