LA Galaxy
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The LA Galaxy are an American professional soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. The Galaxy started playing in 1996 and are one of the league's original teams.
Founded in 1994 and owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group, the Galaxy first played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Since 2003, their home has been Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The team has important rivalries, including the California Clásico with the San Jose Earthquakes. In 2018, a new rival, Los Angeles FC (LAFC), joined, creating another exciting match called "El Tráfico".
The Galaxy have won many big trophies, including a record six MLS Cups and eight Western Conference titles. In 2007, they signed famous English player David Beckham from Real Madrid. Other well-known players who have played for the Galaxy include Robbie Keane, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Marco Reus, Luis Hernández, and American star Landon Donovan, who is the club's top scorer of all time.
History
Further information: Soccer in Los Angeles
Early years (1996–2000)
The LA Galaxy started in 1996 as one of the first teams in Major League Soccer. The team’s name, “Galaxy,” comes from Los Angeles’s fame as a home to famous people in Hollywood. They began playing in the league’s first season that same year.
In their first season, the Galaxy finished first in their group but lost the final to D.C. United. Over the next few years, they played in the playoffs many times but faced strong teams like Dallas Burn and Chicago Fire.
First MLS Cup (2002)
In 2002, the Galaxy won their first big title by beating the New England Revolution in the final. They kept playing well and won another title in 2005.
Beckham era (2007–2012)
In 2007, famous player David Beckham joined the team, bringing excitement and attention. The Galaxy reached the final again in 2009 but lost. They worked hard and won titles in 2011 and 2012.
First to five league championships (2013–2016)
The Galaxy reached a big milestone by winning their fifth title in 2014, becoming the first team in the league to do so. They added more talented players and stayed among the top teams.
Wooden Spoon and rebuilding (2016–2023)
After some changes in the team’s leaders and players, the Galaxy had hard times. They finished last in 2017 but brought in new players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, who helped them play better. Even with some wins, they often did not make the playoffs.
MLS Cup championship return (2023–present)
In 2023, the Galaxy came back strong, winning their sixth title by beating the New York Red Bulls. However, key player Riqui Puig was injured and missed the next season, making it hard for the team.
Colors and badge
The LA Galaxy's team colors are navy blue, gold, and white. Their main uniform is white, and their other uniform is blue. These colors were chosen in 2007 when a famous player, David Beckham, joined the team. Before that, the team used gold, teal green, and white with black details. Their first jersey in 1996 showed the colors of Los Angeles with black and teal halves and special designs.
The team has had two logos. The first logo, used before 2007, was gold, teal, and black with the team name over a golden swirl. In 2007, the logo changed to a blue shield with a gold border, showing the team name and a special design at the top. This design was inspired by an old symbol of Los Angeles County. The name "Galaxy" was created by the company Nike when the league started, and they were also the team's first uniform maker.
Club operations
The LA Galaxy made its first profit in 2003, becoming the first team in Major League Soccer to do so. After moving into the new Home Depot Center, the team saw more fans and more money from sponsors, parking, and food sales.
A report from 2015 said the LA Galaxy was second in Major League Soccer for money made each year and value. The team makes more money from sponsors and TV rights than any other team in the league. The Galaxy has the highest yearly income of any MLS team.
Kit sponsors
Stadium
From 1996 to 2002, the LA Galaxy played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Rose Bowl could hold many people. Between 1999 and 2011, some big games were at the Titan Stadium at California State University, Fullerton. The Galaxy played 10 games there.
In 2003, the Galaxy moved to a new stadium called Dignity Health Sports Park. This stadium is on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson. It has 27,000 seats and is used for soccer and other sports. From 2005 to 2014, the Galaxy shared this stadium with another team, Chivas USA.
| Period | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–2002 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California |
| 1999–2011 (U.S. Open Cup) | Titan Stadium | Fullerton, California |
| 2003–present | Dignity Health Sports Park | Carson, California |
Club culture
Cozmo
Cozmo is the mascot of the LA Galaxy. He has dark blue skin with yellow eyebrows and white eyes, matching the team's colors. He replaced an earlier mascot named Twizzle. Twizzle still appears sometimes at games to cheer for the team.
Galaxy Star squad
The Galaxy Star Squad is the team's official cheerleaders. They attend many Galaxy events and are often seen around the stadium during games, supporting the team.
Supporters
The Angel City Brigade started in 2007 to make games fun. They were first in section 121 of the stadium.
The LA Riot Squad began after a loss in 2001. They are now in sections 137 and 138.
Galaxians were the first supporter group, formed in 1996. They were originally in section 124.
Galaxy Outlawz is a newer group that started in 2019.
Victoria Block is a new section built in 2020 for supporters only. It is the new home for several supporter groups.
Ring of Honor
| Tenure | Name |
|---|---|
| 2002–2006 | Doug Hamilton |
| 1996–2003 | Mauricio Cienfuegos |
| 2007–2012 | David Beckham |
| 2005–2014 2016 | Landon Donovan |
Rivalries
San Jose Earthquakes
Main article: California Clásico
The LA Galaxy have a long rivalry with the San Jose Earthquakes, called the California Clásico. This rivalry is one of the oldest in American soccer. It began when the league started and has had exciting matches.
Los Angeles FC
Main article: El Tráfico
When Los Angeles FC joined the league in 2018, a new rivalry began between the two Los Angeles teams. This rivalry is called "El Tráfico" and is exciting for fans.
Chivas USA
Main article: SuperClasico
From 2005 to 2014, the Galaxy had a rivalry with Chivas USA, sharing the same stadium. This rivalry was called the SuperClasico. The Galaxy won most of their matches against Chivas USA. This was the only time two teams shared the same stadium until Chivas USA stopped playing in 2014.
Broadcasting
Since 2023, every LA Galaxy match can be watched using the Apple TV app through MLS Season Pass. Some matches are also shown on FOX Sports or FS1.
Before 2023, the Galaxy had a special deal with Time Warner Cable, now called Charter Spectrum. Before that, games were shown on local TV stations like Fox Sports West or Prime Ticket. In 2012, some games were on KDOC, and Spanish broadcasts were on KWHY.
Until 2023, ESPN+ showed most games for people outside the area, and some were on ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC. Univisión, UniMás, and TUDN also showed games.
Since MLS Season Pass began in 2023, Joe Tutino has been the main radio announcer for all Galaxy games. The radio broadcasts are available on the club’s website and social media pages.
Players and staff
For details on former players, see All-time Los Angeles Galaxy roster.
Roster
As of February 22, 2026
Note: Flags show which country's team a player can join, as decided by FIFA eligibility rules.
On loan
Note: Flags show which country's team a player can join, as decided by FIFA eligibility rules.
Technical staff
As of February 28, 2025
General managers
Head coaches
As of January 2022
|
| Role | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| General manager | Will Kuntz | |
| Technical director | Mikkel Dencher | |
| Sr. Director, Player personnel & compliance | Gordon Klještan | |
| Personnel specialist | Oliver Curry | |
| Senior advisor to the general manager | Juninho | |
| Head coach | Greg Vanney | |
| Assistant coach | Dan Calichman | |
| Assistant coach | Nick Theslof | |
| Assistant coach | Jason Bent | |
| Goalkeeper coach | Kevin Hartman | |
| Assistant coach and director of video analysis | Sam Green | |
| Director, Cognitive performance | Michael Rabasca | |
| Head coach, Ventura County FC | Matthew Taylor | |
| Assistant coach, Ventura County FC | Alex Yi | |
| Goalkeeper coach, Ventura County FC | Ian Feuer | |
| Video analyst, Ventura County FC | Grant Heywood | |
| Performance coach, Ventura County FC | Luke Garcia | |
| Director, development and methodology | Mike Muñoz | |
| U-17 coach and director of IDPs | Shaun Tsakiris | |
| U-14 coach | Jay Gomez | |
| U-13 coach | Sam Al-Basith | |
| LA Galaxy U15 head coach | Jean-Pierre Mujica | |
| Head of academy goalkeeper coach | Jonathyn Lomeli | |
| Director, high performance & innovation | Jim Liston | |
| Assistant coach, performance & sports science | Tom Williams | |
| Head strength & conditioning coach | Adam Waterson | |
| Strength & conditioning coach, LA Galaxy II | Kendrick Watson | |
| Head of academy performance coach | Carlos Gomez | |
| Sports performance dietitian | Erica Capellino | |
| Sports performance dietitian | Ashley Porterfield | |
| Director, sports medicine | Brian Lee | |
| Head athletic trainer | Cesar Roldán | |
| Athletic trainer, First team | Julie Beveridge | |
| Head athletic trainer, LA Galaxy II | Julius Murphy | |
| Head athletic trainer, LA Galaxy Academy | Madison Schultze | |
| Athletic trainer, LA Galaxy Academy | Kathia Aquino | |
| Team chiropractor and scar tissue specialist | Shunta Shimizu | |
| Rehab specialist | Luciano Tavares | |
| Sr. Manager, team operations | Zack Murshedi | |
| Manager, team operations, LA Galaxy II | Chris Howe | |
| Coordinator, team administration | Alexander Moreno | |
| Head equipment manager | Raul Vargas | |
| Equipment manager | Jose Vargas | |
| Equipment assistant | Jose Vega | |
| Equipment manager, LA Galaxy II | Bryan Gonzalez | |
| Equipment manager, LA Galaxy Academy | Tony Hernandez | |
| Director, Education | Nyssa Tsakiris | |
| Academic learning advisor | Brian Irvin | |
| Academic learning advisor | Teresa Villareal | |
| Team orthopedist | Bert Mandelbaum | |
| Chief medical officer, Primary care physician | Josh Scott | |
| Team neuropsychologist | Dave Lechuga | |
| Team dentist | Dr. Iman Abdeshahian | |
| Team chiropractors | George Billauer | |
| Team ophthalmologist | Rom Kandavel | |
| Team podiatrist | Howard Liebeskind | |
| Tenure | Name |
|---|---|
| 1994–1998 | Danny Villanueva |
| 1999–2000 | Sergio del Prado |
| 2000–2001 | Tim Luce |
| 2002–2006 | Doug Hamilton |
| 2006–2008 | Alexi Lalas |
| 2008–2016 | Bruce Arena |
| 2016–2017 | Peter Vagenas |
| 2017–2018 | Sigi Schmid |
| 2018–2021 | Dennis te Kloese |
| 2024- | Will Kuntz |
| Tenure | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 – June 10, 1997 | Lothar Osiander | |
| June 10, 1997 – April 23, 1999 | Octavio Zambrano | |
| April 22, 1999 – August 16, 2004 | Sigi Schmid | |
| August 18, 2004 – June 6, 2006 | Steve Sampson | |
| June 7, 2006 – November 5, 2007 | Frank Yallop | |
| November 9, 2007 – August 11, 2008 | Ruud Gullit | |
| August 11, 2008 – August 18, 2008 | Cobi Jones (interim) | |
| August 18, 2008 – November 22, 2016 | Bruce Arena | |
| December 13, 2016 – July 27, 2017 | Curt Onalfo | |
| July 27, 2017 – September 10, 2018 | Sigi Schmid | |
| September 10, 2018 – December 28, 2018 | Dominic Kinnear (interim) | |
| January 2, 2019 – October 29, 2020 | Guillermo Barros Schelotto | |
| October 29, 2020 – November 8, 2020 | Dominic Kinnear (interim) | |
| January 5, 2021 – present | Greg Vanney |
Youth development
The LA Galaxy has teams for younger players to help them grow as soccer players. They have a team called LA Galaxy II that started in 2014. This team plays in a league called the USL. In 2024, the team moved part of its games to Thousand Oaks, California, and changed its name to Ventura County FC.
The Galaxy also has an academy where players aged 12 to 18 practice and play in special leagues. Some players from this academy have gone on to play for bigger teams. The Galaxy works with other youth clubs in Southern California, helping them use the Galaxy’s resources and programs. One of these clubs, LA Galaxy Orange County, has a men’s team that plays in another league.
Honors
The LA Galaxy have won several awards. They got the MLS Fair Play Award in 2013 and the MLS Wooden Spoon in 2017.
The team has not retired any jersey numbers. Some thought the number 13, worn by former player Cobi Jones, was retired, but it was later worn by Jermaine Jones in 2017.
| National | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| MLS Cup | 6 | 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024 |
| Supporters' Shield | 4 | 1998, 2002, 2010, 2011 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 2 | 2001, 2005 |
| Western Conference (Playoff) | 8 | 1996, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024 |
| Western Conference (Regular Season) | 8 | 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Continental | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | 1 | 2000 |
Team results
Main article: List of LA Galaxy seasons
This is a short list of the last five seasons the LA Galaxy finished. For all the years the team has played, see List of LA Galaxy seasons.
**^**1. Avg. attendance includes numbers only from games in the league.
**^**2. Top goalscorer(s) counts all goals scored in League, MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other important continental games.
International tournaments
| Season | League | Position | Playoffs | USOC | Continental / Other | Average attendance | Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div | League | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Conf. | Overall | Name(s) | Goals | ||||||
| 2021 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 50 | 54 | –4 | 48 | 1.41 | 8th | 15th | DNQ | NH | Leagues Cup | DNQ | 14,849 | 17 | |
| 2022 | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 50 | 1.47 | 4th | 8th | QF | QF | Leagues Cup | DNQ | 22,841 | 18 | |||
| 2023 | 34 | 8 | 14 | 23 | 51 | 67 | –16 | 36 | 1.06 | 13th | 26th | DNQ | QF | Leagues Cup | GS | 24,106 | 7 | |||
| 2024 | 34 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 69 | 50 | +19 | 64 | 1.88 | 2nd | 4th | W | DNE | Leagues Cup | Ro32 | 26,136 | 19 | |||
| 2025 | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 46 | 66 | –20 | 30 | 0.88 | 14th | 26th | DNQ | DNE | Leagues CupCONCACAF Champions Cup | 3rdQF | 20,067 | 9 | |||
Player awards
Statistical records
MLS regular season only, as of October 7, 2019
Some great records from the LA Galaxy include:
- Most games played: Cobi Jones, 392
- Most goals scored: Landon Donovan, 113
- Most assists: Landon Donovan, 107
- Most clean sheets (games without letting the other team score): Kevin Hartman, 64
- Most goals in one season: Zlatan Ibrahimović, 30
Top goalscorers
Player of the Year
Golden Boot
The Golden Boot is given to the player who scores the most goals by the end of the season. This award wasn’t given from 1996 to 2004. During those years, the MLS Scoring Champion Award counted both goals and assists.
Defender of the Year
| No. | Nation | Name | Career | MLS | Playoffs | Open Cup | Continental | Total (Apps) | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landon Donovan | 2005–2014, 2016 | 113 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 141 (317) | 0.44 | |
| 2 | Robbie Keane | 2011–2016 | 83 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 104 (165) | 0.63 | |
| 3 | Cobi Jones | 1996–2007 | 70 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 082 (392) | 0.21 | |
| 4 | Carlos Ruiz | 2002–2004, 2008 | 51 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 069 (104) | 0.66 | |
| 5 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | 2018–2019 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 053 0(58) | 0.91 | |
| 6 | Edson Buddle | 2007–2010, 2012, 2015 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 047 (144) | 0.33 | |
| 7 | Mauricio Cienfuegos | 1996–2003 | 35 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 045 (269) | 0.17 | |
| 8 | Dejan Joveljić | 2021–2024 | 34 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 44 (122) | 0.36 | |
| 9 | Alan Gordon | 2005–2010, 2014–2016 | 29 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 042 (203) | 0.21 | |
| 10 | Gyasi Zardes | 2013–2017 | 34 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 040 (154) | 0.26 |
| Year | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Eduardo Hurtado | |
| 1997 | Mauricio Cienfuegos | |
| 1998 | Cobi Jones | |
| 1999 | Kevin Hartman | |
| 2000 | Simon Elliott | |
| 2001 | Ezra Hendrickson | |
| 2002 | Carlos Ruiz | |
| 2003 | Kevin Hartman | |
| 2004 | Kevin Hartman | |
| 2005 | Herculez Gomez | |
| 2006 | Landon Donovan | |
| 2007 | Chris Klein | |
| 2008 | Landon Donovan | |
| 2009 | Landon Donovan | |
| 2010 | Edson Buddle | |
| 2011 | Landon Donovan | |
| 2012 | Robbie Keane | |
| 2013 | Robbie Keane | |
| 2014 | Robbie Keane | |
| 2015 | Robbie Keane | |
| 2016 | Giovani dos Santos | |
| 2017 | Romain Alessandrini | |
| 2018 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | |
| 2019 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | |
| 2020 | Cristian Pavón | |
| 2021 | Javier Hernández | |
| 2022 | Javier Hernández | |
| 2023 | Riqui Puig | |
| 2024 | Riqui Puig |
| Year | Nation | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Carlos Ruiz | 24 | |
| 2005 | Landon Donovan | 12 | |
| 2006 | Landon Donovan | 12 | |
| 2007 | Landon Donovan | 8 | |
| 2008 | Landon Donovan | 20 | |
| 2009 | Landon Donovan | 12 | |
| 2010 | Edson Buddle | 17 | |
| 2011 | Landon Donovan | 12 | |
| 2012 | Robbie Keane | 16 | |
| 2013 | Robbie Keane | 16 | |
| 2014 | Robbie Keane | 19 | |
| 2015 | Robbie Keane | 20 | |
| 2016 | Giovani dos Santos | 14 | |
| 2017 | Romain Alessandrini | 13 | |
| 2018 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | 22 | |
| 2019 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | 30 | |
| 2020 | Cristian Pavón | 10 | |
| 2021 | Javier Hernández | 17 | |
| 2022 | Javier Hernández | 18 | |
| 2023 | Tyler Boyd Riqui Puig | 7 | |
| 2024 | Gabriel Pec | 16 |
| Year | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Jorge Campos | |
| 1997 | Robin Fraser | |
| 1998 | Robin Fraser | |
| 1999 | Robin Fraser | |
| 2000 | Danny Califf | |
| 2001 | Greg Vanney | |
| 2002 | Alexi Lalas | |
| 2003 | Danny Califf | |
| 2004 | Tyrone Marshall | |
| 2005 | Tyrone Marshall | |
| 2006 | Chris Albright | |
| 2007 | Ty Harden | |
| 2008 | Sean Franklin | |
| 2009 | Donovan Ricketts | |
| 2010 | Omar Gonzalez | |
| 2011 | Omar Gonzalez | |
| 2012 | A. J. DeLaGarza | |
| 2013 | Omar Gonzalez | |
| 2014 | A. J. DeLaGarza | |
| 2015 | Leonardo | |
| 2016 | Jelle Van Damme | |
| 2017 | Ashley Cole | |
| 2018 | Ashley Cole | |
| 2019 | Diego Polenta | |
| 2020 | Julián Araujo | |
| 2021 | Julián Araujo | |
| 2022 | Jonathan Bond | |
| 2023 | Lucas Calegari | |
| 2024 | Maya Yoshida |
Images
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