Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) today announced that Harald Gärtner has stepped down as Managing Director Europe for the club. Gärtner, 57, who has played a key role in the development of Grasshopper Zürich and Wacker Innsbruck since 2023, is set to join the executive board of German third-division club FC Ingolstadt 04, where he previously served from 2007 to 2019.
“On behalf of everyone at LAFC, I want to thank Harald for his invaluable leadership, vision, and dedication over the last three years,” LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said. “His expertise was instrumental in establishing our European footprint and laying a strong foundation for both Grasshoppers and Wacker Innsbruck. While we will miss his daily partnership, we fully respect his desire to return to a club that holds such a special place in his personal history. Harald leaves as a great friend of LAFC, and we wish him nothing but the absolute best at FC Ingolstadt.”
“I would like to thank the owners of LAFC and, above all, Larry Freedman, John Thorrington, and Stacy Johns — with whom I worked with closely prior to her departure,” Gärtner said. “I would also like to thank Lukas Grether, Managing Director International LAFC, for our exceptionally productive collaboration. The trust everyone placed in me was remarkable. These past three years have been an incredible time for me. I will always feel a connection to LAFC and the people involved with the club.”
Gärtner’s departure is effective June 30.
