LAFC want Renato Paiva - Won Ecuadorian 1st division with Independiente del Valle

Los Angeles FC have found their prime target to replace former head coach Bob Bradley. Ecuagol and The Athletic have reported that the Major League Soccer side is currently talking with Independiente del Valle's Portuguese head coach Renato Paiva. LAFC general manager John Thorrington was recently in Ecuador to hold talks with Paiva and his club. 

If a deal is reached, Paiva will become the second IDV manager in just a few months to leave the club for MLS. Paiva was hired to replace Miguel Ángel Ramírez, who joined expansion side Charlotte FC on Jul. 7, 2021. After taking over for Ramírez, Paiva guided Independiente del Valle to the club's first-ever Ecuadorian Serie A title by beating Emelec 4-1 on aggregate (3-1 & 1-1) in the LigaPro Serie A Tercera Etapa final.

Since taking over IDV, Paiva has averaged 1.78 points per game with a squad that has an average age of just 25.4. The 51-year-old previously worked in Benfica's youth setup and is seen as the ideal manager by the LAFC decision-makers to integrate young players into the MLS squad.