Italian football Great Giorgio Chiellini joins Lafc ownership group

Italian football Great Giorgio Chiellini will return to Los Angeles FC as part of the club’s ownership group, the team said Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Chiellini, who spent almost two decades playing the Italian club Juventus before he came to Lafc in 2022, also spent time as a player development coach at the MLS team in 2024.

«Participating in the Lafc ownership group is a great honor for me,» said Chiellini in a statement from the team. «When I arrived here three years ago as a player, I immediately felt that there was something special about this club. It is an ambitious organization, built by extraordinary people and supported by a community that you really feel at home. That is why I expressed my wish to become an owner last year, and now I am proud to continue this journey and give my support to a project that I believe deep in.»

Chiellini, one of the best defenders in the world during his 23-year-old professional career, retired in 2023. He won nine consecutive Series A championships with Juventus and the Euro 2020 title with the Italian national team. His last two seasons were spent with Lafc, where he appeared in 45 games, including seven in the MLS Cup play -offs and three in the 2023 Leagues Cup.

During his many years at Juventus, Chiellini series earned a defensive player of the year three times, in addition to the fact that he was appointed team of the year of the Italian League five times.