LA Galaxy Tryouts
The LA Galaxy, also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, is an American professional soccer club based in Los Angeles, California. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference.
LA Galaxy Youth Development
LA Galaxy II
The Galaxy created the LA Galaxy II reserve team in January 2014 to compete in the USL. In their inaugural season, Los Dos finished third with a record of 15–6–7, and reached the semi-final where they lost to Sacramento Republic FC. For the 2015 USL season, the Galaxy were placed in the Western Conference.
To learn more about LA Galaxy II, please click here.
LA Galaxy Academy program
As part of its development program, the Galaxy operates an academy system with U-18 and U-16 teams competing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, and U-14 and U-12 teams competing in Southern California Developmental Soccer Leagues (SCDSL). Recent academy graduates include: Jack McBean, Oscar Sorto, Jose Villarreal, Gyasi Zardes, Raul Mendiola and Bradford Jamieson IV.
LA Galaxy Academy Tryouts
Interested in joining the LA Galaxy Boys Academy Program, please click here.
LA Galaxy Alliance clubs
The LA Galaxy extended its youth development program and structure through the integration of existing youth clubs that have partnered under the LA Galaxy name. Known as the LA Galaxy Academy Alliance Clubs, they are located throughout Southern California, retain some autonomy and have access to LA Galaxy resources and outreach programs. One alliance club, LA Galaxy Orange County, has a men’s category competing in the United Premier Soccer League.
LA Galaxy Host Families
The LA Galaxy Academy is looking for your help!
Every year, players ages 11-18 join the LA Galaxy Academy from across the U.S. and abroad, often times without housing accommodations. The Academy is seeking host families to support these players’ athletic, social, and educational endeavors.
Hosted players will require the selected families to provide:
- Host families will receive a monthly stipend of $500 per player.
- The player with his own bedroom
- Daily nutritious meals and internet access to support educational needs
- Transportation to and from training, games, and other team events.
The LA Galaxy Academy soccer season runs from early August through the end of June.
For more information contact William Bizzaro, Academy Manager
[email protected] or 310.617.4488
Galaxy Juniors
The Galaxy Juniors Presented by Dignity Health program is an exciting, non-competitive opportunity for your child to learn the great game of soccer while developing physically, socially and mentally! Our classes are fast-paced, energy-burning and fun to watch. Children will grow in their confidence as individuals and as athletes.
WHO: Non-competitive fun soccer training for beginners
WHAT: Weekly 50 minute soccer classes
8 WEEKS OF CLASSES = $164
AGES: 18 months to 7 years old (Boys and Girls)
To learn more about the Galaxy Juniors program, please click here.
LA Galaxy Youth Camps
LA Galaxy Camps provide a platform for players ages 6-17 (Half Day Camps: 6-14; Elite Camps: 10-17) and all levels of ability to play soccer in a challenging and exciting environment. Our professional USSF Certified Youth Coaching Staff create a unique atmosphere for all players to receive the highest coaching instruction while enjoying being developed as a soccer player. We strive to identify and develop key players in the community that could advance to play for the LA Galaxy Academy, LA Galaxy II or the LA Galaxy one day. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions regarding LA Galaxy Youth Camps.
LA Galaxy Clinics
LA Galaxy Clinics are designed as a series of training sessions that allow staff to better evaluate players over an extended period of time. LA Galaxy Clinics are targeted towards a higher level player looking to train in a competitive environment under the instruction of LA Galaxy staff. Our professional USSF Certified youth coaching staff create a unique atmosphere for all players to receive the highest coaching instruction while enjoying being developed as a soccer player.
In various locations all around Southern California, our clinics are designed to provide a better understanding of the game’s overall tactics in a safe, fun, and competitive environment conducive for each player to learn and grow. Our staff teach using age-appropriate technical and tactical exercises designed by our Academy coaches with each level of player in mind. Players will practice in an exciting soccer environment consisting of modern camp games, unique fitness learning, challenging skills demonstrations, and small-sided competitions. We strive to identify and develop key players in the community that could advance to play for the LA Galaxy Academy, LA Galaxy II or the LA Galaxy one day!
Whether you are a beginner or advanced player, the LA Galaxy offer a wide variety of clinics, including Academy ID Clinics, to cater to the needs of all individual players.
To learn more about upcoming clinics, please click here.
LA Galaxy Recruitment Trials
At the time of this writing, there are no official publishings on LA Galaxy trials. Please come back at a later date while we monitor this club or click here to visit their official academy tryout web page.
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LA Galaxy Overview
The Los Angeles Galaxy, or simply the LA Galaxy, is a professional American soccer team headquartered in the Carson, California, suburb of Los Angeles. The Galaxy is a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS). As one of the league’s original 10 members, the team debuted on the field in 1996. Anschutz Entertainment Group owns the Galaxy, which was founded in 1994 and first played host to a game in 1995.
Home games were held in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl in the club’s early years. Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, has hosted them since 2003. The California Clásico pits them against the San Jose Earthquakes, and the SuperClasico pitted them against Chivas USA, another city foe until that team folded in 2014. This year’s El Tráfico rivalry included a new opponent in Los Angeles FC. The squad has won five MLS Cups and competed in the final four times, as well as the Western Conference regular season title eight times, four Supporters’ Shields, two U.S. Open Cups, and one CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. The franchise is one of Major League Soccer’s most successful teams. The MLS Wooden Spoon was added to the club’s trophy cabinet in 2017 after the team finished bottom of the league.
The most high-profile deal in Major League Soccer history occurred in 2007 when the team acquired Real Madrid’s English star, David Beckham. In addition to Zlatan Ibrahimovi, Robbie Keane, Luis “El Matador” Hernández, Giovani do Santos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Jonathan do Santos, Jorge Campos, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, and American Landon Donovan, the club has fielded a number of other notable international players. In 2019, Forbes projected that the club is worth $480 million, ranking second in the league.
LA Galaxy History
Early years (1996–2000)
Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy is one of the league’s original ten franchises. The “stars” of Hollywood reside in Los Angeles, hence the term “Galaxy”. In the inaugural season of the then-new league, which took place in 1996, the team made their debut.
The Galaxy finished first in the Western Conference in the first season of MLS and were one of the two teams to compete in the first MLS Cup final. D.C. United won the championship, defeating the Galaxy in the final. In the first eight games of the 1997 season, the team was 1–7, but they went on a 15–9 run to finish the season and make the playoffs. After losing to the Dallas Burn, the Galaxy finished second in their conference. In 1998, the Galaxy went on a winning streak, ending up 24–8. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Dallas Burn, 9–3 on the aggregate.
They were beaten 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals by the Chicago Fire. With a final record of 20–12 and a triumph in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup in 1999, the Galaxy finished first in the Western Conference, but fell 2–0 to DC United. The Galaxy finished second in the Western Division in 2000 with a record of 14–10–8. However, they were beaten by the Kansas City Wizards in a sudden death game after the series ended in a tie. In the same year, Los Angeles won the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, one of two American clubs to do it.
Even though the Los Angeles Galaxy had a great year in 2001, losing to Landon Donovan and the San Jose Earthquakes despite winning the Open Cup and amassing 1,000 career points, Cobi Jones scored the 300th goal to end the year. A 16–9–3 record put the team in first place in the Western Conference for the fifth time. As Concacaf champions of the previous year, Los Angeles had been scheduled to participate in FIFA’s club World Cup event, but the tournament had been postponed.
First MLS Cup (2002)
The Los Angeles Galaxy won their first MLS Cup in 2002 by defeating the New England Revolution 1–0 in the club’s fourth appearance. Due to the construction of a new stadium, the Galaxy finished in fourth place in 2003 with a record of 9–12–9. With an 11-9–10 record, the Galaxy reclaimed second place. The Wizards defeated them in the championship game 0–2.
Landon Donovan was traded from San Jose to the Galaxy in 2005. The team finished the season with a 13–13–6 record in the Open Cup. The Galaxy are the only team to have made the playoffs in each of the league’s first ten seasons after qualifying for the playoffs in 2005. They won the MLS Cup in extra time, 1–0, over the New England Revolution.
On March 16, 2006, the team’s general manager, Doug Hamilton, died of a heart attack while flying back from Costa Rica, where they had faced Saprissa in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. Hamilton was 43 years old. This was the first time since the league’s establishment that the franchise had finished outside the playoffs in the Western Conference. Steve Sampson was fired as head coach in the middle of the season and replaced by Frank Yallop. In the U.S. Open Cup final, the team lost 3–1 against the Chicago Fire, despite making a strong showing throughout.
Beckham era (2007–2012)
This five-year arrangement was worth approximately $4–5 million per year to Herbalife, which became the Galaxy’s official shirt sponsor in March 2007. David Beckham was signed from Real Madrid four months later. During the World Series of Football event, he came in in the 78th minute of a 1–0 loss to Chelsea at the Home Depot Center before a crowd of nearly 35,000, many of whom were celebrities. It was the first time ESPN had ever employed 19 cameras to cover a game, including one dedicated solely to Beckham, even when he was sitting on the bench.
Los Angeles made it all the way to the SuperLiga championship game that season, but ultimately fell to Pachuca of Mexico on penalties after extra time. Los Angeles came close to making the postseason, but were knocked out by the Chicago Fire in a 1–0 defeat at the end of the regular season. In the off-season, Cobi Jones retired and Yallop resigned as head coach after a friendly match at Home Depot Center amid speculations that he would be fired. For Yallop’s services, the San Jose Earthquakes purchased his contract and provided the Galaxy with a third-round draft selection.
Ruud Gullit, the highest-paid coach in MLS history, took Yallop’s place as LA’s new head coach after signing a three-year deal. Cobi Jones has returned to the coaching staff as an assistant. Attendance records were achieved in Australia and New Zealand during a promotional tour by Los Angeles (LA). Sydney FC beat LA Galaxy 5–3 in front of a crowd of 80,295 at Stadium Australia on Saturday. At the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship, held in Honolulu, they took third place after defeating Sydney 2–1. They also played a tour of Asia.
A seven-game losing skid in 2008 forced the resignation of manager Ruud Gullit and the dismissal of general manager Alexi Lalas in the Los Angeles Galaxy. The team dropped from first place in the Western Conference to outside of postseason contention. For the third consecutive season, Bruce Arena took over for Gullit, who was unable to lead the Los Angeles Lakers into the playoffs. Donovan joined Bayern Munich for a loan spell in Germany, while Beckham joined Milan in Italy for the remainder of the season. There were rumors that Donovan was looking for a long-term deal with Munich, while Beckham had a return date set for March 2009. In order to keep his England career going through the 2010 World Cup, Beckham sought a permanent transfer to Milan, and Milan made a bid for the player that was rejected by LA. Milan and LA agreed to extend Beckham’s loan arrangement until the end of the Rossoneri’s season in June, before he returned to LA in July, one day before the deadline.
Donovan returned to the United States in time for the start of the 2009 MLS season after being rejected by Bayern Munich. In Grant Wahl’s book The Beckham Experiment, Donovan slammed Beckham for his management of the loan transactions in the first chapter. The two would later get back together when Beckham returned to Los Angeles in July. The Los Angeles Lakers qualified for the 2009 MLS Cup by finishing first in the Western Conference and second in the MLS Supporters’ Shield. They made it to the final by overcoming Chivas USA 3–2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals and Houston Dynamo 2–0, after extra time, in the semi-finals. On penalties, they fell short in the championship game after a 1–1 stalemate with Real Salt Lake at Qwest Field in Seattle.
They qualified for the preliminary round of the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League by winning the championship. Both Donovan and Beckham went out on loan again following their success in 2009. A year after tearing his Achilles tendon and missing England’s World Cup run as well as the majority of the 2010 season due to his absence, Donovan signed with Everton, while Beckham returned to Milan. After a full slate of MLS matches in 2010, the Galaxy remained atop the standings and took home the Supporters’ Shield for the first time. In the Western Conference Final, they were one game away from a second MLS Cup appearance, but they lost to FC Dallas in extra time. They won their fourth Supporters’ Shield in 2011 with two games remaining, becoming the third-straight team to win consecutive Shields while compiling the second-best points total in MLS history. In the MLS Cup final, they beat Houston Dynamo 1–0 to win their third title. To date, no other team has ever won the MLS Cup after regulation time has expired.
There were two overtime triumphs in the 2002 and 2005 MLS Cup finals. After months of speculation, Beckham signed a new two-year contract with LA in January 2012. But Beckham revealed in November 2012 that he will be departing the Galaxy at the end of the 2012 Major League Soccer season, despite his new deal. The Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Houston Dynamo 3-1 in the MLS Cup final on December 1, 2012. A 60th-minute header by Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez earned him the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Keane’s second penalty kick in stoppage time clinched the victory after a Donovan penalty kick put the game out of reach. After the game, Donovan and Beckham kept quiet about their future plans in the MLS.
First to five league championships (2013–2016)
The Galaxy finished third in the Western Conference during the 2013 season. To Real Salt Lake, they fell 2–1 in the Conference Semi-finals. They also made it to the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals in 2012–13, but fell to Mexican team Monterrey 3–1 on aggregate. When the Supporters’ Shield was on the line against Sounders FC of Seattle, the team entered the 2014 MLS playoffs and defeated Real Salt Lake, advancing to meet Sounders FC of Seattle again in the Western Conference Finals, advancing to the MLS Cup by away goals. They beat the New England Revolution 2–1 in overtime to win the 2014 MLS Cup, making them the league’s most successful team. Landon Donovan, a longstanding member of the LA Galaxy and the United States national team, announced his retirement at the end of the season. A Designated Player contract worth an estimated $9 million was signed by the LA Galaxy on January 7, 2015, for long-time Liverpool player Steven Gerrard. After the 2014–15 Premier League season ended, he joined the team in July 2015 and made his debut on July 11 in an International Champions Cup match against Club América.
A designated player transfer of Mexican star and Barcelona academy product Giovani dos Santos made headlines in the summer of 2015. The Galaxy haven’t had a famous Mexican player, much alone one in the peak of his career, since the days of Jorge Campos, Carlos Hermosillo, and Luis Hernández in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After scoring in both his club debut in the CONCACAF Champions League against Central FC and in his league debut against the Sounders, Dos Santos made an immediate impact on the Galaxy. To sum up, he scored four goals and provided an assist in his first five appearances for his new team.
Wooden Spoon and rebuilding (2016–present)
C.F. Pachuca announced Omar Gonzalez’s departure from Los Angeles Galaxy prior to this season’s beginning. Long-time general manager and head coach Bruce Arena left the club on November 22, 2016, bringing much of the Galaxy’s coaching staff, including associate head coach Dave Sarachan, with him to begin his second spell as head coach of the United States national team.
Curt Onalfo, the head coach of the LA Galaxy II, took over as general manager and head coach respectively after Peter Vagenas stepped down. The team was built on players from the Academy and the Galaxy II system by the front office. Multiple injuries highlighted the roster’s naivety, which included Jermaine Jones’ unpredictable play and Giovanni Dos Santos’ minimal output.
On July 27, 2017, the Los Angeles Galaxy fired Curt Onalfo and replaced him with Sigi Schmid, who had previously served as the team’s head coach. A record of 8–18–8 placed the team at the bottom of the standings under Schmid’s leadership. Despite only missing the playoffs four times in their history, this was their first ever wooden spoon.
Ibrahimović playing with the LA Galaxy in 2019.
Zlatan Ibrahimovi was signed to a two-year, $3 million contract with targeted allocation money by the team in March 2018. The Galaxy’s season could be brightened by the addition of Ibrahimovi. Two goals from the Swede helped Los Angeles Galaxy come from 3–0 down to win 4–3 in the first El Tráfico match versus LAFC. Ibrahimovi won MLS Goal of the Year for one of the goals he scored in that game. Los Angeles Galaxy experienced defensive issues throughout season and lost to Houston Dynamo in their final regular-season match, thereby missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
New and more lucrative designated player contracts were negotiated after the 2018 season for Ibrahimovi, who was released from his original contract by the Galaxy. Giovani dos Santos was released from his contract with the organization on March 1, 2019, after the team confirmed it had used its one offseason Buyout of a Guaranteed Contract. Guillermo Barros Schelotto took over as head coach of the Galaxy for the 2019 season. Many other players have joined the Galaxy, including Uruguayan Diego Polenta, Argentine World Cup veteran Cristian Pavón, fellow Argentine Favio lvarez, and Mexican Uriel Antuna. All of these players are from Argentina.
The Galaxy finished sixth in the West and made the playoffs thanks to this and the emergence of academy product Efran lvarez. A hat-trick and a brace by Ibrahimovi versus LAFC in July and August were the highlights of the season for both teams. Thirty goals were Ibrahimovi’s second-highest total of the season and third-highest total of league history (the record was broken by LAFC’s Carlos Vela that year), making him the league’s top scorer. The Galaxy beat Minnesota United 2–1 before losing 5–3 to LAFC in the quarterfinals. Ibra was out in November, and only Pavón re-signed as a 2020 option for the club’s 2019 acquisitions, most of which were on loan. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez signed a three-year contract with the club on January 21, 2020, making him the highest-paid player in MLS. Interim manager Dominic Kinnear took over for Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who was fired at the end of the season after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Colors and Badge
The navy blue, gold, and white of the LA Galaxy are the current team colors. Primary color is white, while alternate color is blue. When David Beckham joined the team in 2007 as part of a re-branding effort spearheaded by then GM Alexi Lalas, the colors were chosen. With numerous color combinations prior to 2007, including gold, teal-green, and white with black accents, the Galaxy often featured an unmistakable “sash” design from the left shoulder across the chest on the left side of their uniforms. The Los Angeles Galaxy’s first MLS season jersey, worn in 1996, had black and teal halves, black sleeves with gold and red embellishments, black shorts, and black socks.
There have been two logos for the Galaxy thus far. First launched in 2007, the original Galaxy logo was gold with a golden swirl and a stylised black outline. After David Beckham’s arrival in 2007, the LA Galaxy’s logo was redesigned to include a blue shield with gold borders, the team name, and a quasar at the top of the crest. Quasar was first featured on Los Angeles County Seal and modified Seal of Los Angeles County, California, which appears on the Flag of Los Angeles, as well as on the LA Galaxy’s shield In addition to naming the league “Galaxy” at its inception, Nike was also its first uniform provider.
Club Culture
Cozmo
For those unfamiliar, Cozmo is the name given to the Galaxy’s unofficial emblem. With yellow eyebrows and white eyes, he resembles the colors of the Galaxy’s home uniforms. After “Twizzle,” the Galaxy’s original mascot, who also appeared to be from outer space, replaced him, it was decided that the new mascot needed to be more humanoid.
Galaxy Star squad
Galaxy Star Squad members serve as the club’s official cheerleaders. Attending Galaxy-sponsored events, including as autograph sessions, they frequently hand out scarves to fans and show their allegiance to the team.
Supporters
The Angel City Brigade was formed in 2007 to assist make Dignity Health Sports Park a fun and lively place to see the Galaxy play. Section 121 of the stadium’s General Admission area once housed them.
Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman challenged a group of Galaxy fans to organize a support group of 100 persons before the opening day of 2002 following the team’s 2001 MLS Cup loss. If they were successful, they would receive a keg of beer as a prize. Sections 137 and 138 are located in the General Admission sector of the stadium. The Galaxians are the LA Galaxy’s earliest and oldest fan group, founded in 1996 during the team’s inaugural season in the MLS. Section 124 was the initial location for them. Galaxy Outlawz is the newest band to form in the current calendar year. A safe standing portion has been established for them along with the Angel City Brigade and the Galaxians. The Victoria Block, a new safe-standing-only section that will replace sections 120-123 on the north end of the stadium, will be completed in 2020. Galaxians, Angel City Brigade and Galaxy Outlawz have a new home in the supporters-only section.
Rivalries
The California Clásico is the name given to the encounter between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes by fans and the media. It’s one of the most intense and long-running soccer rivalries in the United States. The enmity between the two teams extends back to the early days of Major League Soccer, when they played each other in the playoffs and final. Some argue that the rivalry arose as a result of the long-standing sports rivalries between Northern California and Southern California. El Tráfico, a crosstown rivalry, was formed when LAFC joined the league in 2018.
City of Los Angeles, California
Located in the state of California, Los Angeles is the state’s second-largest metropolis. It is the second-most populated city in the United States (after New York City) and the third-most populous city in North America, according to official estimates (after Mexico City and New York City). The huge metropolis of Los Angeles, with its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, and Hollywood entertainment industry, is a world-renowned destination for tourists and residents alike.
Geography
With a total area of 502.7 square miles (1.302 kilometers), the city of Los Angeles is divided between land covering 468.7 square miles (1.214 km2), and water covering 34.0 square miles (88 km2). From north to south, the city covers 44 miles (71 kilometers) and from east to west, it covers 29 miles (47 kilometers). The city’s girth measures 342 miles (550 km). The city of Los Angeles is both flat and hilly. Mount Lukens, at 1,547 feet (5,074 m), is the city’s highest peak and may be found in the northeastern extremity of the San Fernando Valley. The Santa Monica Mountains’ eastern end spans from Downtown to the Pacific Ocean and separates the Los Angeles Basin from the San Fernando Valley. The Mt. Washington neighborhood north of Downtown, eastern areas like Boyle Heights, the Crenshaw district around the Baldwin Hills, and the San Pedro district are all examples of Los Angeles’ steep terrain.
Climate
Köppen Csb on the coast and in downtown Los Angeles, Csa to the west of the metropolitan area, and just enough annual rainfall to avoid a semi-arid climate, characterize Los Angeles (BSh),. The year-round average high and low temperatures for daytime hours are similar. In the winter, the average temperature is 68 °F (20 °C), which gives it a tropical feel, but it is a few degrees too cool to be a real tropical climate on average due to the cool night temperatures. With an average of 35 days of measurable precipitation each year, Los Angeles has an abundance of sunshine throughout the year.
Los Angeles Lifestyle
