CARSON, Calif. (AP) -Former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena was hired Monday as coach of David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy, who haven't won a game in over two months.

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Arena was to be introduced at a news conference Monday after guiding the team through practice for the first time. He will make his debut as the Galaxy coach Thursday night against the Chicago Fire - when Beckham and forward Landon Donovan will be missing because of national team duty.

Arena succeeds Ruud Gullit, who resigned last Monday for personal reasons. President and general manager Alexi Lalas was fired the same day.

The Galaxy, in danger of missing the playoffs, are 6-8-6 with four losses and four ties in their last eight matches. Cobi Jones, in his first year as an assistant coach, guided the team to a 2-2 tie against Chivas USA last Thursday night.

``I personally think he's the best coach in the history of the league,'' said Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, the team owner.

The 56-year-old Arena was dismissed as coach of the national team after the Americans were eliminated in first round in the 2006 World Cup. He was hired as coach of the New York Red Bulls than summer, then was forced out last November after they were eliminated from the first round of the MLS playoffs for the second straight year.