SOCCER : Villanueva Named to Manage Los Angeles MLS Franchise

Southern California businessman Danny Villanueva Jr. was named president and general manager of Major League Soccer’s as-yet-unnamed Los Angeles franchise on Thursday.

Villanueva, 36, son of the former Ram kicker and punter, is president of the Villanueva Companies, which have interests in radio and television broadcasting, commercial real estate, farming and an investment fund.

His soccer experience includes a stint with the defunct North American Soccer League’s Los Angeles Aztecs, of which his father was team president.

Calling Los Angeles “a great soccer city,” Villanueva said he will work “to ensure a top-quality product on the field,” when the MLS kicks off its inaugural season on March 31.

The next priority for the franchise, one of 10 in the league, will be to complete its stadium plans and begin the search for a coach.

*

The U.S. national team leaves Monday for Uruguay and first-round games against Chile, Bolivia and Argentina in the Copa America tournament July 5-23. Coach Steve Sampson added forward Joe-Max Moore of Irvine and goalkeeper Juergen Sommer to his 22-man roster, replacing midfielder Chris Henderson and forward Roy Wegerle.