Jovan Kirovski named LA Galaxy Technical Director

The LA Galaxy have promoted Jovan Kirovski from Assistant Coach to Technical Director, the first in the club's history. Under the director of Manager Bruce Arena, Kirovski will scout and evaluate players locally and abroad and foster relationships with clubs around the world. A bit like a Secretary of State.

"We are very pleased to be able to move Jovan into this new position as our Technical Director," Arena said. "His experience as both a player and as a coach will be invaluable as he works to support both our first team and our Academy program."

There are several ways to look at this appointment. On the one hand, Kirovski will likely be taking on tasks that will allow Bruce Arena to focus more on the on the pitch product. It's also a position that will give him experience should he wish to pursue a head coach/manager position in the future.

Steven Davis then at ESPN wrote back in 2008 that Technical Directors were the new it position in MLS. However, that same article lists LA as having a technical director when the Galaxy claim Kirovski is the first in club history. In clubs with separate Head Coaches and General Managers, the Technical Director was seen as the go-between for the two positions. With Bruce Arena holding both titles, it's unclear how much responsibility Kirovski will have or who exactly he oversees.

One of the responsibilities spelled out in the press release is the implementation of a core curriculum at the Galaxy Academy while evaluating the Academy Coaches and players. This looks like the way Technical Director is used in Europe, as more of an Academy Director who liaisons with the head coach.

It doesn't appear Kirovski will have the power to sign players, so there shouldn't be any worry of who is in charge. Of course, if Kirovski starts giving statements on new signings then we know something is afoot.

In Kansas City instead of a General Manager, Peter Vermes is Head Coach and Technical Director while Greg Cotton is Director of Business Operations. At the Portland Timbers Gavin Wilkinson is General Manager and Technical Director while Caleb Porter is Head Coach. In LA Bruce Arena is Head Coach and General Manager while Jovan Kirovski is now Technical Director. I believe this might mean Kirovski reports to Bruce Arena about Bruce Arena. It's all quite confusing. These are questions I don't want to have to answer.

Hopefully we'll know more soon.