Los Angeles Galaxy, commonly referred to as LA Galaxy or simply Galaxy, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the United States. Founded in 1994 as part of the inaugural Major League Soccer (MLS) season, the club is based in Carson, California, United States, and plays its home matches at the famous Dignity Health Sports Park, which has a seating capacity of over 27,000.
LA Galaxy has a rich history, boasting 5 MLS Cup titles, 4 Supporters' Shields, 2 U.S. Open Cups, and numerous other domestic and international achievements. The club enjoyed its most successful era under manager Bruce Arena, who led Galaxy to three MLS Cup titles and two Supporters' Shield victories between 2008 and 2016.
Known for its attacking style of play, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Cobi Jones, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Zlatan Ibrahimović. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances post-Arena, LA Galaxy remains one of the most valuable football clubs in the MLS, with a nationwide fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American and world football.
LA Galaxy is one of the most popular soccer clubs in the United States, with one of the highest average home attendances in the Major League Soccer (MLS). The club states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 150 officially recognised branches of the LA Galaxy Supporters Club (LAGSC), in at least 20 countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that LA Galaxy has 30 million fans worldwide. The club has the third highest social media following in the United States among sports teams (after Los Angeles Lakers and New England Patriots), with over 2.5 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that LA Galaxy had the loudest fans in the Major League Soccer.
LA Galaxy was formed in 1994 as one of the ten charter teams of the Major League Soccer. The team initially played games against other MLS teams, but on 13 April 1996, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of the team—blue, gold and white—they won 2–1 against New York/New Jersey MetroStars.
In October 2002, the appointment of Sigi Schmid as manager led to a period of success for the club. Schmid demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player transfers, and training sessions. Schmid led the team to MLS Cup victories in 2002 and 2005. In 2011, the club won the MLS Cup again, marking its third league title.
On 1 May 2014, David Beckham, one of the most iconic players in the club's history, retired from professional soccer. His departure marked the end of an era for the club. The club announced the next day that LA Galaxy II manager Curt Onalfo would replace Bruce Arena, having signed a four-year contract. Onalfo was later replaced by Sigi Schmid on 27 July 2017, in an attempt to revive the club's fortunes following a poor season in which the club failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Originally funded by the Los Angeles Soccer Partners, LA Galaxy became a limited company in 1995 and sold shares to local supporters via an application form. In 1998, majority ownership passed to Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), who invested significantly to save the club from financial difficulties. The group was led by Philip Anschutz, who assumed control of the club after a huge investment. Anschutz promoted his son, Cannon, to the board in 2004, but stepped back from daily operations a few years later; the Anschutz family retained ownership of the club through Philip's wife, Nancy, but the position of chairman passed to former player Chris Klein.
Promoted to the board a few years after the MLS Cup victory in 2002, Tim Leiweke, a friend of Sigi Schmid, began acquiring shares in the club; for an investment of approximately $40,000, he accumulated a 54 per cent shareholding and took control in January 2006. When Nancy Anschutz decided to step back from active club management, her shares passed to Cannon Anschutz, who sold a percentage of his shares to Leiweke's associate, Dan Beckerman, in 2013; Beckerman went on to become chairman upon Leiweke's departure in 2013. Media tycoon Ted Turner attempted to buy the club in 2010, but did not meet AEG's asking price. In 2014, chairman Dan Beckerman attempted to sell the club to David Beckham for $25 million, but the sale fell through and Beckham joined the ownership group of Inter Miami CF instead.
LA Galaxy is one of the most successful clubs in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the MLS Cup, which they won in 2002. In 2001, the club won their first Supporters' Shield and won the U.S. Open Cup for the second time. Since then, they have gone on to win a record 5 MLS Cups and their total of 4 Supporters' Shields is second only to D.C. United. Those titles have meant the club has appeared multiple times in the MLS Cup finals; of those appearances, LA Galaxy have won a record 5, including two consecutive titles in 2011 and 2012.
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LA Galaxy Official Site: Brief history, famous players, and recent performance of LA Galaxy https://www.lagalaxy.com
Major League Soccer Official Site: Detailed information about LA Galaxy's formation, ownership, and achievements https://www.mlssoccer.com/clubs/la-galaxy
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