Galaxy Soccer
LA Galaxy: An Introduction To Beckham’s New Team
By Matthew Hernon
Finally a soccer transfer made the headlines in America as David Beckham agreed to join LA Galaxy. With Hollywood looks and friends, it was inevitable that the man known as ‘Goldenballs’ would end up in Los Angeles.
The former England captain has played for two of the worlds biggest and most prestigious clubs; Manchester United and Real Madrid. LA Galaxy on the other hand, are relatively unknown.
That doesn’t mean they don’t have any history or decent players though! They already have quite a lot going for them. Here are ten things you might not have known about the club:
1) They are the best supported team in the MLS, boasting the highest all-time attendance. Their average gates are likely to increase further over the coming months, particularly when a certain player arrives.
2) 2006 was their worst ever season, as they failed to make the Play-Off’s for the first time, finishing 5th in the Western Conference. It was particularly disappointing considering they won the domestic double a year earlier.
3) While David Beckham was clearly the most high profile player going in to the 2002 World Cup, he was upstaged in the actual tournament by a current Galaxy player. Landon Donavon was America’s best player as they surprisingly made the last eight. He scored twice and won the ‘Best Young Player Award’.
4) Another top perfomer that summer was former Galaxy star; Hong Myung-Bo. The Korean skipper was inspirational, helping his country reach the semi-finals; a monumental achievement. He marshalled the defence superbly, scored the winning penalty against Spain in the quarter finals and was named as the third best player, behind Oliver Kahn and Ronaldo.
5) Being a Canadian, coach Frank Yallop has never played or managed in a World Cup, nonetheless, he will be familiar to many fans in England. He was a right-back with Ipswich in the Eighties and early Nineties. He was not the most gifted player at Portman Road, but he was appreciated by the fans for his commitment and loyalty.
6) Yallop isn’t the only one at LA Galaxy to have played in England. Cobi Jones spent one season at Coventry City. The dreadlocked midfielder did not enjoy much success in the Midlands, yet he remains one of America’s finest ever players. He amassed an incredible 164 caps for his country. While his international career is now over, he just keeps going for his hometown team.
7) There will be two English men strutting their stuff at Galaxy’s stadium; the home Depot Center, this season. They share the stadium with Chivas USA, who recently acquired the services of Edgworth born striker, John Cunliffe. A move that hasn’t quite made the same headlines!
The arrival of Becks will, no doubt, attract a number of high profile supporters like Tom Cruise to the club. At the moment, comedy star, Drew Carey is the most famous fan. Known for his role on ‘Whose line is it anyway’ and his self titled sitcom, the 48yr-old is a huge sports fan and likes to go to all of Galaxy’s home games.
9) Like most followers of the club, Carey is delighted with the acquisition of such a superstar. There appears to be some reservations among some of the players, however. Talking to BBC Radio Five Live, midfielder Peter Vagenas admitted “…. of course there’s resentment. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t.”
10) Another person who probably wasn’t too happy to see the former Man Utd man sign for Galaxy was Bryan Byrne. The Irish midfielder was on the verge of signing for the LA team, but according to the BBC, when Beckham agreed to join them, the club felt they no longer needed a right midfielder.
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