Former Boca Juniors midfielder Barros Schelotto to coach LA Galaxy

LOS ANGELES - Former Argentina international midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto was named coach of the LA Galaxy on Wednesday, just days after leaving Boca Juniors.

The 45-year-old replaces Dominic Kinnear, who departed in October after the team missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Kinnear had assumed the role on an interim basis following the September sacking of Sigi Schmid.

"I'm honored to be the head coach for the most decorated club in Major League Soccer," Barros Schelotto said in a statement on the Galaxy's official website.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I am excited to get to work. The LA Galaxy have long set the standard in the MLS and I'm ready to push the club to new heights."

Barros Schelotto officially parted ways with Boca Juniors on December 31, though he had been widely expected to leave following the team's loss to Buenos Aires rivals River Plate in the Copa Libertadores final last month.

The former playmaker, who won three Copa Libertadores as a player and was capped 10 times for Argentina in the 1990s, had coached Boca since mid-2016 and led the club to two league titles.

His first match in charge of LA Galaxy will be a home clash against Chicago Fire on March 2.