Los Angeles Galaxy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Year founded | 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Major League Soccer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Galaxy, The G's, The Green and Gold, Los Galacticos de Los Angeles |
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| Stadium | The Home Depot Center Carson, CA |
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| Coach |  Frank Yallop, 2006— |
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| Owner |  Anschutz Entertainment Group |
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| First Game Los Angeles Galaxy 2–1 MetroStars (Rose Bowl; April 13, 1996) |
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| Largest Win Dallas Burn 1–8 Los Angeles Galaxy (Cotton Bowl; June 4, 1998) |
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| Worst Defeat MetroStars 5–0 Los Angeles Galaxy (Giants Stadium; June 15, 2002) |
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| All-time Top Scorer Cobi Jones (66) |
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| Supporter Groups Galaxians, L.A. Riot Squad, Galaxy Stars |
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| MLS Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| US Open Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2001, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supporters' Shield | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998, 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Los Angeles Galaxy is a professional soccer club based in Los Angeles, California that participates in Major League Soccer. The name "Galaxy" refers to Los Angeles being the home of many Hollywood 'stars.'[citation needed] The team colors are gold and green. The home jerseys are gold with a green sash and some minor black accents.
The Galaxy was one of the ten founding members of Major League Soccer, that began play in 1996. The club played their home games at the Rose Bowl from 1996–2002 until they moved into their own soccer-specific stadium, The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, in 2003. Since the 2005 season, The Home Depot Center has been shared with Chivas USA. The Galaxy has the highest all-time attendance in league history and is the first MLS team to make a profit in a season. The Galaxy has two main supporters clubs known as The Galaxians, and the Los Angeles Riot Squad. Their mascot is known as "Cozmo," a frog-like extraterrestrial.
Recently, the Galaxy were in the news for being the first MLS team to take advantage of the Designated Player Rule, also known as the "Beckham Rule," by signing the rule's namesake David Beckham to a contract worth approximately $5.5 million a year for 5 years. [1]
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[edit] History
The Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup final five times in 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2005—winning in 2002 and 2005. In 2000 they won the CONCACAF Champions Cup and in 2001 the US Open Cup. They won the Open Cup again in 2005 as part of winning the domestic double, the third time a team has done so in MLS history. Their 2005 MLS Cup victory was the first time that the team with the worst record entering the playoffs won the championship.
In 2005, after an unsuccessful stint in Germany's Bundesliga, Landon Donovan returned to the MLS to play for the Galaxy. In his first season with the Galaxy, Donovan scored 12 league goals and 10 assists and added four goals and an assist in the playoffs, leading the Galaxy to a victory in the 2005 MLS Cup.
The 2006 season was considered as one of the poorest seasons (if not the worst) in the Galaxy's history as the team finished fifth in the Western Conference with an 11-15-6 record, eliminating them from playoff contention for the first time since the league's inception (10 straight seasons). It was also the season where Doug Hamilton, the team's general manager, died of a heart attack on board the aeroplane carrying the team back from Costa Rica after their loss to Saprissa in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on March 16. Hamilton, who was only 43 years old, was also the GM of the Los Angeles Riptide of Major League Lacrosse.
On 11 January 2007 Reuters reported that former England captain David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and sign a five-year deal with the Galaxy. The 31-year-old, who joined Real from Manchester United in June 2003, is the most well-known player to sign up for Major League Soccer since it began play in 1996. Beckham is the fifth most capped England player of all time, has twice been the runner up in the FIFA World Player Of The Year Award (in 1999 and 2001), and was a member of Manchester United's 1999 UEFA Champions League winning team.
It has been reported that in early 2007 the Los Angeles Galaxy plan to unveil the team's new jersey design in an attempt to make the Galaxy brand a more global in its appeal. It is believed that the new jerseys will be dark blue and or black.[1] In March 2007 it was announced that Herbalife would be the primary jersey sponsor of the Galaxy in a five-year deal worth between $3.5 million and $5 million a year through 2011.[2]
[edit] Rivalries
The Galaxy's biggest rival in the 1990s was D.C. United, where the two squads met in MLS Cup 1996 and MLS Cup 1999. The Galaxy lost 3-2, in overtime, and 2-0, respectively. This rivalry remains strong.
The Galaxy's biggest rival in the early 2000s was the San Jose Earthquakes until they were relocated to Houston, Texas following the 2005 season, becoming the Houston Dynamo. Currently, the league is seeking to re-establish a franchise in the San Jose area. If they are successful, this new version of the Earthquakes will likely return to the Galaxy's list of closest rivals.
The Galaxy's chief rival is now Chivas USA, with whom they share a home stadium. The Galaxy–Chivas USA game is the league's first and (thus far) only derby, known as the "Honda SuperClasico". Although the Galaxy won all four games the first year of the rivalry, in 2006 a more competitive Chivas side has increased the popularity of the SuperClasico.
[edit] Television and radio
Galaxy matches are televised by FSN West and its sister channel FSN Prime Ticket. Max Bretos and Allen Hopkins are the English language announcers, while Jaime Motta and Elmer Polanco announce in Spanish.
Matches are broadcast on radio by XEPE "CASH 1700 AM" in English and in Spanish on KMXE "Radio Visa". Joe Tutino does the English play-by-play while Troy Santiago does the same in Spanish.
[edit] Team honors
- CONCACAF Champions Cup:
- Winner (1): 2000
- Runner-up (1): 1997
- MLS Cup:
- Winner (2): 2002, 2005
- Runner-up (3): 1996, 1999, 2001
- MLS Supporters' Shield:
- Winner (2): 1998, 2002
- Runner-up (2): 1996, 1999
- US Open Cup:
- Winner (2): 2001, 2005
- Runner-up (2): 2002, 2006
[edit] Current roster
As of March 23, 2007
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† Unsigned player
[edit] Changes for the 2007 MLS Season
In
David Beckham Free transfer from Real Madrid on July 2007- Joe Cannon Traded from Colorado Rapids
Robbie Findley Signed as draft pick- Nate Jaqua Traded from Toronto FC
Shavar Thomas Traded from Kansas City Wizards
Out
- Michael Enfield Released by team
- Josh Gardner Released by team
- Cornell Glen Released by team
- Herculez Gomez Traded to Colorado Rapids
- Guillermo Gonzalez Released by team
- Josh Hansen Released by team
- Kevin Hartman Traded to Kansas City Wizards
- Ugo Ihemelu Traded to Colorado Rapids
Stefani Miglioranzi Traded to Columbus Crew- Paulo Nagamura Drafted and signed by Toronto FC in expansion draft
- Josh Saunders Released by team
[edit] Notable former players
- Chris Armas (1996–1997)
- Paul Caligiuri (1997–2001)
Jorge Campos (1996–1997)
Mauricio Cienfuegos (1996–2003)- Robin Fraser (1996–2000)
- Kevin Hartman (1997–2006)
- Carlos Hermosillo (1998–1999)
- Luis Hernández (2000–2001)
Andreas Herzog (2004)
Eduardo Hurtado (1996–1998)- Alexi Lalas (2001–2003)
Martín Machón (1997–1998)- Clint Mathis (1998–2000)
Hong Myung-Bo (2003–2004)- Carlos Ruíz (2002–2004)
- Welton (1997–1999)
[edit] Most Valuable Players
| Year | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Landon Donovan | |
| 2005 | Herculez Gomez | |
| 2004 | Kevin Hartman | |
| 2003 | Kevin Hartman | |
| 2002 | Carlos Ruiz | |
| 2001 | Ezra Hendrickson |  |
| 2000 | Simon Elliott |  |
| 1999 | Kevin Hartman | |
| 1998 | Cobi Jones | |
| 1997 | Mauricio Cienfuegos | |
| 1996 | Eduardo Hurtado | |
[edit] Golden Boot Winners
The Golden Boot Winner is the leading goal scorer at the end of the season (only goals in MLS regular season play count towards this award).
| Year | Name | Nation | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Landon Donovan | |
12 |
| 2005 | Landon Donovan | |
12 |
| 2004 | Carlos Ruiz | |
11 |
| 2003 | Carlos Ruiz | |
15 |
| 2002 | Carlos Ruiz | |
24 |
| 2001 | Luis Hernandez | |
8 |
| 2000 | Cobi Jones | |
7 |
| 1999 | Cobi Jones | |
8 |
| 1998 | Cobi Jones | |
19 |
| 1997 | Welton | |
11 |
| 1996 | Eduardo Hurtado | |
21 |
[edit] Defensive Player of the Year
| Year | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Chris Albright | |
| 2005 | Tyrone Marshall | |
| 2004 | Tyrone Marshall | |
| 2003 | Danny Califf | |
| 2002 | Alexi Lalas | |
| 2001 | Greg Vanney | |
| 2000 | Danny Califf | |
| 1999 | Robin Fraser | |
| 1998 | Robin Fraser | |
| 1997 | Robin Fraser | |
| 1996 | Jorge Campos | |
[edit] Head coaches
Lothar Osiander (1996–1997)- Octavio Zambrano (1997–1999)
- Ralph Perez (1999; interim)
- Sigi Schmid (1999–2004)
- Steve Sampson (2004–2006)
- Frank Yallop (2006—)
[edit] Team records
- Games: Cobi Jones, 281
- Goals: Cobi Jones, 66
- Assists: Cobi Jones, 86
- Clean Sheets: Kevin Hartman, 62
MLS regular season only, through 2006 season
[edit] Home stadiums
- Rose Bowl (1996–2002)
- The Home Depot Center (2003–present)
[edit] Year-by-year
| Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1st, West | Final | Did not enter |
| 1997 | 2nd, West | Quarterfinals | Did not enter |
| 1998 | 1st, West* | Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1999 | 1st, West | Final | Quarterfinals |
| 2000 | 2nd, West | Semifinals | Semifinals |
| 2001 | 1st, West | Final | Champions |
| 2002 | 1st, West* | Champions | Final |
| 2003 | 4th, West | Quarterfinals | Semifinals |
| 2004 | 2nd, West | Semifinals | Round of 16 |
| 2005 | 4th, West | Champions | Champions |
| 2006 | 5th, West | Did not qualify | Final |
[edit] International competition
- 1997 Champions' Cup
- Qualifying Playoff v. Santos Laguna -- 4:1
- Quarterfinals v. Luis Angel Firpo -- 2:0
- Semifinals v. D.C. United -- 1:0
- Final v. Cruz Azul -- 3:5
- 2000 Champions' Cup
- Quarterfinals v. Real España -- 0:0 (Galaxy advance 5:3 on penalties)
- Semifinals v. D.C. United -- 1:1 (Galaxy advance 4:2 on penalties)
- Final v. CD Olimpia -- 3:2
- 2003 La Manga Cup
- Group Stage v. Lyn Oslo -- 5:0
- Group Stage v. Torpedo Moskva -- 3:0
- Group Stage v. Odd Grenland -- 0:1
- Third Place Match v. Viking Stavanger -- 3:0
- 2003 Champions' Cup
- 2003 Peace Cup
- Group Stage v. Nacional -- 0:0
- Group Stage v. 1860 München -- 0:0
- Group Stage v. PSV Eindhoven -- 1:4
- 2006 Champions' Cup
- Quarterfinals v. Saprissa -- 0:0, 2:3AET (Saprissa advance 3:2 on aggregate)
- 2007 SuperLiga
- Group Stage v. Guadalajara
- Group Stage v. Pachuca
- Group Stage v. FC Dallas
[edit] Average attendance
regular season/playoffs
- 1996: 30,129/29,883
- 1997: 23,626/26,703
- 1998: 21,784/13,175
- 1999: 17,632/21,039
- 2000: 20,400/25,033
- 2001: 17,387/28,462
- 2002: 19,047/24,596
- 2003: 21,983/20,201
- 2004: 23,809/20,206
- 2005: 24,204/17,466
- 2006: 20,814/missed playoffs
- All-Time: 21,892/22,676
[edit] Trivia
- A Guatemalan Affair: Carlos Ruiz scored the game winning goal vs. the Revolution in the 2002 MLS Cup final and Guillermo Ramirez scored the game winning goal versus the Revolution in the 2005 MLS Cup final, both goals were in extra time.
[edit] References
- ^ Wahl, Grant. "Anatomy of a blockbuster", 2007-01-17.
- ^ "Galaxy, Herbalife ink five-year deal to sponsor jersey", http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/, 23 March 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
- ^ L.A. Galaxy in the community for the holidays (press release). Los Angeles Galaxy (2006-12-05).
[edit] External links
- Official Website
- Galaxy Stars — fan club for kids up to 16
- Los Angeles Riot Squad
- The Galaxians Fan Club
- Official Galaxy board, courtesy of BigSoccer
- Los Angeles Galaxy Team Page
- LA Galaxy shirts
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Eastern Conference |
Western Conference |
| Former teams | On hiatus |
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| Miami Fusion | Tampa Bay Mutiny | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Miscellaneous | |
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MLS Cup | All-Star Game | SuperLiga | USSF | CSA | Central Division | U.S. Open Cup |
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