Son's LAFC sack Dos Santos after nine months, Tamarit interim boss

📰 Son Heung-min's LAFC have sacked head coach Marc Dos Santos after nine months following a dreadful run of form, handing temporary charge to coach Xavi Tamarit. 📌 Key points 🗓️ LAFC sacked Dos Santos on 27 September local time (28 September Korean time). 🧢 Five days later, Spanish coach Xavi Tamarit was promoted to interim head coach. 📉 They are sixth in the Western Conference with 41 points (W11 D8 L9). ⚽ Son Heung-min has 6 goals and 13 assists in 25 league games. 🏟️ The first game is at home to Vancouver on the 10th. 📝 What happened 🗓️ LAFC announced they had parted ways with Dos Santos the day after a 0-1 defeat away to FC Dallas on 26 September. Dos Santos, who succeeded MLS Cup-winning coach Steve Cherundolo last December, left after around nine months in charge. LAFC have won just once in the league since July (W1 D5 L4) and are winless in seven consecutive away games. 🧢 Five days after the sacking, LAFC opted for an internal promotion. According to Seoul Economic Daily, the 44-year-old Tamarit joined LAFC's coaching staff in January and has more than 20 years of coaching experience in the Premier League, La Liga and the Argentine league. General manager John Thorrington explained that he knows the players' strengths and what the team needs right now, and that the choice was made to minimise disruption mid-season. ⚽ How Son Heung-min was used also came under scrutiny. Korean media pointed out that Dos Santos dropped Son into an attacking midfield role or involved him deeply in the build-up, reducing his goal threat. Son scored 12 goals in 13 league games under Cherundolo last season, but has managed only 6 in 25 this season. On the other hand, his 13 assists put him joint top of the league's assist chart. 📊 By the numbers • W11 D8 L9, 41 points (6th in the West) • League record since July: W1 D5 L4 • Son Heung-min: 6 goals and 13 assists in 25 league games • 6 regular-season games remaining 🔭 Why it matters Sixth in the West, LAFC are still in a play-off spot, but they are nine points behind leaders Vancouver. Without a turnaround in the remaining six games, they could slip further down the table. The thing to watch is whether Son Heung-min returns to being the main goal threat up front under Tamarit. Son returns after scoring his 59th international goal against Uzbekistan on the 6th, and LAFC face the Vancouver Whitecaps at home at BMO Stadium on 10 October (11 October Korean time).